Healthy Kickstart Guide
#EatClean #TrainDirty #TheMindfulMT #YourStoryMatters
So I had a friend ask for a kickstart for a healthy lifestyle and thought why wouldn’t I share it with my MindfulMT Community!! Here’s a look at what I shared with her!
First of all my biggest rule about living a healthy lifestyle is DO NOT do this in order to lose things. DO NOT go to the gym to become someone your not. DO NOT cut things out of your diet because others do it. This choice is for YOU and YOU only and you are perfect, beautiful, strong, passionate, and inspiring JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
Second, you MUST begin this journey and continue it from a place of POSITIVITY! Going to the gym isn’t a walk in the park but find ways that you can make it a positive part of your day. Watch your favorite show during cardio, make an incredible playlist for your weight training, find a work out that looks fun and interesting. Whatever works for you is the best way to work out.
SO when I first started this healthy lifestyle I began with a few things
Cutting out all carbs except grains (ex: no pasta, bread, crackers, cookies) Cutting out all dairy Finding http://www.fitforbroadway.com
Fit for Broadway was the first time I had seen anything that stressed the importance of health in our field instead of body image. Jane Jordan is a creative individual who has developed a company devoted to people like us. I HIGHLY recommend taking a look at her blog, there are great recipes, workouts, and much more.
Cutting out carbs and dairy had several benefits for me: clearer skin “lighter” feeling less tired more “satisfaction” less “I’m going to explode I ate so much” When I got back to school however, and wasn’t able to cook for myself I went gluten free. This gave me more options while maintaining my decrease of carbs.
FOOD
I love food. Like A LOT. So the idea on cutting out or dieting in anyway was so very unappealing. However, what I recommend is the following:
Find what fuels your machine (your body) to the best of it’s ability. It’s NOT about calories or trans fat. You are a force to be reckon with and your food should back you up. Get into cooking! Once I found the fun in creating my food I immediately wanted to make healthy and more nourishing choices. Plan ahead! This is a very general topic, but when you don’t pack a lunch or plan a meal you’ll find yourself with a pop tart and a glazed donut. Don’t tell yourself that you can’t have things. I know personally the minute I say no, that’s when I want it more than anything. Simply alter your choices, do not limit them.
WORKOUTS
The way I workout has changed a lot over time. I began as a cardio bunny, 30 min elliptical workouts all the time. But I soon realized, this wasn’t providing me with the muscle building and strength training I wanted. So I’ve implanted a combination of things.
SUPER IMPORTANT!! I highly highly recommend NOT making a grand plan for workouts. Time and time again I made calendars and lists about intense workouts I was “planning” to complete. Guess what? I never did. Instead I now approach my workout as “free time” whatever I feel like doing that’s what I do. No matter what I do in the gym I am still making progress. I repeat. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO YOU ARE STILL MAKING PROGRESS. It’s so easy to feel out of place and inadequate in a physical exercise setting, but remind yourself this is about YOU and NO ONE ELSE. You are doing the best you can.
Some of my typical workouts are as follows:
30 Min elliptical Dumbell bicep and tricep exercises Booty building bridges with weights Oblique exercises Plank Sit Ups Sumo Squats Deadlifts Pilates Videos Pop Sugar Fitness http://www.popsugar.com/Fitness-Video (Even the five minute workouts are great! A booty lifting set of exercises I’ve crafted
MIND Your mindset is the most important factor of a healthy lifestyle. If you are not healthy in mind and soul it is almost impossible to complete a healthy lifestyle.
This link (http://healthyisthenewskinny.com) is something that really helped me. Katie Wilcox started a modeling agency and company devoted to promoting HEALTHY over SKINNY. You are doing this to be healthy, always remind yourself of that. This is not about body image, because you are perfect just the way you are. That is so important to keep in mind. Try and stay away from body building blogs and videos, you want to look for real women who are supporting the healthy you. Other places to look are (http://www.blogilates.com)