Five Changes I’m Making to ‘Get in Shape’ For Summer
I won’t tell you to create a calorie deficit
I disagree with the term ‘get in shape’ because it puts importance on aesthetics instead of good health.
I disagree because I was obese, and even after dropping 55 lbs, I felt fat until I hit 25. What changed at 25? My mindset, but more on that later. It sucks to feel fat, concentrate more on your bulge, and look at social media and feel you’re not good enough.
I’m already ‘in shape’ if that helps. But with new transitions such as getting married, expanding my business, and holidaying every 3 months — here’s what I’m doing differently this time.
This article may or may not be inspired by the fact that my husband and I are becoming strict with our diets because we’ll be in Australia a month from now.
Harder Strength Training
After my ACL reconstruction surgery in both my knees, I was cleared to exercise a year ago. However, I kept it pretty light all this while and now I feel it’s time to move up.
My mom’s been lifting for 20 years, and I swear if you see her you won’t be able to recognize her as my mum.
I have living evidence of how strength training makes you fit and look young.
While traveling in Europe, I was a wussy whereas she could put 30kg suitcases on top like a pro.
Lifting more helps :
- burn fat
- tone muscles
- burn calories in your sleep
Cardio… At Home?
I walk 2500 steps a day.
I work from home. I work out at home.
The steps I take are to the washroom or the kitchen (mainly the fridge, honestly). There’s no way for me to cover my steps! And no, I cannot go down for a walk because I’m terrified of stray dogs.
On our honeymoon in Japan last month, my husband and I walked 12k-20k steps each day, and my Apple Watch showed I had accomplished my calorie goal by 150%.
I ate fries every day and drank coke too. I don’t touch soda, but it has been a thing while I travel. Probably because my love for traveling started at 21 when I solo traveled across Europe and coke was cheap and would fuel me for a while.
Once we got back, I went to the gym with my husband and I was so anxious. Too many people in one place and everything was so machine-y.
I haven’t visited a gym for five years!
So we decided he’ll continue at his gym while I work out at the home gym in our basement and I’ll invest in a cycle and maybe a rower to cardio a bit more.
I’m Still Going To Eat Sugar!
I love sugar. I love me a piece of dark chocolate and lots of fruit. Until noon, I mostly eat fruits anyway.
Not eating sugar would make me unhappy and I’m not a model and don’t need abs, so sugar needs to be a part of my diet.
Also, everything in moderation is alright — take that from somebody who lost 55 lbs eating a piece of chocolate every day, so they don’t crave one big dessert each week.
Less Caffeine
I was on an Ayurvedic diet program in December for a month to try something new. We could choose between one cup of coffee or two cups of tea per day.
Since Indian winters were freezing, I chose chai (tea) because it also helped me relive my childhood memory of dipping an entire pack of biscuits in my grandma’s tea when I was a kid. Of course, now I limit myself to only two.
Less caffeine made me:
- feel more energetic
- feel more hungry (coffee suppresses hunger)
- sustained my energy instead of temporary bouts
And while I ate more in this diet, I actually felt fitter and lighter because I was fuelling my body well.
I’m going to stick to less caffeine and instead of two black coffees a day, I’ll have one every other day. Trust me, I don’t miss it.
More Love
I know this may sound like voodoo to some of you, but for somebody who’s had issues with self-esteem and body image, I can’t emphasize enough on how powerful this is.
When I love and appreciate my body, my body is good to me.
As if it listens to me.
I often think of it this way — if you criticize something 5x a day, that’s lots of negative energy, isn’t it? And we are so much more than our muffin tops and love handles, yet we make it the center of our universe?
They say food made with love tastes better as well.
Love is a powerful energy, and using it for yourself is underrated.
Last
This probably isn’t the fitness article you thought it’d be — loaded with tips and tricks. To tell you about calorie deficit and doing a hundred burpees.
But hey, this stuff works.
And that’s what matters.
I hope you can resonate with this and pick up at least one of these changes in your own life, too.