First off let’s ask the question what does losing weight really mean?
I will answer that question in regard to my expertise and what I specialize in. Losing weight to me means losing excess body fat that the body has stored due to overeating, imbalanced hormones, blood sugar issues, chronic stress and a weak foundation. Each one of these reasons have a lot of variables and can become very detailed, which is why I have been a health and wellness investigator and trainer for over 20 years.
It takes investigation work to dive into these issues and try to figure out where the root of the problem really is. I have done this “diving in” work with my clients for years and the #1 thing I absolutely know for sure is, if the body’s foundation is weak everything else struggles. Our bodies want to be fit and healthy. Our bodies want to be in a balanced state. Our bodies want to function optimally, and our bodies can continue to thrive and strive for balance even as we age.
So, the answer is if we develop a strong efficient functioning foundation then every other area will have the support it needs to work at its optimal levels.
So, what is this “foundation” I’m talking about anyways? It’s having and continuously developing healthy muscle. Muscle is our largest organ in the body. It is the organ of longevity (as Dr Gabrielle Lions teaches) Muscle is the key player with our overall health and wellness. The health of our muscle mass is a dictator of how the body ages. So, we need to build healthy lean strong muscles so our body can function optimally.
I am not talking about gaining bulking looking muscle, which many women I have worked with never would have strived for. I am not saying bulking up is a bad thing, some people prefer that – it’s just not necessary for how I obtain overall optimal health.
The many clients I have worked with over the years have been able to develop lean trim looking muscle mass and were finally able to increase their metabolic rate and burn stored fat as fuel. Muscle plays a pivotal role in boosting our metabolism and immune system ‘s as well as increasing bone strength and aiding in excess fat loss. Excess fat in our body is a huge disruptor, and I am a pro at helping women create a body that is efficient with burning it out.
As women we need to absolutely make sure we are not over fat and under muscled. Healthy muscle increases the metabolism and creates a strong foundation that all the systems in the body highly benefit from. Gaining healthy muscle and losing excess fat is the #1 answer/solution to obtaining optimal health and longevity.
We need to always pay attention to our foundation (muscle health) because as we age and enter into new stages of our lives we need to know how to do the restorative work repairing the cracks (imbalances, weak internal systems) that have developed through bad habits, dysfunction, and neglect. We may think we are doing the right things but end up feeling worse. Why is this? Well again, I will say foundation. A weak and unstable foundation (muscle health) will not be able to hold the pressures of any added stressors.
Exercise is a stressor but is a VERY good one when done correctly. We need to exercise in order to get fit right? But we must do it in a way that doesn’t cause more negative/detrimental stress to our body. When your body is in a burned-out state a fitness routine can end up making you worse and even be dangerous for the already burned out system you are dealing with.
When and how should you exercise when your body is in a burned-out state?
Exercise is best in the morning times because exercise releases cortisol which is beneficial when being released at the right times and for the right reasons. We do benefit in a healthy way from cortisol, and we need it in proper doses. We need our cortisol levels to be down in the evening so that we can obtain good quality sleep. These two factors play a huge role in the healing from burn out and can also have many variables on how this will work successfully within one’s life and lifestyle.
Exercise is amazing for creating the release of many other beneficial chemical reactions and can be the leading cure for most health issues. Although being in a burned-out state is very touchy, because pushing yourself too hard when your body is in a burned-out state will only lead you to feeling more empty, powerless, decreased performance, emotional exhaustion, feeling like a failure, defeated, hopeless, and even more drained.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that is caused by excess and prolonged stress. Burnout can cause changes in the body that make you vulnerable to illnesses, progressive aging, degenerative diseases, endocrine disorders, and many imbalances.
You deserve to feel well! We live once! This is it!
