Especially if you are just starting a workout routine. You can lose inches, body fat, and gain muscle without changing the number on the scale and Jenn is proof of that! Muscle is much denser than fat and takes up less space. Think of 5 pounds of styrofoam vs 5 pounds of dry peas. Peas are lovely and so is muscle.
Build more metabolically active tissue to consume all those calories, even at rest. More muscle means better health and improved overall fitness levels.
Now back to my Rock Star Client, Jenn. As we continue our journey, I just had to share her progress with you all. Below is from Jenn’s Facebook post. I know you have heard it before, but making lifestyle changes is a process. A journey of self-discovery. Jenn trains and meets with me once a week. Each and every week, we work on a piece of the new and improved methods for getting healthy and maintaining health. Our sessions cover Jenn’s workouts, macros, dietary plans, and the safety of each exercise in her program. Our assessments of lifestyle habits help to make behavioral, nutritional, and other changes that promote better health and overall wellness. We create custom-tailored plans for a well-rounded routine. I am loving getting to know Jenn and her adorable son (when he’s not at school). I am beyond excited to work with such an amazing soul!
Jenn’s Facebook Post
– and if I had a nickel for everyone who told me as I surpassed 220#’s that I’d never get my body back, The Boy wouldn’t need a college fund – truly, I don’t really care about having a “body” anymore, I mean, I have a man who loves me at 200+#’s (thank you honey, @big_tom_otto ), but being fit and being able to keep up and get up off the floor easily and not have my knees and shoulders and elbows hurt all the time; this.And having the energy to have a good attitude when things come up that would normally piss a person off; this, too. And knowing I’m making deposits into an account I’ll surely be withdrawing from when I’m 70, just like my retirement fund but for health, not wealth; this, three! But mostly, looking at myself and liking what I see looking back for the first time in six years; especially and unequivocally, that!
I don’t have time to pack a bag and go to the gym and work out and then shower and change and pack up and get back in the car to drive home or work or wherever…My feet hurt from shoes and I didn’t want to invest in another pair of pricy sneakers. I didn’t want to buy equipment or videos or any other dust collectors. I also didn’t think I could afford what I wanted, which was Oprah’s trainer and chef, (we’re being real here).
”Consistency Over Perfection.
Remember, health and fitness is a journey. This is why taking pictures, measurements, and journaling are all forms of tracking progress. They can be very motivating when you’re having a hard day. Below is a text Jenn sent me along with some pictures after I suggested she go back to her before pictures. She was pleased to see that she had lost “back fat” and the timing of that was perfect.
“It’s such a mind game, ignoring the number on the scale; all that work and sweat and I still weigh what?! It took these pics lined up side by side for me to really see it. It’s working. In my own time, on my own terms, with what I already have. #mytrainerlive” -Jenn
Work on the following if you are an emotional eater or if you find yourself feeling up or down each time you step on the scale.
- Focus on real information about yourself like: I am feeling better about my food choices and moving towards a more authentic and healthy relationship with food.
- Find other ways to measure your successes like how your clothes are fitting. Who cares if the scale is the same when you just lost an inch off your waist! Grab a tape measure. Balance your life.
- Make health your main goal because what good is 10 pounds on the scale when you haven’t learned anything? New lifestyles habits will keep the weight falling off in due time. Be patience because the slower you take it off, the more likely it will stay off.
CONGRATULATIONS JENN! You inspire so many!
Kathy Dolan, ACE Fitness Pro, Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, is a self-employed business owner. Kathy Dolan is a master trainer with years of experience with the secrets to real results! You will find her teaching and training on the Class It Up Virtual Studio and writing health and fitness programs for clients of all ages. She enjoys spending time with her three kids whether it’s in the mountains or on the seashore.