Women: Breaking The Stereotypes

Alas, I am alive and kicking. My apologies in advance, I am not the best with keeping up with blogs..or websites for that matter (STILL working on getting my website off the ground). Blogs and websites (whether you use a free blogging/website tool, or a paid source) are all a lot of hard work. This past week and a half; major writers block, which is odd considering I know I have a LOT to assay about fitness and nutrition, yet somehow my mind went black (until today that is). This entry I am going to touch base on a topic that hits home for me in many ways: breaking the stereotypes as women. Now, I am only writing about this in terms of exercise.


This, is the number one thing I am tired of falsely reading and MUST debunk: lifting will make you "huge", "bulky", "manly"..no, No it will not. Firstly, women have MUCH LESS testosterone than men do. It is not possible (unless a woman chooses to uses steroids, since that will up your testosterone levels) to get as "bulky" looking as men do when lifting heavy (granted, even from what I have learned, read, and seen myself...even men don't get as "stereotypically" bulky as society makes them out to be from lifting; which brings up another point:

Your "size" or "bulk" with lifting will largely vary from person to person

As we have all learned, since we were all young kids: there are lots of different and varied body types. Not many people will have that exact same body type even if their bodies look identical. Makes sense right? So WHY on God's green earth do people seem to not think this same basic principle applies when it comes to lifting weights? Yes, I may be lifting the same 25-30 pound free weight as "Sally" and "Max" next to me, but all three of us are NOT going to have the same long term end-results as one another. And this is due to some factors such as: bone density, base muscle mass, doing the exercise in its proper form (yes, doing it wrong is NOT only dangerous, but will give you at best different results), testosterone levels, metabolism differences, and so forth. This means: some people, weight lifting will make them look more cut and defined, while others can have a more "bulky" appearance (which again, if anything "bulky" is something that happens much more with men due to higher testosterone).

Women need to be "dainty" 

So...lets touch base on this for a moment. Even I have some friends and family whom try to steer me away from "heavy lifting" because I'll end up looking "too masculine". Now, the kicker is..I have been weight lifting heavy for about..two years now I would guess? And I'm still waiting for my apparent "bulk" that I was supposed to get two years ago to happen. Am I more cut and more defined? Absolutely! And I love that, but I am very far from "bulky". In fact, my google plus account has a before/after photo comparison. The one where I am wearing the red shirt is the most recent/after photo. I look more defined and cut, which is perfectly acceptable for myself. I personally love the idea, and am striving to be, not only a mentally strong, but a physically strong woman as well. Yes, I have a fiancé...love him dearly. But in the same respect I'm an INCREDIBLY independent woman. I do not want to have to rely on him for money, my own self respect/worth, and for protection. that last piece, I feel for all of us women is so key. I do try to stay positive in all aspects of life, HOWEVER, unfortunately, this world is becoming slowly and gradually, a more violent and scary place to live in (and again, there are a lot of positives in life, in nature, with our earth...but most forms of crime increasing, is an unfortunate fact at the moment (side note: if anyone wants me to pull up any figures on this, I most certainly know, because I know I have learned and read this from several sources, just cannot think of them of the top of my head). And since I am independent and work, I would estimate that at least 12 out of the 24 hours in the day, I am by myself (with work, working out, running errands, and so on). I want to be able to fend for myself if some creep tries to come up to me for God only knows what reason. I am proud to tell others that I know how to use something as simple as my keys as a weapon if I need to, that I know self defense, how to throw a punch/kick, and that I am an avid weight lifter. I am not afraid to defend myself if need be because I have enough self respect within myself to have given myself these tools and to know there's nothing wrong with having these tools. And finally, ladies, I have to point this fact out:

If he loves you, he will stay with you, no matter what your hobbies may be

Some women say they won't do heavy weight lifting because their "man won't like it" or "how it makes them look". Firstly, it may sound selfish but if you take time to think about it...it's really not, but: YOU GOT TO DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY FIRST. And here's why: if you are not doing what you love because of a man (or anyone else for that matter) you WILL not internally be a happy person. And if you are not a happy person, that negative energy WILL radiate onto others, even if you are not trying to...it will happen. So as odd as it sounds that is why you got to be selfish and do what you love no matter what anyone, and I mean ANYONE tells you, because if not then you will end up having a miserable and negative attitude towards others, because an important chunk of you WILL BE MISSING. And honestly ladies, if a man is going to leave you just because you want to heavy weight lift...he probably was not a good choice to begin with. Any man whom tries controlling anything about his girlfriend (which yes, most certainly includes hobbies) is NOT a man at all. If he is doing that, he is either insecure within himself, is power hungry, a potential abuser in any form (mental, emotional, physical), and/or all or a mix of the three.

STAY INSPIRED!!

Let's Talk "ItWorks!" (or reality, doesn't work) For a Moment...

So, I am assuming most of us have heard of the “ItWorks!” wraps and other bull-junk products they sell. I am here to write about why this company, and its products all equal one big pile of crap.

Firstly, is it possible that I am biased? Perhaps so considering I just graduated with my B.S in Health Sciences and minored in Biological Sciences. Not to mention I am continuing on to get certifications to be a personal trainer, health coach, and hopefully a certified health education specialist (CHES). However, I do not like to think biased as much as a mix of experience and education. As some know, my passion for good health and fitness began at the age of only 13 when I began Jenny Craig (which, looking back now with all I know, there's a lot of downsides to this program, but a topic for a different post). Once I began Jenny Craig I just could not get enough in terms of learning about nutrition and fitness. So, let's start with a very important bullet-point:

There are no magic “diet” potions, pills, wraps, foods, etc.

