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| Chubby Kimmy all the way to the right. Oye. |
Disclaimer: I am in no way a nutritionist or fitness trainer....yet ;)
I have been continuously asked about my diet
and fitness regimen or how I stay fit.
Every time I get asked this question I am completely flattered because that means whatever I've been doing is working.
As I've mentioned in my previous post about embracing your body type, I was not active and very self-conscious about my body in high school and even before then. I began to take more interest in working out and being conscious of what I was consuming. I am continuously trying to improve my body and the way I eat and it's a continuous journey. My goal is to become a fitness instructor very soon so then I can actually help others achieve their fitness goals and accomplish mine.
Do you feel like you need a change? Lose some weight so you can feel better in your clothes? Want to start working towards a more fit you? Or maybe you want to just start living a healthier lifestyle?
I'd like to help you get started on that journey and I know when you do, you will definitely see and feel the difference in your body and overall mood! It's never to late to create new habits or change your life.
So how do you begin?
Well, I am going to share with you some of my personal tips on:
nutrition, motivation, and working out.
All simple and very easy to begin changing and incorporating into your daily routine!
Nutrition
I hate the word diet. It's a lifestyle change. I don't believe in those crazy diets have you pretty much drinking water and air. You need food. Food is by far the most important factor in determining what your body will look like. Have you ever heard of the phrase: abs are made in the kitchen? Very true. I know it must be overwhelming with all the latest diet trends or information on what's best for you and what will help you lose weight and such but relax. Just start simple!
- Drink solely water and lots of it. Eat your calories, don't drink them. The more water you consume the less dehydrated and bloated you will feel. Water when you wake up. Water when you eat. Water when you are working out. Water when you think you are hungry. Sometimes your body is just dehydrated and not hungry.
- Get rid of all bad processed foods from your eating habits. I enjoy unhealthy foods from time to time but I cannot and will not feed myself this on the daily. Love bread? Decrease your intake and stay far away from white! Anything bleached is not good for your health or fitness goals. Stick to whole grain, multi grain at best or whole wheat. Fried foods like fries or even fried plantains? Indulge on occasion but not everyday. Not good for your skin or your future abs. Cookies, milkshakes, and baked goods? Find a healthier alternative to satisfy that sweet tooth. All that sugar will go straight to your tummy and have you feeling lagged.
- Eat more greens and fruits. Although I am a vegetarian and love my greens, eating fresh greens and fruits will do wonders for your body and your skin! I have a love affair with avocados and eat almost an entire one a day. Great for your skin and it is a healthy fat that your body will be able to burn. Make your plate as colorful as possible. More vegetables than carbs. Stick to dark greens like spinach. The darker the green, the better it is for you so I've been told.
- Incorporate smoothies. I am not talking about a smoothie with chocolate and vanilla with some ice cream and a whole lot of caramel. No no. A smoothie will make your life easier because it is a lot faster to prepare when you need a pick me up or to feel yourself after a hard workout. You can make endless recipes for any craving you may have. Pinterest is loaded with them and I have plenty on my Pinterest boards you should check out. Check my last fitness post for some delicious smoothie recipes here!
- Go meatless for a day or two. No, I am not trying to convert you into vegetarianism. It is great to switch up your diet and also incorporate different foods. You can also substitute meat with more fish! Fish is filled with great nutrients and full of protein. My taste buds changed completely once I stopped eating meat. Meat is great for you and has nutrients that you definitely need but it is not the only source of getting them. I always found myself feeling very full and not in a good way when I did eat meat years ago. Try something new and who knows maybe you will turn into a meat-less eater!
Motivation
You need a goal or end in mind. Maybe it's a fitter you or you want a 6-pack. Motivation is key to maintaining this goal and also keeping you on track.
- Cut out or type of your favorite quotes. If you walk into my room at home, I have inspirational words taped up near my mirror so I can see them everyday. I have tons of them pinned on my Pinterest board and like to set them as my iPhone background or even post them on Instagram to motivate myself and others.
- Find someone who motivates you. I am not saying be exactly like them at all. Who has the lifestyle or even body type that you want or hope to attain? I am inspired by women of my body type who look absolutely fit and beautiful: Nicole Mejia, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim K (she's kind of a stretch but still appreciate her curvy lifestyle).
- Find images that motivate you or show your end goal. I like to print out pictures of a 4-pack or of a girl running a marathon. I'm a very visual person and need to see what I want in front of me. Ultimately, you want to be able to visualize your end goal. Draw it out if you can!
Working Out
The combination of healthy foods and implementing a workout regimen will definitely impact your life completely. If you've never worked out before or don't really know how to go about it, start slow. As a society, we want everything instantaneously including a great body. Good things take time and that definitely relates to the results of a living a healthier lifestyle.
- Workout at least 4 to 5 times a week. You do not need to be stressing yourself out to fit a workout in. You also don't need to be at the gym for an hour. You need to create a habit of working out so that you can burn what you eat and also keep your body active and healthy. You can workout a lot harder in 15 minutes than someone who has been at the gym for an hour. If something is important to you, you will make time.
- Try different things. Do not be afraid of trying new workouts because you'll look stupid or don't know how to do it. Try it all! Pilates, cycling, swimming, running, barre classes. Do it all. Your body will thank you for challenging it. If you keep doing the same things, you'll get the same results. Want to see a change in your body? Try something new.
- Don't be afraid of weights (especially if you are a girl). So, there is this misconception that if you start lifting you'll turn in to a body builder or some female version of the Rock. Um, no. I mean if you train to do that yes, but for a girl just trying to tone up and lose some weight you won't. Muscles weighs more than fat and the more muscle you have the better! Sometimes you see your body weight fluctuate on the scale but it could just be the increase in muscle you've attained. Two people of the same body weight can look completely different because of the muscle in their body. Want a fitter and bigger booty? Squat with weights. A nice fit back? Use some weights. Weights will help challenge you and also increase your strength and stamina overall.
- Make an awesome workout playlist. You need some good tunes to keep you going with whatever work out you decide to do. Go on Spotify and search through playlists or create your own! I love to change up my playlists and also incorporate fun, EDM, pop, rap infused playlists. I'll definitely share my latest faves soon <3
If you are still reading this, I applaud you for deciding to make a change and also for reading all of this.
You da bomb.
You da bomb.
Have any questions, requests, or comments or even your own tips? Leave them below <3
Summer is around the corner, so let's get to it.
xoxo,
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