The Post-Wedding 15

Since getting married, I have put on a solid 4 pounds. 
Ouch.
In my line of work, weight gain can be a career killer.  I always want to look the part and feel my best, no matter what stage of life I find myself in.
So, I marched into my dietitian's office yesterday for a reality check.  Turns out I'm not alone in the weight-gain category:  most newlyweds pack on about 15 pounds during their first year of marriage!!  15?! 
How is this possible?!
Newlyweds want to put the new Cuisinart sitting on the counter to good use.  New wives try to show their husbands their cooking skills.  She eats as much as he does.  The goal of fitting into a little white dress is now behind them. The honeymoon at the beach is over.  Crash-dieting right before the wedding slowed down her metabolism significantly. 
For my part, I didn't lose a huge amount of weight before my wedding but since being back from our honeymoon, I have been so focused on other things I tend to miss workouts.  I have been celebrating with friends and eating rich foods.
I promise to be consistent with my new diet & exercise program and will keep you, dear reader, posted.

Start Today.

I dedicate this blog post to a dear friend who reached out to me today in her quest for motivation to become healthier, overcome physical roadblocks and seek patience to stay focused in the months/years to come. Many people struggle with the overwhelming and daunting task of shedding pounds. It can be a scary, difficult, intimidating and long winding road. Everyone is afraid of failure and fear gets you nowhere. I fail every single day but that's why reaching the top is that much more rewarding!!

My encouragement to my friend and others like her is this:

1. Rome wasn't built in a day. The weight didn't pack on overnight. Therefore, it won't be gone tomorrow. Losing 30 pounds starts with 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2, 5, 10 and so on. Focus on today. Right now. Each day is a new opportunity to make smart choices.

2. You truly are what you eat. And drink. Each time you sit down at the table to eat (or plunk in front of the TV), it's a new chance to nourish your body. Imagine you purchase a shiny new car. If you put the cheapest gasoline in it's engine, it may not run as efficiently and may clog up or wear down quicker than if you feed it high-octane gas. Compare that cheap gas to beer, sugary drinks, fried foods, large portions of mac&cheese and processed foods. Your body will feel sluggish, low-energy and weary. I like 'The Eat-Clean Diet' by Tosca Reno. She's pretty inspiring and her recipes are easy, fun and made with REAL FOOD.

3. Overcome obstacles. If you have bad knees, a bum shoulder or an achy back, you can still lose weight. Sure, your exercises might not be as hardcore as they may have been in the past, but you can modify accordingly. Take up pilates or yoga and go for long walks with your husband after dinner each night. Skip happy hour with the girls and suggest you all rent bikes for the evening. Subscribe to Oxygen magazine for inspiring recipes and workouts. Contact me for inspiration--I do long-distance consulting and can help you via skype, email, phone, instant messaging, twitter, text message or psychological torture (heh heh)

4. Fad diets and cleanses are nonsense. Juice cleanses are all the rage these days. From BluePrint to Cooler Cleanse to the Master Cleanse, they're all about juicing your way to a better body. That's not sustainable for long periods of time and you WILL lose weight. But it's water weight that you lose, and before you know it, you'll gain each pound back and then some. I will blog separately about fasts and cleanses in another post. Eat sensible, whole, real foods. Keep a food & exercise log to visualize calories in and calories out. Incorporate healthy fats, fiber and protein into each & every meal & snack you eat.

5. Stay positive and keep your eyes on the prize. Put a picture of your ideal body on your fridge. I have Jillian Michaels on mine, as her body is similar to mine and I believe I can attain that physique. Don't say: I will lose 50 pounds by Thanksgiving. Because you won't. And you shouldn't. It's not healthy. Aim for a pound or two per week. Some weeks you won't lose any but over the course of 6 months or a year, you're a new person!

6. No drama, no excuses. Shed the negative influences from your life. 'Nuff said.

Spot Toning

I get asked the same questions over and over again:

How do I get washboard abs?

Will my stomach ever go back to normal after I’ve had a baby?

Can I shed the fat in the back of my arms?

How do I get rid of these saddlebags?

Can I get rid of back fat?

In other words, can I spot tone?

The short answer is no.

The long answer is this: the only way you can tone your arms, butt, back, abs and thighs is to lose overall body fat. By consistently eating clean, getting enough rest, keeping overall stress levels low and a daily dose of exercise – strength training & cardio – your body will change drastically. You’ll see overall results instead of improvement in just one area. As fat burns off, your muscles will begin to show, thus, the look of a ‘toned’ body.

It's a simple or complicated as that! If you're new to the weight loss game or looking to get back into that itsy bitsy dress after having a baby, here are some tips to get you started:

• Keep a food and exercise log -- calories in, calories out.
• Hire a certified fitness coach and/or a dietitian and do what they say
  
• Make mini-goals for yourself every 4-6 weeks, i.e. a 5K run, a trip to the beach, a visit from an old friend
• Drink water. Lots of water. Add lemon for an extra cleanse to your intestines
• Move. Get off the couch.
  
• Join a local sports league and play your favorite sport