I Don’t Want Six-Pack Abs (And You Shouldn’t Either)
November 22, 2015 // Wellness
Oh you have a six-pack? That’s cool.
Not me. I’m all set.
I remember obsessing over building a bigger, better, leaner, and stronger body.
At the time, my body was a showcase (and validation) as a fitness/wellness expert.
“If I didn’t have a six-pack, then who would trust me? “
Once I made my mind up that I needed to have crazy abs, I started building my life around my body.
Enter the most powerful lesson I learned about health:
Everything is a tradeoff.
[This article/infographic I shared in the past by Precision Nutrition describes it perfectly]
In this pursuit of aesthetics and vanity, I had to commit to more of some things and less of others.
MORE
First I ramped up my workout routine to 6+ days a week.
Then I signed up for a MyFitnessPal account, and I tracked every single food that entered my body.
Calories, carbs, proteins, fats, sugars, fiber.
Food became a game of micromanagement.
A plate of chicken, quinoa, & veggies became numbers like “32g/12g/50g”
Things were heading in the right direction, but I needed to cut out more to really make them pop.
LESS
Alcohol would only slow down or impede my results, so I stopped enjoying bourbons with friends.
Social activities took a back-burner, and I became used to saying “no” to almost every invitation.
My love for dining experiences had to go, as well. No more going out to restaurants or eateries,
If I wasn’t in control of how my meals were prepared, there’d be no way to manage my numbers.
And desserts? Yea right. Goodbye to any/all indulgences.
Every meal was eaten at home, or out of tupperware. The fun life.
Day in, day out for months.
“But I’m getting even leaner, so it’s working.”
THE SWITCH
Fast-forward to this past spring.
After isolating myself for months in this pursuit of becoming super lean, I took a vacation with friends, and everything changed.
Everyone commented on how lean I looked, which was cool.
Validation from the outside world… check.
However, I felt dumb.
Dumb like I just realized that I spent an absurd amount of energy and focus on making my body lean.
What did I trade-off for my 2 seconds of validation from the external world?
Everything that I loved: Social gatherings, great meals, nights out.
Boom. That was it.
I deleted MyFitnessPal.
I restructured my workout routine.
I dropped my care or concern for micromanagement of food.
Everything became negotiable again, and life became fun again.
If I wanted a dessert, I’d have it, and not feel guilty.
If I was planning to workout early in the AM, but I was invited to get together with friends, I’m going out. A workout is negotiable; Memories are not.
As long as I can find a balance of being fit and enjoying life without micromanagement, I am living the dream.
And now I can confidently say that I’ve been living this type of life for months, and I’m never trading it off again.
You want a six-pack? Cool. Go for it.
Not me.
Many people yearn for a better body.
I’ve had many clients that talk about wanting to do anything/everything to look “better”.
But after experiencing the trade-off of what’s required to look a certain way permanently, I don’t recommend it for most. No six-pack is worth giving up all the elements that make up your happiness and lifestyle.
Instead, find a balance.
Understand the basic importance regular exercise.
Respect your food and don’t gorge.
Maintain a regular intake of good quality proteins, fats, veggies, and fruits.
Prioritize sleep.
And enjoy some desserts without feeling guilty.
Oh, and interestingly enough, when I relaxed and starting having more fun, maintaining a simple balance of being active, following basic principles of eating, and getting good sleep, my body started getting leaner and bigger than ever before.
That’s right. Less management –> more flexibility and fun –> better results.