Muscles are your power houses. They require energy from the body which we consume in the form of calories. Therefore, the more muscle you have, the more energy your body will use on a daily basis. The person with more muscle burns more calories watching tv than her friend with less muscle.
Growing muscle is hardwork. You have to attempt what you cannot currently do for the body to adapt and become stronger.
“Always do what you have always done and you shall always be the same”
Muscles are like children. They require lots of regular feeding, moving and sleeping. Ignore any element and they won’t grow as they should.
What if you get TOO BIG?! UNLIKELY. If you are lucky enough to be the dream-muscle-manufacturing-factory then you can ease off the heavy stuff at anytime. It is easier to lose muscle than to make muscle…so go all out in making it!
“Why am I working my legs when I want a flat stomach?! Your thigh muscles are your “hungry” muscles. They demand the highest fuel intake and therefore exercises that use leg power are your biggest fat burners.
NEWS FLASH!!! 1000 sit ups will NOT give you a flat stomach! You need to reduce your overall body fat through a consistent and challenging exercise routine, a nutritious diet and effective recovery.
I was once told not to do leg weights or my legs would “get bigger.”So, like an obedient pooch, I did solely upper body weights and cardio. The result? A lean torso and fat legs. Thanks for that advice!
If you are predispositioned to bigger legs you have a choice of two:
1)shapely toned more muscular legs
2)fat legs
Thin legs are a pipe dream for me. They are never going to happen. I was born with stronger chunkier legs….and I’m ok with that! Training tones and shapes my legs and as leg exercises are big calorie burners it keeps my stomach, bum and back in better shape too 🙂
If you have a lot of stomach fat and spend days fantasizing about your wash board tummy then you need to wake-up and smell the green tea! Excessive dieting and cardio will make you GAIN weight around your middle. Realistically, work to keep your muscle up in your arms and legs (this will help you keep your general body fat down) and do small amounts of SMART cardio (small, intensive and irregular…keep the body guessing!). Keep stress levels low and your food nourishing.
Your fat on your stomach will be the last bit of fat you lose so just be happy that it is getting smaller as you progress and get stronger. Accept that you have awesome legs, arms and a stomach that isn’t quite as flat as you want it to be. Being healthy and happy matters more than any chiselled 6 pack.
Everyone is different but happiness in any body requires a level of acceptance of how you are and how you are likely to ever be. You can be realistic and positive simultaneously. There is so much happiness to be found in gratitude: be grateful for what you currently are. You can work hard to make your body be the best it can possibly be. Train it for all those things you want to do: train it for life itself.
Acceptance isn’t weakness. Strength is acknowledging what you can and cannot change. Although, whatever you think you can do- add on a bit more. We forever underestimate ourselves and what is possible.
