If only I could back to 15 year old Courtney, I would SHAKE her and remind her of some of these things that I'm going to share with you today.
If you're new here, hi! I'm Courtney, a health and wellness coach and Youtuber. I spent the first 10 years of my fitness journey wasting my time and money on all the wrong things. I was doing juice cleanses, I was cutting out carbs, I was doing an hour of cardio everyday.
The scary part is that it got me ABSOLUTELY no where. I spent years feeling puffy, bloated, inflamed and like no matter what I did, I couldn't get the results i was looking for.
It wasn't until I studied health and wellness in college and became a Certified Personal Trainer that it all started to click for me. So now, I'm going to save you some time and money and share with you the 10 things that I wish I knew in the beginning of my fitness journey.
Let's dive in.
You don't need to just workout in the gym in order for it to be an effective workout. You can still see incredible results from home workouts, light walks and even yoga!
Remember to take baby steps, start small and build over time. You're not going to completely change your life, body and habits in one day. So remember to take it one day at a time, focus on implementing healthy habits and just going slow. Slow and steady wins the race!
Everyone was a beginner at some point, so give yourself some grace. The girl you keep comparing yourself to, the one at the gym who seems like she's so much further along than you, yep, even she was a beginner at some point. Don't compare your chapter one to someone else's chapter twenty. We all start somewhere, never forget that and there's NOTHING wrong with being a beginner!
You cannot, and you will not, outwork a poor diet. Trust me, I've tried. If you're eating tons of fast food and not giving a damn about your nutrition, you cannot just "go burn off those calories" at the gym. Remember that 80% of your results come from healthy, balanced nutrition. Focus on your nutrition first, then your training.
You do NOT need to do cardio everyday. That is way too much on your body. Instead of exhausting yourself and driving your cortisol through the roof, focus on lifting weights and using resistance training 3-4 times a week. Add in a few walks, maybe a run or two, and that's it! Don't over do it.
A healthy diet consists of protein, fat AND carbohydrates. Yes, you read that right. Your body needs all three main macronutrients in order to have energy, in order to thrive and in order to burn fat. So don't be afraid of carbs, my friends! Your body needs them and will love them just as much as you!
Lifting weights will tone and transform your body way more than cardio will. Don't be afraid of getting bulky or looking "manly", the key to a toned and lean body is utilizing resistance training. Trust the process.
Not every workout needs to be tracked, to be super intense or to burn a certain amount of calories. Sometimes, you can go into the gym and just walk, just stretch. It's okay to not focus on the number, the time or the calories. Focus on enjoying your movement and having FUN during your workouts.
Your body needs rest. Take 1-2 days a week off from working out and give your body the rest it needs and deserves. You'll thank me later on this one.
Instead of looking for which diets are going to help you drop weight the fastest, focus on building a healthy lifestyle full of healthy habits and routines you love and can maintain forever. This is the key to the results, the body, the confidence and the glow you're looking for.
I hope these tips help, my friend! I'll see you in the next one!
Xx
Court