(At a fashion show, feeling good in a sleeveless dress thanks to my resistance training!)
When I was in my early 20's ( ummm, which I still am?:) I wanted nothing more than to be skinny, rail thin in fact. I ran an hour every day, and my diet, left a lot to be desired.....I was hungry, a lot. I was constantly moving up and down with my weight, and not just a few pounds, most likely because my body was trying to find a healthier weight for me, and I.....was trying to look like a fashion model. Funny thing is, no matter how much I tried, I was never going to look like a couture model, and everything that I was doing, was tough on my body and my mind.
Now that my workouts are largely resistance based, whether it be weights, or a body weight workout, I have seen huge changes in my body. Having a healthy amount of muscle under your skin gives a beautiful, healthy appearance and makes you look "toned". That's right...to be toned, you must carry a healthy amount of muscle! I am by no means big, but I am also not thin and frail. When I look at side by side pictures from when I was "skinny" to now when I'm athletic and toned....the difference is pretty amazing, and appearance wise, I think the majority of people would choose my current look over the one from my past. I would compare the past look to Lindsay Lohan, and the current one to Britney Spears in her heyday. The best part about a fit, healthy, lean look? I eat 6 meals a day, and I'm never hungry. This is so much more enjoyable and easy to maintain than constantly feeling that I need to deprive myself. I clearly watch what I eat, which I think is true of most lean people, but I enjoy life so much more:)
What is your goal? Skinny or lean and healthy?
* Photo courtesy of Jeff Baker
