STRONG, NOT SKINNY

It's about longevity, not aesthetics

Topics included:

-longevity, diet culture, weight lifting, protein, weight loss, osteoporosis

This post will be a very general overview on several topics that I will delve deeper into in future articles. But to begin, let’s chat about why we’re aiming to be STRONG, not skinny.

Disclaimer: Every body is different and requires different attention.

The Real Goal: Longevity

What will the last ten years of your life look like? Hopefully, it’ll look like playing with your grandchildren, making meals for your family, walking your dog, having the ability to travel if you please, work in your garden, etc.

For some, their last ten years are spent in a wheelchair, in and out of the hospital, and the inability to open a jar.

Show me your habits now, and I’ll tell you what your last ten years may look like. The deciding factor? Movement.

Movement is Medicine

If there were a pill you can take that will make you live longer, healthier, happier, and decrease your risk of diseases- I think we’d all take it. Good news: it’s free. It’s called movement, and it’s not a pill.

Movement will keep your joints and muscles strong, your heart strong, and decrease risk of some diseases.

What kind of movement?

Weight lifting, walking, running, playing outside, hiking, pilates, stretching, almost anything other than sitting on your phone on the couch. It’s not only great for your body, it’s also great for your mental health and self-confidence as well. We don’t do it enough, but we’ll wish we did later.

Weight Lifting

You should be weight lifting. For women especially, we are an incredible amount more likely to develop osteoporosis (weakened bones, makes them more likely to break). Weightlifting stimulates bone formation, making your bones stronger.

I plan to write several more articles on this topic- how to weight lift, resources, at-home exercises, workouts, etc.

Another great way to improve your bone density is going on walks with a weighted vest. Which also just feels badass.

Not to mention your MUSCLES. Weightlifting will strengthen your muscles, which are a key indicator of life span. Also, muscles are hot.

Eat more protein.

I recommend ~1 gram of protein per pound of goal body weight. You need protein to repair body tissues, such as building muscle, your bones, hair, skin, nails, blood, regulating hormones and other body functions….pretty much everything.

Weight loss

We live in a diet culture. Often times weight loss is a matter of calories in vs calories out. However, starving yourself is not thriving. It’s weakening your body and your longevity. It’s important to feed your body enough to build muscle and support bodily functions while also being in a calorie deficit. The amount of deficit depends on your current status and goals. However, there’s a way to do it to support your body getting stronger and healthier instead of just skinnier. Skinny doesn’t always mean healthy.

STRONG, not skinny

Your body should work for you, not against you. The goal isn’t to have less of you. It’s to have a happier, healthier, more confident you. I want you to THRIVE, not just survive.

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Whew, we really just grazed over some major topics there. I look forward to discussing all of these topics in more detail, help you thrive in who you were made to be, and learn some things myself along the way.

Let’s get stronger, be better people, and try to understand life.