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Diet and EXERCISE Basics

LOL

  • If you’re not huffing and puffing and sweating your ass off and look like you just fell into a pool, you’re not working hard enough! I’m exaggerating but why go to the gym if you’re not going to push yourself?
  • Weight training will not make women bulky! We don’t have the testosterone to get “bulky” like men.
  • You need to incorporate strength-training in order to burn fat. It increases metabolism AND tones you up.
  • Muscle is denser than fat. If you’re weight training, you may still weight the same but you’ll look a LOT leaner. Of course, diet brings the slimming factor.
  • Don’t do something you hate or you’ll hate working out. If you hate jogging, don’t force yourself on the treadmill even though it’s apparently the “best” cardio machine. Have you tried increasing the intensity on the elliptical or the bike? It’s killer.
  • “Abs are made in the kitchen.” There’s no point in doing thousands of crunches if you’re not dieting. I was talking to someone last weekend about this and they were so shocked that they had to diet too in order to get abs!
  • People who loose weight over a longer period of time tend to keep it off (eg. only 1-2lbs/week) so take it slow.
  • Don’t be self-conscious because no one at the gym gives a shit about what you’re doing (unless your hogging the machines or reek of B.O.) because they are too busy concentrating on themselves. When I go to the gym, I have my music on at full-blast and I pretty much ignore everyone around me and I go alone so I don’t have distractions. I sometimes walk around without glasses/contacts so I’ll be blind… people usually think I’m rude because I don’t respond if they look at me. I CAN’T SEE YOU!!
  • Everyone’s bodies are different. Just because someone else’s work out works for them, doesn’t mean it may work for you. For example, fasted cardio/cardio AFTER lifting burns more fat? These don’t work for me because I find that my energy level is lower therefore half-assing my workouts. You just need to find out what works best for you through trial-and-error.

The first couple weeks are always hard because it takes time to see results but once you see it, you won’t want to stop! So don’t give up!!

And remember to eat… girls who starve themselves don’t realize how detrimental it is to their weight loss goals. You can’t starve yourself forever [unless you want to die], and once you eat, you’ll gain it all back because your metabolism is in the pits. The City Geisha wrote an article on “Skinny Fat” a couple weeks ago which is a good read.

Read: Diet and NUTRITION Basics

42 Responses to “Diet and EXERCISE Basics”

  1. Kimm says:

    I’d rather lose 1-2 pounds a week then 15+ like the folks on biggest loser. Its not healthy.

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    Actually I think it’s normal for them to burn off a lot in the beginning and then it’ll slow down. Overweight people actually have more lean muscle than regular people (it’s just under all that fat) and a higher metabolism. That’s why it’s harder for regular people to lose that much weight.

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  2. annant says:

    i stop hitting da gym lately due to my oh-so-tight schedule and oh-so-many ass-ignments :(

    but i take good care of what i consume…less fatty bom bom food and more fruits & veggies…partly becos im down with sore throat :(

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  3. Andhari says:

    Sweet tips, Katy. I so agree with doing what you like. I’m not into treadmill but I love elliptical and spend time a couple times a week on it..:) I’m not big on weight training though..:(

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  4. Carla says:

    This was a good read and has pretty much inspired me to just hop to it!

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  5. jeannie says:

    Thanks, Katy! You are too cute! Thanks for these tips – I’ve been getting into a work out routine and it’s been kicking my butt!

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  6. Anastacia says:

    This is such nice posting!
    Simple but very useful information!

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  7. Damita says:

    Ha ha great post… I hate it when people look at me at the gym :(

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  8. tiff k says:

    thank you dear for the tips! I really have to go to a proper gym and find the best workout for me because i LOSE WEIGHT SO SLOWLY. I have no idea why really… i’ll do my best though!!

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  9. kym says:

    i was just commenting on someone elses’ blog about how i’ve started exercising many times but was never to keep it up! :( now that it’s raining too, its harder to be motivated to go running! and i have gym membership drama (golds gym :irritated: )

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    I think the biggest motivation is when you start seeing results.. it’s just hard getting there. :S

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  10. Kim says:

    Awww good lookin’ out! People always ask me why I lift, but it’s necessary!

