Summary of Calorie and Carb Cycling by Metabolism and Hormone Support for Women:
This content discusses the problems with the “more is better” approach to diet and exercise. It explains that this approach can lead to burnout, exhaustion, plateaus in progress, metabolic adaptation, and an increased risk of injury. It then suggests that for women over the age of 35, hormone imbalances, and those wanting to see changes in body composition, coaching programs and a closed Facebook group may be beneficial.
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More Isn’t Always Better: The Problems with Doing Too Much Diet and Exercise
When it comes to diet and exercise, it can be easy to feel like you are not doing enough to reach your goals. We can often be tempted to double up on our workouts, cut our calories even more, and push even harder in order to see better results. But this approach of “more is better” can easily backfire, leading to burnout, exhaustion, and frustrating stalls in progress.
Problem #1: Doing More isn’t Sustainable Long-term
Dedicating too much time to exercise and diet can drain our energy, productivity, our schedule, and our social life. We can end up neglecting important areas of our life including family, work, and relationships. This can lead to feelings of guilt and resentment, making it difficult to stay motivated and on track with our goals.
Problem #2: Caloric Intake and Output Can Work Against You
When we over-exercise, generally one of two things generally happen: we undereat or overeat. Undereating can lead to losing lean muscle mass, a decline in exercise performance and recovery, and a slower metabolism. Overeating can lead to hitting a plateau or even weight/body fat gain.
Problem #3: Metabolic Adaptation
Eating a very low calorie diet for long periods of time can cause the metabolism to adapt. This can lead to a slower metabolic rate, as well as a decrease in energy and movement. This can lead to weight/body fat gain, as well as hormonal imbalances.
Problem #4: Increased Risk of Injury
Overdoing it at the gym can make us more susceptible to injuries. If we are doing high intensity training on an almost daily basis, or never take a rest day, then it is almost certain that at some point we will run into chronic muscle soreness, fatigue, and joint pains and aches.
A Better Approach to Diet and Exercise
If you are looking to improve body composition, health, and fitness, then it is important to find an approach that is sustainable and effective. This approach should involve a balance of diet and exercise that is tailored to your individual needs and goals. It is also important to listen to your body and pay attention to signs of overtraining and exhaustion.
If you are a woman over the age of 35, have been diagnosed with hormone imbalances such as low thyroid, or want to better manage perimenopausal symptoms such as weight loss resistance, then my coaching programs may be a good fit for you! Send me an email at cfitnessonlinetraining@gmail.com to set up your free discovery session with me. Let’s keep the conversation going in my closed Facebook group, Metabolism and Hormone Support for Women.