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I went to my parents’ house in Fremont over the weekend, which is a two and a half hour drive. I made the trip solo this time so I had quite a bit of time alone to think and let my mind wander. I really love that trip, I take highway 30, so the traffic usually isn’t that heavy and I can just enjoy the countryside.

This trip I did a lot of thinking about diet, exercise, body image…probably because of this meal plan I decided to try for 12 weeks. I’m on week three and I’m getting really tired of chicken and fish. Anyway, I got to thinking about all of the diet books, workout dvd’s and programs, new fads to try, etc. that we get bombarded with each and every day. It’s no wonder so many people are on a mission to lose weight! Don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad thing…but I think we get overwhelmed with all of the options and advice that some of the time contradicts each other. Like one day eggs are bad for you and the next they are the new super food and the same goes with coffee. Who and what are we supposed to believe?

So in my few hours of thinking I came up with something that I am going to try to do a better job of. It’s nothing new but it’s something that I think gets overlooked. It all comes down to listening to your body…and I don’t mean giving in to cravings (I know how hard that is, I struggle with that every day) but really listening to what your body is telling you. Your body is communicates with you every day, it’s just a matter of tuning in to hear it. Once you start depriving your body, restricting calories or over exercising, that’s when living a healthy lifestyle becomes extremely difficult.

You need a certain amount of calories every day to survive and everybody is different. That’s why following diets written by the next celebrity personal trainer is so hard for most people. Everyone is different and each individual body has its own individual needs. I was reading a review about Jackie Warner’s (fitness trainer for the stars) new book 10 Pounds in 10 Days and she claims that you can lose 10 pounds in 10 days with her special meal plan and workout regimen. Well the meal plan restricts you to 950 calories which is impossible for most people to do, not healthy at all and definitely not enjoyable for anyone. If I were to restrict my diet to 950 calories I would be a complete B*#@H because I’d be so hungry all day! Even this meal plan I’m on, which has way more calories than that is hard to follow at times, I find myself wanting the occasional treat because I get tired of eating chicken and fish every day! But what I’ve come to realize is instead of fighting with my body to not give in, I fuel my body with a great tasting alternative to what I am craving. If I’m craving sweets, I’ll have a some fruit…and sure there are always going to be days that I have a “cheat meal” but my body is way more satisfied when I feed it what it wants.

The same goes for training. If you over train or do the same workout day after day or week after week your body won’t respond in a positive way. Mix up your workouts, keep your body guessing and better yet…try something new!

If you listen closely your body will tell you what you need to do. I have realized in the past year that there are several foods that I love but my body hates and if I eat them my body makes me pay. There are also days that I plan to workout but I’m just too tired, I could push through but sometimes a good rest/recovery day is better for your body than working out. Listening to your body and loosing weight and getting healthy isn’t something that will happen overnight, but doing it in your own time will be way more beneficial than trying to do it too fast. Don’t stress about it and just let it happen. Take bits and pieces from different diets and exercise plans that work for you and make it your own. Get out of your comfort zone and try new foods and new workouts. Just remember the number on the scale doesn’t tell anything about how great of a person you are! Keep working hard and you’ll reap the benefits of your hard work!

“To get something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.”

 

About the author: Amanda McKenzie

Amanda is a 20-something resident of Hastings who found her way here via Hastings College. She is an Exercise Specialist at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital. She coaches girls a competitive 8th grade girls basketball team called Nebraska Heartland. In her spare time she enjoys getting together with friends and family, watching and participating in sporting events, working out and shopping.