A while back, I wrote an article for Fitness Hub about the importance of lifting weights while watching your diet. That article went viral, and since then, I’ve been asked to write some more articles for different websites on the same subject. As a person who’s always struggled with her weight, this subject really hits home for me. In this article, I’ll walk you through some of my personal experiences so you can understand what keeps me motivated to fight against my body image insecurities. I’ll also give you some simple tips on how to incorporate weightlifting into your fitness routine to lose that last bit of weight you need to feel confident in yourself and your body.
Keep Your Carbs Low
When you eat carbs, your body turns them into sugar, which in turn, gives you energy. While it’s great to get a boost of energy from food, you shouldn’t become dependent on it. If you’re looking to drop some pounds, it’s important to keep your carbs low while still eating healthily. If you go into ketosis (which I explain in more detail below), your body will eventually stop producing more fat, and your energy levels will soar. Carbs also contribute to the formation of plaque, which clogs your arteries and leads to heart disease. If you want to avoid this, stick to low-carb diets like the paleo diet or the ketogenic diet.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol is incredibly fattening. No matter how much exercise you do, it won’t make up for the damage drinking alcohol does to your body. If you’re struggling with your weight, it’s best to avoid alcohol. Why? Think about it this way: when you drink alcohol, you’re giving your body a vacation from the stress and tension of being overweight. If you really need a lift, drink wine instead of beer, which is generally a lot more expensive and has more calories. Don’t get me wrong, beer has its place and it’s usually brewed by my friends at the pub, but you should really drink in moderation. The same goes for whiskey, which I’ve always thought of as the bludgeon of the drinks. You’ve got your vodka and your rum, and while they’re both extremely refreshing, you shouldn’t really knock back more than a few drinks at a time. After all, it’s no secret that alcohol has been known to cause cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. So while I’m not saying you have to give up booze entirely, you certainly don’t need to drink it every day.
Find Your Inner Strength
One of the things that motivated me to lose weight was a quote made famous by Maya Angelou: “I’ve found strength in numbers, in other peoples’ struggles.” To me, this simply means that no matter how horrible situations may seem, if you can find the courage to fight, you’ll find the strength you need to succeed. When I was younger, I felt weak and fragile. Naturally, I wanted to please everyone around me, especially my parents. If I made them proud, I felt like I had accomplished something. When I got older, I began to see things differently. I realized that I could either let myself be defined by what other people thought of me or I could start defining myself by what I thought of myself. In the case of my parents, being a strong, confident person helped me to feel better about myself despite my weight issues. So by extension, I found that being strong and independent helped me to fight my body image insecurities. There are many battles you fight in life. Some you win, and some you lose. But what’s important is that you continue to fight.
Listen To Inspirational Music
Nowadays, we’re surrounded by music. Whether you’ve got your earbuds in while you work out, or you’ve got the latest album by Ed Sheeran playing, it’s impossible to escape music. When I started working out, I would listen to music whilst I worked out. Sometimes, I’d listen to old school hip-hop or R&B, and sometimes, I’d listen to more contemporary songs. What I found is that nothing teaches you to fight for yourself like some old school jams. Beyonce is a prime example of an artist who uses her music to empower women, and in the case of “Single Ladies,” she encourages her fans to stand up for themselves and not be intimidated by other people. While it’s great to listen to music that makes you happy, for those of us who are looking to lose weight, it’s important to find music that makes us workout. Sometimes, this is difficult. If you’re not sure what to listen to, here are a few suggestions: