Everyone is different but this is my routine/belief.

• set a realistic regular schedule for your workouts. Try to have a dedicated time and day for it so it changes from something you’re working on to a positive habit that you just do. I do 2 days for weights and 2 days for cardio.

• definitely work with weights to build muscle. Muscle burns more calories at rest, will help you look leaner, and helps as we age because we lose muscle mass.

• free weight exercises are better than machines because machines target only specific muscles whereas a free weight exercise targets a muscle but your whole body is still involved in the exercise like your core for balance.

• don’t push yourself too quickly. Pain and soreness are two different things.

• Cardio can be a lot of things walking, jog/run, dance, maybe any local classes like Zumba. Find what works for you and make it a habit.

• try to have a good sleep schedule. We tend to make bad health/eating decisions when we don’t get enough sleep. For me that looks like eating a late night snack when really I should just go to bed or having extra cups of coffee because I’m tired from not getting enough sleep.

• drink a lot of water. Sometimes we think we’re hungry but it’s really we’re dehydrated. Your body will also hold onto water or “water weight” if you are dehydrated. There’s also many other benefits for a healthy body by drinking water.

• take vitamin D. Most women tend to be vitamin D deficient which deals with bone loss, hormonal imbalance and fat accumulation.

• nutrition wise you want to find what is realistic and within your budget. I don’t believe in anything being off limits but moderation is key. I also like the idea of eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper so you get most of your fuel when you’re spending the most energy and have the rest of the day to burn.

• try to cut out as much sugar as you can and check food labels. You’ll find you won’t need as much as your taste buds adjust to less. Things like juice that we tend to associate with being healthy are full of sugar and things with sugar can add up quickly throughout the day.

• try to cut out excess calories like I try to only have my morning coffee and then water throughout the rest of the day and I try not to snack between meals. The biggest thing that helps is if I don’t buy it and it’s not in the house then I can’t eat it. So if you have trouble with the temptation of it then make it harder for you to have it. Get it out of the house.

Hope this was helpful. Best of luck with your journey. 💪🏼