    Reading your blog always keeps me motivated to work out more!

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  11. Sher says:

    very informative! though I love food too much to diet -sigh-!

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    I love food so I work out so I can eat as much as I want without gaining more weight. Think about it that way. :P

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  12. Linh says:

    That picture is so funny!!! hehe really made me lol.

    I’ve always wanted to hit the gym but the price would always put me off. They decribed Britain as ‘Fat Nation’ so why make the gyms so expensive. I go to school and don’t have enough time to spare yet. You really made me feel better when you wrote that if we don’t like jogging then we shouldn’t do it. Now I know that I should actually be doing what I like hehe.

    Thank you for the comment on my blog :D Really appreciate it hehe. I know that this year the knee high boots are the hit so I’m trying to find a nice affordable pair, they look really nice!!! And I know how much you love boots, saw you wearing them in the past posts, yeah I been reading your blog before I made my own! Hehe you post very interesting things, always a good read :D

    Sorry for this long post, I got carried away >.<

    xxx

    REPLY

    If you don’t have time to go to the gym, I think even the littlest things make a difference like taking the stairs, walking to class, cutting junk food/pop, etc. But yeah, I seriously hate jogging on the treadmill so much because I get soo bored even though there’s a TV built into it. I only use to warm up/cool down.

    Yeah, it’s so hard finding the perfect pair of knee-high boots especially when you’re so tall. :(

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  13. Victoria says:

    Some good tips here. I like to exercise regularly anyway, but this should be good motivation for those who shun it/have common misconceptions.

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  14. Jen says:

    When I’m at the gym I don’t look at people either. Then my coworker seen me at the gym and told me later that he was trying to say hi and I full on ignored him. haha. Apparently its obvious that I’m avoiding eye contact with everyone. =P But when I look at people and smile, I feel like a creep. lol

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    It’s not that I don’t want to look at people.. I just don’t like to wear my glasses when doing cardio because I sweat so much so not my fault I can’t see anyone. :P But yeah, I think the gym is a place where you go in, do your thing and get out… it’s not a place to “hang out.”

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  15. Amy says:

    I lift too since the only thing that will happen is that we get toned! (not to mention stronger. ;) and squats are the BEST for your butt!

    i agree – you need to sweat your ass off since there is no point. (reason why i love hot yoga) As for eating – I agree that diets and starving yourself doesn’t work. (sure eat healthy and as long as you dont eat mcdaonlds 3x a day EVERYDAY you should eat whatever you want)I actually eat MORE when i work out just b/c my metabolism is faster!

    Great post!

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  16. Bunnie says:

    Ahh yes. The good old workin out. It does take a lot of time and effort. Damn it’s hard. I can’t keep it consistent though. Ugh. :) I take it you go to the gym often? You looked pretty tall and slim :) How was your bday?? It was nice meeting you :) Hope you were smashed out of your mind ;) (is that appropriate to say here? Haha) You’re such a sweetheart! And yes, the tutu outfit is waht I wore @ Aubar. What are you doing this halloween?

    xo

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    Yeah I go a lot but only so I can eat more… I love food too much!!

    Yeah the night was fun but it was a blur!! Did you end up staying the whole night? I saw you once in the beginning and didn’t see you again after that. :(

    Not sure what I’m doing this Halloween yet though.. what are you doing? I wanted to dress up as the 7 sins with my girlfriends but they didn’t want to do it because it wouldn’t really make sense unless we were all together the whole night :( so I’m going as Lady Gaga instead. Have you thought of your costume?

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  17. lisa says:

    Great tips! I agree that watching what you eat is as important as working out.

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  18. hehe it’s true! if you’re not sweating then you’re not working hard enough! I see these girls that put on make up and wear lululemon to the gym and run on the treadmill for like 5 min… what’s the point?!

    and I agree that truly madly deeply is a great song, and i knew that i loved you… I liked crash and burn a lot too!! Oooh if they only have a reunion tour <3

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    They probably go there hoping they’d meet hot guys. If I were a guy, I’d be so turned off!

