Skinny vs. Healthy
By: Erin Knisely
I used to be one of those lucky girls growing up, a 'skinny bitch that could eat whatever I wanted and not gain a pound. Over the years, I have learned through several nutrition classes, modeling classes, and even the United States Army, that a 'skinny bitch does not always mean a 'healthy bitch.
For me, lunch in high school usually consisted of french fries and some sort of delicious pastry. I was always tired and had stomach aches and headaches, but I never associated the two. I joined the Army between my junior and senior year in high school and left for basic training shortly after graduation. There was no such thing as junk food in the Army. Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, oatmeal or grits, fruit, granola bars, and cereal. Lunch and dinner were made up of perfectly proportioned amounts of lean protein, whole grains, and lots of vegetables.
One day, about a month into boot camp, we had an especially tough day of physical training. I awoke the next morning dreading the pressure of my feet on the ground, in fear of the excruciating pain that usually comes after such an intense workout. To my pleasant surprise, I felt great! Then I looked back on the past month and realized that I never once had a sore muscle even after long distance runs, six to nine mile road marches, and countless hours of getting smoked by the drill sergeants. My headaches and stomach aches were also gone, and regardless of the 4am wake up calls, I had plenty of energy and was never tired during the day!
It was easy to eat right in the Army, and by easy I mean physically impossible to NOT eat right! When I got home from basic training, I was all on my own. There was nobody making every meal for me where the unhealthiest option was jelly on toast. I felt great and I made a vow that I would never go back to the way I was. I loved to eat, but I was no longer burning 5,000 calories a day so I had to figure out a plan to stay healthy and thin. I took some nutrition classes in college which mostly concentrated on the health aspect as opposed to size. On the contrary, I took modeling classes that focused more on staying thin and counting calories than being healthy. I needed to create a diet that was a mixture of the two.
The amount of calories you consume is undoubtedly the reason a person gains or losses weight. The less you eat and the more you burn, the less you will weigh. If only it was that simple! Sometimes it is difficult to know how many calories you consume. Reading labels is an easy way to count calories of a packaged product, but nobody wants to eat out of a box every meal. Many restaurants have nutrition facts online so you can plan your meal before you go out. There are also some calorie counters online that give an estimate of the calorie content of many different foods. Go for foods with high water and fiber content that will fill you up without being loaded with calories. Some good snacks to munch on during the day are raw vegetables with low fat dressing, fresh fruit, or plain popcorn. Eating small meals throughout the day will keep you from binging during meals and will increase your metabolism. This is not an excuse to skip meals to have calories left over for dessert. The better the food you put into your body, the better you will feel. You will have more energy and better workouts.
Everyone knows that cardio exercise is essential to burn calories, but few know the benefits of weight lifting. Weight training burns calories and produces lean muscle, which increases metabolism so you burn more calories throughout the entire day! There is a misconception among women that weight lifting will make you bulky, but our bodies lack the hormones men produce to bulk up. More repetitions with smaller weights, instead of fewer repetitions with heavy weights, will create tone without bulk. Change your workout every month or so to keep challenging yourself and to keep your body from getting used to the workout. Consume lean protein shortly after a workout to build and recover muscle tissue.
To make yourself healthy and beautiful inside and out, be sure to consume plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, lean protein, fiber, antioxidants, and pure water. Limit the intake of fat, white flour, sugar, salt, and processed and fried foods. Engage in cardiovascular and weight training exercises five or six days a week, and always challenge your body to go further. Everyone's body is different and we have individual fitness goals. If you know the facts about healthy living, you can create and customize your own diet and fitness regimen to meet your personal goals and lifestyle. Weather you're trying to slim down or just get healthier, feeling good is always the best motivator!
