"I am the true vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will bear much fruit." John 15:5

Monday, August 10, 2009

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Why Exercise Won't Make you Thin


This article written in Time magazine should have read "Why Exercise Alone Won't Make You Thin".

I was a dancer in my past who danced 8-10 hours a day and ate very little. Some pretzels, a slurpy, a cup of Joe, some popcorn, and rice and veggies. I stayed very thin. Too thin.

Triathlon entered my life and I was again exercising 8 hours a day. Teaching 3 step classes, running 4-8 miles, biking 20-70 miles and swimming 3-4 days a weeks for at least an hour. This coupled with my weight training I was a work out fiend. . .I gained 15 lbs. Now some of that was needed because as a ballerina I was too thin but some of it was because after an 8 mile run I ate a bagel with cream cheese. After my long bike I felt like I could surely eat more because I had worked so hard.

Fast forward to when my son was born. Although I tried, my son wouldn't sit in the gym for longer that 30 minutes. So, I had to train harder and more efficiently. Seriously hard 30 minute workouts 5 days a week was what I did and really almost no cardio at all! Drum roll. . . I lost 12 lbs and got really cut and had about 9% bodyfat!! I also ate really clean. Egg omlette for breakfast, lean protein and apples for lunch and snack, and a Big Ass Salad for dinner with chicken or salmon.

What did I learn?
Cardio doesn't make most people lean. Most professional athletes weigh their food, and basically starve themselves to stay in weight. They don't rely on their workout to keep them lean. That said, muscle won't get tone without being stressed. So:

To get toned muscles you have to work your muscles!! Weight training, lifting heavy objects, short bursts of high intensity work.

A serious commitment to eating all natural, organic, grass-fed, meats and fresh, organic, seasonal produce will make you healthy.

An active healthy lifestyle will make you happy. Get outside. Walk in the sun! Play!!