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  19. Jenny says:

    Oh goodness, someone really thought they could gain abs without ditching the bad food diet? *failness

    I like the last statement so much. It’s why I really hate giving out weight loss/toning body advice because everyone IS different and then they’ll come back to me screaming it didn’t work as if I lied to them about how I toned up =Y.

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  20. Michelle says:

    I thought you were a fitness expertise when I read this ! i used to go to the gym often back then, but I kinda lost my interest in it. I really wanna get back on track though.. it feels great to have a great body to show off ! :D plus i can wear the bandage dresses that are trendy lately..hhehehe..

    thx for coming to my blog :D
    hope you liked it and will keep visiting!
    glistersandblisters.blogspot.com

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  21. Scott says:

    We don’t have the testosterone to get “bulky” like men.

    Unless you are Madonna apparently ;)

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    Bulky like this:
    http://www.blisstree.com/healthbolt/files/2007/03/bodybuilder.jpg

    *yuck* I feel like puking when I saw that pic!!

    But then it is possible if they take steriods or something:
    http://preamp.us/galaxy09/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/female_body_builders08.jpg

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  22. Cecilie says:

    Great advices:) I know what you mean. A lot of people tend to force themselves to do things they hate and quickly lose interest.

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  23. kristine says:

    i remember when i was doing studio dance, there was this chick that would be in the corner ALL the time doing 1000000 crunches per minute & she would even jog in place sometimes. she was obsessively psycho about being fit so she was always pushing herself and then would beat herself up for not looking the way she expects to. she was already so skinny and all she ever ate were carrots, celery, basically rabbit food. i wonder if she pooped out pellets too. anyway, you’re so right about every body being different. i rarely did crunches i did half as much as this chick did and i ate foods that would probably turn her ass bulimic. and i’m fit. i still have my body from junior year of high school. abs and legs. my arms, not so much. but whatever i’ll just wear sweaters. so girls who try to reach that ideal body they’re wanting should NEVER ever compare themselves to others. i think the hardest thing for people is finding that “push” or motivation to reach that goal. omg i’m writing you a novel. my point is, … you’re right. people need to take it niiiice and slowwww

    REPLY

    That reminds me of those “ana” blog communities I use to see all over Xanga where girls get together and support each other (they were all anorexic/bulumic) and encourage each other to starve themselves. They were even proud of their disease… stuff like that makes me sick and should be treated.

    Your lucky, you must have fast metabolism! Mine use to be fast until I got out of high school and then it plummeted, but then eating at 7-11 everyday probably didn’t help it much. :P

    It’s alright, I like reading “novels.” ;)

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  24. Amber says:

    Thanks for posting things like this, they’re great for keeping me motivated!

    side note: I love your last post about Richmond, I actually loled.

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  25. Malin says:

    Good tips! I wish I could have a gym-partner like I did a year ago, everything was so much easier then! Now I live in a town where I don’t know anybody, and I don’t really want to go to the gym alone.

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  26. vcky says:

    i’m keeping an impromptu food diary, first to get healthy and second to gain weight. i’ve always been WAY too self-conscious to go to the gym, but i realize now i should just do what i do when i swim – take off contacts and glasses and feel good about it :) i found your site through bunniebar and just read a wackload of your posts, i love the BOOK one. *bookmark.

    REPLY

    A food diary is good to help you get started and opens your eyes to how many calories you’re consuming… I was kinda surprised because I always thought I ate way too much but then I realized I wasn’t even meeting my daily requirement on most days. :S I don’t think it’s something to obsess over though but it does help!

    Do whatever it takes to make you feel more confident when going to the gym. =)

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  27. Well, different strokes for different folks so they say. I’ve been on again and off again with gym and work out routines. The first few days are always exhausting. And then once I’m back on track, soon after I get tired of the same old routines and eventually disappear from the gym.

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  28. linda says:

    i hate walking in a straight line! so cookie cutter. :( but there is no way around it! LOL that’s why i always fail at dieting!

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  29. Becca says:

    I think I might have the skinny fat thing going on with my thighs, they’re really squishy. Or maybe it’s just fat! harharhar

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  30. lucky says:

    the picture of that cat makes me smile haha! :)

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