Does I Exercise Everyday, Do I Get Sore, Do I Cheat?

My clients know that I walk my talk. If I ask my clients to perform an exercise or suggest to add something into their diet, they know (or should know now) that I have already practiced it or currently practice it. However, I receive questions asking if I EVER take off from exercise or do I eat "clean" ALL the time. The answers are yes and no.

Do I have an occasional piece of chocolate, pizza or cake? Yes! Do I exercise everyday? No! Listen, I like to have foods that may not be considered “clean eating”, but I have worked really hard to get my health and body to where I want it and I will continue to always keep it that way. I also do not exercise everyday, but on the days I do exercise, I work hard. Since I have worked to get to where I want to be, I am in a maintenance stage of my health. Some of you would like to change your body composition and can’t understand why it may not be changing at a pace that you want. Remember, things do not happen overnight and patience is important. During your time of transition, you have to adopt a disciplined mindset for consistent exercise and consistent clean eating with an occasional treat here and there. Your time to relax will come.

I transitioned my body several times for figure competitions and was able to change to the level needed to win a couple of times. The idea of change can happen for you and may be on a different level, but you have to want it and stick with it. Let me say that again, you have to want it and stick with it. I was not always fit, but I was challenged by a trainer along with challenging myself in the years after. You can get to a stage of maintenance, but you have to put in the work and make sacrifices along the way to a better and healthier you.

Another question I receive is, “Do you still get sore from exercise?” Yes, I get sore because I continue to push myself so that I do not plateau. If you don't use your muscles at ANY age, they atrophy. You have to keep it moving and adopt a healthy lifestyle. I am 42, feel better than I did in my twenties, am stronger and in better physical condition.

My story is to start and stay healthy for life and when you do, you can have moments of treating yourself with a piece of chocolate or taking a day off from exercise. Getting started can be simple, but you have to want it and stick to it for your own life.