With so many diet lifestyles roaming around, it can be hard to decide what to try. Nothing is more frustrating than investing your time and money into something that “works for everyone!” just to screw up and fall off the diet wagon. 

I’ve known people who follow the keto diet, some are paleo, whole-30, vegan, pescaiarian, etc. If it works for you, great! I will never knock a lifestyle if it is healthy, and manageable. For me, I count macros. It is as restrictive as I make it. I focus primarily on hitting my protein goal, and staying under my daily calories. Carbs and fats are secondary, although if I have blown them waaaaay out of the water, chances are, I am nowhere near my daily protein goal. I do love me some carbs though. I have tried keto, and Atkins (what moms did pre-keto era), and failed, in low carb terms. 

I would like to reiterate that I have no beef with any diet, but, (for most) carbs are not the enemy. They are a necessary macronutrient for a healthy diet, and provide sustainable energy when consumed in appropriate moderation. But moderation is where people lose it. And honestly, same. I could eat a whole bag of tortilla chips if left to my own devices, I end up in crisis (que Anti-Hero). 

Now, while I have said carbs are not the enemy, and I stand by that, it is important to understand that different carbs are necessary for different goals. Want to get strong? Carb out! Want to get strong without extra padding? Maybe steer clear of carbs like pasta, bread, naan, tortillas, chips, and white potatoes. My friendly everyday carbs are bananas, sweet potatoes, arepas (don’t come for me, I only eat one), post workout out, half a scoop meal replacement shake, apples, etc. 

My old morning routine was 0430 wake up, 0445 workout, 0600 post workout shake, 0615 chores / personal hygiene, 0700 leave for work, 0730 – 42 grams of naan / 1 oz mozzarella, and protein water. Quick and easy breakfast with carbs and protein! But I found it wasn’t sustaining me as long as I needed. Side note: on normal wake up days (weekends, where I workout around 0800) this meal is perfect. It’s the days I’m awake for 16 hours that my body freaks out and wants to eat something SUBSTANTIAL every two hours. So I switched my naan and cheese (insert broken heart) to a double protein shake and a banana. Doesn’t have quite the yum factor, but I feel much more satisfied and have more energy. I guess it’s a fair trade.

Double side note: learning high protein sub swaps for practical things I already eat is my love language. Feel free to send me ideas by reaching out on Insta, or directly to my email. Bye for now friends! 

98% positive that when starting my journey eight years ago, I would have a six-pack by now. Isn’t looking good the reason people workout? I mean screw the rest of it, if I look good, I’ll feel good. It just makes sense. Well, Vanessa eight years ago may be disheartened to learn that even on my flattest-stomach days, at most I have what may resemble an ab or two, but definitely no six-pack. And honestly, I’m cool with it. I am here for the (mental) gainz, and everything else is secondary. I also really enjoy tortillas, so that may be a factor.

No lie, it is rewarding as heck to see the ol vanity muscles make an appearance. But without proper maintenance (diet and exercise), they can become less prominent, leaving you (me) feeling like I somehow messed up, and I need to cut calories asap. 

This happened to me last year. One day I decided I didn’t like eating 1700/day calories, and gradually bumped it to 2000/day. It was great, I wasn’t going hungry all day! But alas, sadness would soon ensue. My defined back muscles, my pride and joys, became slowly less pronounced. Still there, just less distinguished. I was devastated. How could I think eating more would be ok? I have turned into a slob! (I struggle with my inner voice being a bitch.) And the worst part? I couldn’t fix it overnight, no matter how “sustainably low” I dropped my calories. All at once, the bad feelings I’ve worked so hard to fight off, came back. I was grouchy with my husband and kids, and negative self talk started creeping back in.

The negative self talk is where I draw the line. If I am saying these awful things inside my head, its a matter of time before they spew out of my mouth, in front of my children. And I have worked so hard to show my kids that I love and accept myself, that I’m not about to undo it over a few pounds and hidden muscles. So, how can you stop shit talking inside your own head?

I wish there was a magic spell I could read and VOILA! No more negative thoughts. That I could wake up every day, grateful for the body I am in, and everything it can do. Instead, I am left with a bottle of anxiety pills and positive affirmations stuck all over my bathroom mirror.

I’ve made great mental progress since that day. Last night i saw a picture of myself that I didn’t *love* and immediately thought CUT! But after a second, I remembered that I am comfortable with my weight, and I am stronger and faster than I was last year. 

So yeah, my stomach may not be as sleek as I would like, but Vanessa last year was GASSED during the sprint drag carry, and Vanessa this year is killing it! (You should probably peep my insta for my SDC video.)

Vanity muscles are great and beautiful and I still love them. But I also feel that maintaining a healthy *sustainable* lifestyle is far more important for my kids to see, than my having a six pack.

Do you want to do better for yourself, but have no clue where to start? I found myself struggling with the same issue for years. The easiest, yet most obnoxious answer is to just get up and do something. “Great, thanks so much for that” (insert eye roll). Clearly we already know that much, what we are looking for is advice on WHAT or HOW to do it. Sadly, for those of us who aren’t self starters, or have discipline burned into our soulbones, knowing how to start is the problem. Maybe you live a busy life, and don’t have time, or you’re a single parent and don’t have adequate support right now. Or maybe, you have never incorporated fitness into your life, and find it hard to want to start now (although you know you should). Something important to note before you decide to keep reading: I cannot make you do something you don’t want to do. I cannot (and will not) food shame, or exercise shame. I believe that doing something is better than nothing. Can’t make it to the gym? YouTube a home workout (I LOVE Yoga with Adriene). Can’t do a whole workout? Go for a run. Hate running? Jog. Walk. Stretch. Just move your body! 

When you don’t know where or how to start, anything is better than nothing. Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive further. For me, I freaking THRIVE with early (very early) morning workouts. This way, I know no matter what the day brings, at least I got my workout in. I may be dragging ass by 8pm, but that ass was up at 0400 and PUT. IN. WORK (insert flexing arm emoji). Find a time that works for you. Hate getting up early? Work around it. Get in a brisk walk on a lunch break. Go after work, but before you get home (I know how tempting it is to stay sitting down once you are home). No childcare at your gym? Home workouts are a blessing (did I mention how I love Yoga with Adriene?) Walk / jog / run (dealers choice) around your neighborhood. Dumbbells intimidate you? Opt for resistance bands, or hell, use your own body weight! You can get a GREAT workout in with almost anything! During Covid, I used my actual stairs in lieu of a stair climber. I bought resistance bands and Googled ways to use them effectively.

But what if I just don’t want to start? Well, I can’t make you start. But I can tell you that I am a raging bitch on days I don’t workout in the mornings. After years of gymming, the biggest flex I have is mental clarity. I wouldn’t trade not feeling like angry ants are crawling up and down my legs for the world. When my husband and I first started dating, it caught him off guard that even on weekends, I would hop out of bed and not talk to anyone until after my workout. Now we’ve been together 10 years, he has grown to appreciate my self care. He knows it’s good for ALL of us. So at some point, you have to take ownership of yourself. Nobody is going to make you workout, just like nobody is making you sit on the couch and watch TV all night. It is literally all on you. I suggest finding a dope ass soundtrack (cough, Encanto, cough) and get moving!