Exercise is a MUST for every body type!

I feel a little bit like addressing my own story with nutrition and exercise and why I choose to live the way that I do. If you haven't read Sarah's story, I highly encourage you to do so HERE! I feel her story will resonate with many of you, as so many women are fighting the battle with their weight/nutrition/etc. But I fall into that different category of women who do not find themselves struggling too much with the numbers on the scale. As a person who doesn't have to work super hard to stay fit, I find that it's easy for people like me to think that they do not need to exercise. But that is just not the case! Being thin does not always equate a healthy body. I see plenty of women who are thin, but not fit. Where is the healthy muscle? Where are the fresh fruits and vegetables? Your metabolism is only going to hold on for so long before you actually have to put some effort into it. I went through a time in my life when I did stop exercising. About 6 years in fact! First I was battling my way through nursing school, then working as an RN--sometimes 16 hour shifts, 60 hours a week, mainly on night shift. I spent most of that time on my feet, so when I got home the very last thing that I even wanted to think about doing was getting on the treadmill. Did I gain weight initially? No. If anything, I lost weight. Why? It's simple. I was losing muscle mass. Prior to that, throughout my teens and early 20s, I had exercised regularly. But once I left college and joined the work force, things changed. I then went from my nursing career right into having my first child. It was a tough pregnancy and near the end, because of some complications, it was difficult for me to walk at all. So the last half of that pregnancy was spent with my feet up. Enjoying Doritos. And PB&J sandwiches. After he was born, he never slept and I was up at all hours of the night, so again, exercise took a backseat. This time, lacking muscle and exercise and eating whatever was easiest, I found the weight didn't fall off me quite so easily as it once had. But when my son was about a year old or so, while wearing shorts, I noticed that for the first time ever I had no muscle definition in my legs as I climbed the stairs. Even worse, I was huffing and puffing my way to the top every time I went upstairs. I was horrified! I had always been fit! But years of non-use had made my body "soft". So I vowed to do something about it. Here are a few photos of me during this time:

(As you can see, I wasn't fat, I was just looking....well, soft. No muscle tone AT ALL!)

I started slow on the treadmill, walking and working my way up to speed-walking and some running too (I freely admit I hate running. I wish I was a runner but I'm just not. I admire Sarah's ability and love for running, but it just isn't for me!). Then I added in push-ups because those sad, muscle-less arms were staring back at me in the mirror too. And finally, I added the Pilates I had loved in college to my routine to help out my core--because let's face it, having babies does NOT tighten your abs! (Click HERE for my post on pilates!) It took 6 months but I got back my old body--actually it was better! With the exception of a lengthy recovery from my second child's birth (I was on the treadmill up until the day before I delivered!), I've stuck to my routine. And here is what I look like now (this summer, visiting Central Park!):

(Excuse me, which way to the gun show? ;) Yes, this is just from 90 pushups a week! Ok, and lugging kids in and out of the car too!)

Now as Sarah has said, exercise is nothing without healthy eating! At the same time that I started out on the treadmill, I put away the Doritos and switched to protein packed salads for lunch and apples with peanut butter instead of cheezits for afternoon snacks, and sticking to lean meats for dinner--or at the least not going back for seconds! My current routine per week is very basic and simple: 3-4 30 minute sessions on the treadmill (usually with kids playing at my feet!), 30 push-ups after the treadmill, and 2-3 sessions of 20 minute Winsor Pilates (you can find this workout free on YouTube--click HERE!). Then I write what I've done on the calendar that hangs in my kitchen--that way I hold myself accountable and also "see" constantly my progress each week. The calendar doesn't allow cheating! ;) The gist of this post is that it shouldn't be about what size jeans you wear, but whether or not your body is healthy---active and well-nourished. Everyone has a "body type", so some people are super fit and trim at a size 12, and others a size 4. Both are ok! But if you are a thin person by nature, it's still important to feed yourself nutritious foods and give those muscles a good workout several times a week. Your body is like a car--give it proper fuel and maintenance and it will last for years and years! ;)

Best of luck Mamas! ~Briana