Doesn’t it seem like men have it easier where weight loss is concerned? It doesn’t seem to take any time at all for a guy to get into tip-top shape. And don’t even get me started on how quickly and easily those rascals can lose fat and gain muscle. It’s quite unfair.
But is it really just the luck of the Y chromosome draw, or is there more to it? I don’t have the answer to that, but I do have some tips that have helped me along my own get-fit journey, that I’ve borrowed from my guy friends.
Tip one
First of all, guys are not afraid to get their hands dirty in the gym, so to speak. They get in there and get it done. They work hard and don’t care about what they look like. They get sweaty and stinky. Their faces turn beet red. They breathe loud and grunt — whatever it takes to get those last reps out or run that sprint to the finish.
Men are tough, and they don’t mind a little pain; maybe they even like it. After all, you know what they say: “No pain, no gain.” And when they’re finished with their workout they look like they’ve survived a natural disaster. Ladies, if you look just as cute after your workout as you did before, you did not train hard enough. Workout like a maniac, and don’t worry about what anyone thinks; this is for you.
Tip two
What do most guys do when they go to the gym? They lift weights. Strength train. Pump iron. Whatever you want to call it, guys tend to focus more on getting strong instead of getting skinny. And ladies, this is a good way of thinking for us, too, because strong is the new skinny, and it looks so much better.
Don’t worry too much about bulking up, as we girls don’t have the testosterone needed to build bulky man muscle. And besides, muscle is a hot bod’s best friend. The more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn every day. Don’t believe me? Google it.
So not only does increased muscle mass increase metabolism, as muscle requires more calories than fat to function, but it can also completely change the shape of your body.
Want killer arms? No amount of cardio will do that, but pushups, pull-ups and tricep dips will.
What to change that booty from saggy to perky? Get your butt, literally, into the weight room a few times a week for squats, lunged and deadlifts. And don’t be shy about piling on the weight. Heavier weights equal more muscle. If you can do more than 10 reps at a time then it’s not heavy enough. You want to feel the burn, baby!
Tip three
Dudes eat and are not shy about it. Luckily for them, they require a higher caloric intake than we chicks do, but either way, it’s so important to properly fuel your body for workouts and for life in general. Your body can’t function, much less thrive, on a few hundred calories a day. A guy would never starve himself.
You have to eat — and eat well. Lots of colorful veggies and fruits, fiber-rich whole grains, low-fat dairy, a little heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and plenty of lean protein should do the trick. Guys do love their protein, don’t they? When you splurge or give in to a craving, take another lesson from the boys, and just get over it: No guilt or shame allowed. Just move on and get right back on track.
Women may be from Venus, and men may be from Mars, but we can still learn a thing or two from their fitness prowess here on Earth.
Leah Sullivan of Columbus has been on a productive journey to a healthier lifestyle and shares some of her experiences with Dispatch readers. Follow {Nourish} on Facebook.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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