Keeping Fit

A common concern among women wanting to start an exercise program is that they don’t want to build large, freaky muscles. The vast majority of women seem to believe that if they exercise with weights, they’re going to become “HUGE”. This is definitely not true. I work out with weights five days a week and I’m not a huge muscle-bound guy. Getting huge is not my goal, but what I’m saying is…it’s not easily accomplished…even for a guy.

The average woman doesn’t produce the testosterone levels needed to create “HUGE” muscles. A woman’s testosterone levels are about seven times less than that of a man’s. The extra testosterone a male possesses is the main reason why it’s easier for men to build more muscle and typically lose fat quicker than women. The more muscle one has the faster the metabolism…the faster the fat burn. For every pound of lean muscle you build, your basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases by approximately 30-50 calories per day; ten extra pounds of muscle can burn up to 500 extra calories a day.

Bottom line: Although most women don’t want “HUGE” muscles, they do want a firm, toned, shaped body…which comes from building muscle.

I wake up at 4:30am Monday through Friday every week. When Saturdays come around…I like to sleep in until at least 6:30am, but this morning I couldn’t. I woke up around 5am with someone on my mind. Is this “someone” you??

What’s it going to take to get you to lose that weight? I hear you complain about back pain and knee pain. I hear you talk about the emotional pain associated with being overweight. I see the depressed state you’ve allowed yourself to drop into. I see how much your weight affects your everyday life, but yet…..you continue to do nothing about it. What’s it going to take??? I feel your hurt and I share your tears, but it’s not up to me. The WANT is up to you!!! You have to REALLY want to change in order to make a change. It’s ALL up to you. So, are you going to continue to sit around on your butt feeling sorry and depressed! Or is today the day that you’re going to FINALLY say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I’ve been personal training for nearly twenty years now and I have to say that Fridays are the best. On Fridays I typically get more out of my clients than any other day of the week. What I mean by this is…they work harder. They push for that extra rep. Less complaints. I wonder why this is?? Is it because people are generally happier on Fridays and mood plays an important role in fitness? Is it because they know they have one last workout before a weekend of recovery? Whatever the reason…I’ll take it!

Hope you have a Happy Fitness Friday!!