Do you need to workout SMARTER not HARDER?
You may think with the last name {Harder}- I would be the first one to preach “GO HARD OR GO HOME”
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Although, yes, I do pride myself on being a hard worker, and “easy is earned “, there are times when working harder is actually what was keeping me stuck.
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It’s true that most women have multiple competing priorities including: managing a home, work life, raising children, social media, confusion around female training (lack of or TOO MUCH education/misinformation, physical barriers (eg Pre-Post Natal, peri menopause /menopause), time constraints, unrealistic expectations and don’t forget training myths like “weightlifting makes you look like a man etc)...
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Now enter that "not good enough” self talk when we are also being told we just need to “work harder” if we aren’t getting the results we are chase.
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Not losing fat? Work harder.
Not getting stronger? Work harder.
Not gaining muscle? Work harder.
Not sweating? Work harder.
Not sore? Work harder.
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We KNOW how to work hard. It’s all we have ever been taught to do.
Work hard.
Be strong.
Hold it down.
Stay resilient.
Be grateful.
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The problem with this, is that when we add hard intense training into an already stressful lifestyle (poor sleep, poor nutrition mental health issues), often we see problems escalate.
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When it comes to getting results with our training goals, we DON’T need to work harder- we need to work SMARTER and start to work WITH our bodies, rather than against them.
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We need to look at the entire lifestyle. We need to address stress management, thoughts/beliefs around training and nutrition, environment (support systems/stressors), sleep routines, hormones, nutritional foundations, daily movement and THEN training (stop asking about things like supplements, fasted cardio, meal timing etc. these things are a huge waste of your time and energy if you haven’t mastered the basics first).
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Often this comes down to us taking RADICAL Responsibility for our health.
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Making sure you manage your stress levels by prioritizing sleep, nutrition, setting boundaries etc.
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Checking the above list off BEFORE you even start to add more workouts.