It's human nature to want to look better naked. We want to be attractive to ourselves and our potential mates. Sometimes, however, we might have a hard time doing the things that will actually make us look better naked. We might really struggle with food quality or quantity. Our life may have so many competing priorities that it feels indulgent to put our ourselves first and make time to exercise. Or sometimes, despite our best efforts at controlling our portions and exercising regularly we just aren't satisfied with the pace of our change. I recently read a really great article from Precision Nutrition (the folks with whom I studied exercise and sports nutrition) that explored the debate of the importance of calories in - calories out versus hormone balance with regards to weight loss. Both are important and for reasons you might not expect. I think the article is worth reading in its entirety, but one section in particular I thought was so important I'm compelled to share it with you. It's about how our lifestyle choices can affect our energy balance. Here's a graphic from the article. There are SO many factors that can affect our energy balance (energy balance = calories in-calories out). If we're not handling stress well, if our sleep is disrupted, if our gut microbiome is all out of whack, if we have chronic inflammation, if we're sick, have a disease, are recovering from surgery, have low self-esteem, skip workouts, overindulge on the weekends, have more than 1 drink per day, or a whole suite of other lifestyle factors we're going to have a more difficult time looking better naked. We can weigh and measure your food to the nth degree, but if we don't have a handle on our stress, or don't get enough sleep, etc. then we're going to have a much harder time moving the needle in the direction we want it to go. Embarking on a program for weight loss (or weight gain) depends on a lifestyle overhaul. Sure we will eventually see a shift with a negative energy balance, but at what cost? If we're not able to manage our stress then tracking every calorie or weighing and measuring our food is just going to increase our stress. We're better off learning how to meditate, keep a journal, or do any number of proven stress management techniques. Stress and how we manage it (or don't) will affect our hormones and our hormones affect our energy balance. The two are intimately paired. The Precision Nutrition folks describe it this way: "Hormones are intricately entwined with energy balance. In our quest to look better naked, we need to take an integrative approach. Manage our stress and we will be happier. Happier people are always more attractive. Good luck! If you need help overhauling your lifestyle so you can eventually look better naked, why not seek the help of a professional? Coach Audy is here to help you! Book a consultation with her to get help and accountability. Good luck!
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Meet Michelle B!What was your fitness, CrossFit, or yoga "life" like before you started training with True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga.
I was completely intimidated by CrossFit! However, my previous workout regimen was just not working for me. It was redundant, I was completely unmotivated and I had been wanting to try something different for quite awhile. What brought you to True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga in the first place? Glee!! She had posted a picture of her doing CrossFit at True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga on Facebook, and it was so inspiring to me that she was 6 months pregnant and doing CrossFit, it made me want to do it too! I also have an upcoming Army Combat Fitness Test and the events have all been changed to CrossFit events, so I needed to prepare for that. What was your first impression? Has that changed? My first impression was that everyone was so welcoming and encouraging and that the coaches were awesome. I was finding that for the first month, I was so exhausted on the days I did CrossFit. Now, that is not the case, and most of the workouts are pretty manageable. However, their are still days I get my butt kicked. :) What was the first thing fun or positive thing you experienced while training with us? Of course meeting all the awesome people was my first positive experience. The camaraderie reminds me of the military. Aside from that, it would be how the workouts are different everyday, the way you feel that you are on a team working towards a common goal, and how accomplished I feel after the workout is finally over. Are you working on any special CrossFit related skill now? Probably pull-ups, because I still struggle to do strict ones and I need to be able crush them during my Army Combat Fitness Test. How has you life changed since training with TSCF? It continues to surprise me every time we come back to a skill we haven't done in awhile, and how every time it feels like it comes easier to me. Overall, I feel stronger, happier and less stressed. And the best part is I have a lot of new friends. What's your favorite True Spirit CrossFit memory? My first positive memory I have, is when we had a box-jumping WOD and Heidi wanted me to use a large box to do the box jumps and I had only been doing step-ups prior to that. I thought there was no way I can do that for the duration of the WOD, but I did it and I survived. Thanks Heidi!
Today is a heavy day:-)
Myth: CrossFit is Too Expensive
When most folks start looking into CrossFit they are surprised at at the price of a monthly membership. I know I was when I joined my first CrossFit gym in March 2010. For years I had been a member of Gold's Gym. I paid $49 a month for the opportunity to workout (on my own) at Gold's and I probably attended an average of twice a month. This may surprise you since I own True Spirit CrossFit; but, I too, struggled for years with motivation to go to the gym.
When I found CrossFit in 2010 and I had sticker shock at the $135 monthly price tag for a 12 class membership. Was I seriously considering more than doubling my gym membership to only be able to attend 12 classes per month? I mean I had been paying $49 to attend whenever I wanted to. Why would this be so much better? And why was it so damned expensive? First, I had to compare what I was purchasing. A membership at Gold's Gym did not include group classes, coaching or programming, it only paid for access. If I wanted to attend group classes it was an extra charge. If I wanted a program to do on my own it was an extra charge. If I wanted a trainer to hold me accountable and make sure I did things correctly it was an extra charge. Everything that was included in the monthly CrossFit membership was an extra charge at Gold's Gym. By the time all of the extra charges were summed up it was more expensive that the CrossFit membership. Second, after my first CrossFit class it was clear to me that the community and camaraderie of the group class was a much more powerful motivator than my solo sessions on the treadmill listening to my own music via earbuds. I used to walk into Gold's Gym and avoid eye contact. I used to be intimidated to go to the "free weights" section because of all the meatheads. There was no way I could ever befriend someone next to me on the elliptical because, they, too had earbuds inserted and eyes down. Third, I no longer had to create my own workouts. I had purchased books, repeated my college rowing workouts, bought exercise videos, you name it in order to come up with a fun program that would keep me engaged. I was so frustrated with life after rowing. I had couldn't believe that after years of high-intensity erg and on the water training sessions and dry-land weight sessions that included back squats, power cleans, box jumps, etc., that now my fitness was supposed to be sustained with 60 slow minutes on the elliptical and some random "free weights." After my first week at CrossFit I was sore and happy and I felt just like I did when I was a competitive athlete. I had a coach who told me what to do and adjusted my training to meet my needs. I knew that CrossFit programming could get me back into shape. Fourth, the cost was a motivator to attend classes. At $135 for 12 classes per month it cost me $11.25 per class. At that price I made damn sure I made all 12 classes. Not only did it make economic sense to get what I was paying for, but the fun I was having and the success I was having totally motivated me to continue. Now, on the other side of the fence, I absolutely believe in the value of our Coaches and the efficacy of our programming, and the power of our community. I've also learned that Gold's Gym low cost and the low costs of all the other "Globo" gyms is purposeful. They intentionally set those prices low so that you willingly pay each month and rarely attend. Take a listen to this NPR Plant Money podcast on this very issue. Finally, as a small business owner, I can tell you how important it is to support a family business. We don't have the power of a large corporate entity to do our marketing and business administration. James and I, with collaboration of all the Coaches, decide on our own best practices and ensure that our services meet the unique and ever changing needs of our community. â "Desire is a contract that you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want."
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