The “ItWorks!” wraps work, however, all they work at is getting you to lose water weight, that's it. And yes, some people can have a LOT of excess water weight in their systems. That's all you loose with those wraps. It really just baffles my mind that people believe you can actually lose “fat weight” with these wraps. No wrap by any company will ever do that. I'm sorry and hate to burst happy bubbles, but a wrap is “cream” is NOT making you lose fat. And, this is the point where I must mention that when it comes to weight and appearance, the media has made us all incredibly insecure as women. We are basically taught since we are little to want to disown our bodies for all things under the sun society and media deem to be “unattractive.” And, since the media, society, and thusly: BUSINESSES (I.e.: the “ItWorks!” corporation) know how insecure women are about their bodies and that a lot of us unfortunately will do about ANYTHING to change something about ourselves. Hence, “ItWorks!” makes a lot of hog-wash and bogus claims. And why do they get away with their claims? As I have been saying, because the media has especially broken down a woman’s mentality so far down that she may become desperate, willing to try anything, and so dearly hope all the claims she heard to be correct. So she begins the biggest ItWorks trademark, their wraps. Loses weight, gets excited, thinks this product is the bees knees, and that “hey losing weight can be easy”. Well yes, losing water weight? Very easy. Loosing fat? Not so much. Which being the next point:

Loosing weight is a slow process one that involves not only body, but mind and spirit as well

Sounds stereotypical? Perhaps. But true? Absolutely. If your mind is not in it for the haul, you will either lose only a slight amount, or nothing at all and continue to gain. Being distracted, down in the dumps, and lack motivation for instance, are all within the mind, and are all things that will hold you back. If you are in a bad state of mind, no wrap is going to change that, and no wrap alone will get you any real desired physical result )which can have an adverse effect of making you more upset and frustrated...not the path I want to see anyone be going down, because I have been there, and I know for a fact that's not a good place to be in. Spirituality is the root to a lot of things (and before I continue on let me make this statement BOLD AND CLEAR: SPIRITUALITY DOES NOT EQUAL HAVING RELIGION/RELIGIOUS BELIEFS); it is what makes us feel connected to the earth, our surroundings, our soul/inner being, and how we feel about the lack of or sense of continuing on in a form of an afterlife (<-still not religion, you can absolutely believe in God and afterlife without believing in religion). But if something in your spiritual connectedness is broken or off, that will take you into a downward spiral quick. Why? Because as stated: having a good spiritual balance in anyone's life is a key component to happiness. So if mind, body, and/or soul/spirit are out of sync, weight loss and being healthy, also go out of sync. And again: wraps will NOT solve these kinds of problems to get you back to feeling like you're on the right track (which is detrimental to success in weight loss).

There is no quick fix

It's a very simple formula, put too much into the body: you're going to gain and that's just how it is. If you equally put in what comes out, you maintain; and finally if you put less in than what comes out, THAT IS WHEN YOU LOSE WEIGHT. And to tone or firm? Sorry but no quick or magic fix there either. You have to workout. Not working out, sure doesn't mean you will necessarily be “fat” but, if your goal is to be “firmed,” “toned,” and/or “muscular,” that will not happy without calisthenics/anaerobic activities. Also, remember: just because someone looks slender on the outside does not mean they are healthy internally, how do you know they're not a chain smoker? Excessive alcoholic? Or have fatty blockages forming in their arteries (yes, if a thin person only eats junk, they too will get clogged arteries..fatty blockages do not discriminate based on one's outward appearance). Again these wraps ONLY MAKE YOU LOSE WATER WEIGHT; which means they can clear out artery fat and blockages, they can't make a smoker's lung go from black and tuff to pink and soft, and they can't make a defective liver work again.

Losing weight is:
Changing your view on food, seeing it as fuel source vs pleasure
Eating anything in moderation
Performing in some kind of physical activity at moderate level, at least 30 minutes/day 5-6 times each week

So in sum:
ItWorks! doesn't work in the way it claims
There is no secret, no magic cream or potion, no wrap or pill that will take off the fatty weight
Losing weight = simple equation
Losing weight = hard work AND dedication, there IS NO WAY of getting out of that
I am a health and fitness professional with an educational background and years of experience with this so….
No, I don't want to become your Guinea Pig or experiment in trying any of their scammed products, no I have zero interest in ever using their products again because I used them once at a low and weak point in my life..and as I said, only water weight (myself included) is/will be lost (which isn't the weight most people care too entirely much about losing

In sum, though I speak the reality, in a perhaps slightly blunt fashion, I hope everyone reading this finds success in their weight loss and mind-body-spirit fitness journeys. Just please, whatever you do, please do not fall for the “ItWorks!” scam/pile of bull.

Stay forever healthy, and forever fit ❤️

Parting Was Such...Sweet Sorrows, But Worth It

Hello to all. My apologies for it being over a year since last blogging. I have to update this more often. And I am writing here today to let anyone know who may still view this blog that updates will be coming shortly. Specifically beginning after May 14 (when I graduate SUNY Brockport) with my Bachelors in Health Sciences. Immediately following, I will begin a personal trainer certification program; however, since I will no longer be in school, and have taken time to grow as an individual, updates will becoming once again in about two weeks! Keep posted on that. My first blog back in about two weeks is going to be about a school project I did on aging and activity. It is quite the interesting health education program, and would love to share it with the world.

Until next time,

Stay Forever Fit, and Forever Healthy! Love&&Peace