We see it all the time, people who brag about how hard they work out, how many hours they spend at the gym each week or how many miles they run. It's almost like, the more time you invest in your body the better person you are. But who has that time? And how fun is your life if everything revolves around working out?
Clearly if you are starting your journey back to strong and healthy after being pregnant, and/or if you are in the middle of a huge weight loss journey, you have to be super focused and devoted to reach your goals. But once you are there, is it really necessary to spend all that time trying to maintain your goals, staying fit, keeping your goal weight? I don't think so. In fact, you will definitely not be able to do so for more than a shorter period of time. Staying fit and healthy should be for life, not just "in the meantime" not just while you are fighting to reach your goal and a little bit longer than that. If staying fit and healthy is for life, it's life changing, right? It's lifestyle, right? So how are you able to work out six days a week for the rest of your life, eating super healthy food, almost never ever allowing yourself a cookie or some ice cream? Let me tell you something, you won't!
So how is it best done? How can you stay motivated and live a healthy life for the rest of your life? Start by being more efficient while working out, that way you can get the results without having to spend three hours at the gym each day. Don't get stuck in the same old routine, your body will get accustomed to a certain work out and you will not get the same benefits when doing it over and over again as you did in the beginning. Is it really necessary to starve yourself? Why is it so important to have visible abs? Clearly it's of importance if you are a fitness model ; ) but if not? You basically need to have a body with zero belly fat if your abs are going to show. Is it so important so you are willing to starve yourself, exercising your belly like a crazy person just because of this rather ridiculous goal, your belly is covered most of the time, right : ). I am just saying, that it doesn't have to be so hard and sacrificing to live a healthy life and to stay fit. So again, be efficient while working out and try to get your move on the rest of the day, walk instead of taking the car, dance with your kids in the living room, take the stairs instead of using the elevator, carry your groceries, stand instead of sitting down (one hour at the gym will not compensate for sitting down all day long!!). Also, allow yourself to rest. Take a whole week off, your body sure needs it, it will not get you fat or unfit. When you get back to the gym or to your work out you will probably feel stronger than ever.
The less time I spend at the gym the more time I can spend with my kids : )
//Nicole Hellgren
