Workouts Aren't a Cure All

I got a newsletter today with a great quote for all of us to think about...

YOU CAN'T OUT TRAIN A BAD DIET. PERIOD.

We've talked several times about making the most out of your workouts, kicking it with intensity, and putting the time in that your body DESERVES.

Many of us, though, who find the light bulb for exercise fail to flip our diet switch. We think tough workouts, endless cardio, running marathons, and any other athletic thing you can think of is going to erase a ding-dong here, a cup cake there, and a few drinks this weekend.

It won't. Trust me. This is the voice of experience talking.

Last year I competed. I worked out less than I did earlier this year. Last year I did almost an hour of weights five days a week and anywhere from 30-60 min. of cardio a day.

This year from January to June I put a ton of time in each and every day doing weights like a figure athlete, running like a marathoner, and cardio for tris. I truly worked out 2-3 hours a day.

Last year at this time I weighed 135-138 lbs. This year I weigh 145-148 lbs while exercising double! What's the real difference? Diet.

Last year the diet was tight and on target. I didn't eat out but one meal a week and stuck religiously to 1500 calories a day of lean protein, tons of veggies, healthy fats, limited carbs.

This year I eat a well-balanced diet BUT I sneak a protein bar in here and there instead of real food, have ice cream a couple of times a week, drink on Saturday night, and eat out once or twice a week whatever I want.

Don't get me wrong. I like where I am now. 145 is still sexy. It's not hard, defined, and such. I like that 135 Corinne, too. But I like the living a little Corinne. This Corinne means she can have a meal out with Mammy, drinks with Daddy, and ice cream with Loggie without having to rearrange a week's worth of plans.

The point is that I like to eat and I enjoy having some treats. That means sacrificing some of the definition and look I love. To be able to eat, though, I can't and you can't expect to make progress - NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU EXERCISE. None of us can workout enough to erase all the food we sneak in during the week.

What I am saying is if you don't like how you look you gotta change something. Most of the time it's your food intensity; not your workout intensity. Just adding some cardio or another day of workouts isn't going to fix what ails you. Fix the problem not what's working.

Comments

[Rachel]

Thank you for this! And I have been eating my cals. this week! :)

[Health Advocate]

This is a very interesting posting on work outs and calorie intake. I think one should be careful about diet when on a weight loss regime. :)