Get tips and advice from Julie, a Buff Bride who's been there!
Q: What words of advice on dieting do you have for women who are now in your shoes?
A: My best advice about dieting is everything in moderation. Life is too short to not enjoy things like chocolate and peanut butter ice cream. Save "bad" foods as rewards for good behavior and they'll taste even sweeter!
Learn to be a picky eater. Don't be afraid to tell a restaurant how you want a dish prepared — such as asking for chicken to be grilled instead of pan-seared — or to throw away food if it's not exactly what you want. What's better? Wasting food or having it waste on your hips? But if you're craving something specific, sometimes it's best to just go ahead and eat a little bit of it. Otherwise you'll likely waste more calories eating a bunch of other foods trying to satisfy yourself than if you just had a few bites of what you really want.
Try a new recipe each week. Healthy food can be incredibly tasty. By trying new recipes, you can find ways to spice up vegetables and other staples for your diet. Try to include recipes that have foods that you haven't tried before.
Q: What words of advice on exercise do you have for women who are now in your shoes?
A: Vary your workouts. Try a new exercise class or a new machine once a month. Not only will it keep your body on its toes, it'll help keep you excited about exercising. But also find one activity that you can excel at (or in my case, an activity that is always challenging me). Set goals for yourself and keep a record of your accomplishments. Use that to judge your progress rather than the scale.
Strength training! I can't stress enough what a difference this will make. In the long run, you'll burn more calories and you'll look more fit. If you're not sure what exercises to do, ask a trainer at your gym, sign up for a few personal training sessions, or buy a book like Buff Brides.
Include your honey or a friend. By bringing someone along to excercise, it'll seem more like hanging out than working out. Plus, you can challenge each other to push yourselves further than you would likely on your own.
