Being “fat” or being “skinny”...You hear this conversations almost everywhere. What you rarely hear is how to be strong. While managing a healthy body is important for health reasons (we need to take care of our bodies), we have to rethink what we have been taught: the size of our body matters – either because people used to believe skinny was healthy or for “beauty” reasons. I’m here to tell you: you need to have a strong mindset and focus on functionality, not your body’s size.
So, why is focus on being strong rather than skinny? Well, strong also means to you have confidence in yourself, to love you as you are. It goes beyond having a “nice body”, because you are beautiful inside and out and that shines through. This has nothing to do with the number you see on a scale. Actually, a bigger number on the scale (when you focus on being strong) is what you should expect. Let me explain.
When we maintain a balanced diet (all food groups, moderation and mindful eating) and we combine this with a well planned exercise routine that includes strength as well as cardio, we gain muscle. Our bodies burn fat because more muscle requires more energy to mantain and the number on the scale can go higher as we grow stronger. Another added benefit: when we grow older, we lose muscle mass, but if we are following a good exercise and diet plan, this won’t affect us as much.
Did you know, by being stronger you can decrease the risk of getting injured? Muscles help protect your joints from lesions and improving balance (preventing falls).
If you don’t know where to begin, remember that being strong starts with your mind. Believing that you can and you will achieve your goals. It also means that you shouldn’t feel guilt about what you are eating or feeling like you have to “earn” your meals. Like everything in life, it is all about balance and dedication. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m always here to help. Either through classes or nutrition coaching or even just talking on our free weekly hangout! 💪
