JoshOne Fitness Q&A: Panicking Over Fluctuating Thighs

Here’s an often asked question and concern from one of my clients. I am sure quite a few of you have wondered the exact same thing , when starting a new fitness program. If you are ditching a steady-state cardio-only program, then definitely keep reading:

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Good morning!

OK, I am trying not to panic. See I thought I was being paranoid about my thighs but your clothes don’t lie. I don’t weigh myself anymore but rather use my clothes as a gage. I have some jeans that are very tight in the thighs. Before I signed up for Boot camp I would do 5 to 6 days of cardio. I also did Pilate’s twice a week here and there. I feel stronger in my legs since I joined.
This fluctuation is nerve racking. My first mind tells me that the muscle building will pay off and help me to lean out. I normally freak out but Praise God that I am cool. Do you think I need more cardio?? Your thoughts Boot Camp Master!!

By the way I am pretty decent and regimented with my eating. I have one free day weekly for years. Other than that I am low fat and I try to consume adequate protein. Don’t tell me I need an assessment either!

Bridget L.~

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Hello Madame Fitcamp Diva. OK, stop, take a deep breath……exhale…oooosa…oooosa….lol. As Whitley, from “A
Different World” would say, “Relax, Relate, Release!” Now, let’s get to the heart of your concerns. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer with the information you are giving me.

I would need to see a food log, and “really” see what you eat. You’re giving me the “back of the book” synopsis of your eating habits, and that’s not enough to make me want to buy the novel, mama. Contrary to your belief, as well as most of our culture, you are already doing cardio every time you come to fitcamp.

Any activity that elevates your heart rate is cardio. The difference is good and bad
cardio. Any cardio that depletes fat burning muscle, in the name of the end all/be all tool for “so-called” weight loss, is not the kind of cardio someone looking to lose unwanted fat, and live an overall healthy lifestyle should seek.

The first thing you must tell yourself is to approach your various fitness programs as tools needed to prepare for a lifestyle. As with the addition of anything new to a
lifestyle, new and varied changes will occur. The first thing you need to try is to not dwell on how things “used to be” when you where doing a certain thing “only,” back then.

Continuing to do the same thing (which was not giving you overall satisfactory results, otherwise you would not being adding new things to your program), and expecting different results is truly insane. You have to approach this just like the way you would when you pray.

The things you may want may not come when you want thm, but they are always come right on time. In other words, just stay focused on the road ahead, use the moment in the word “momentum” to drive you. and those little changes that may not go the way you want them to, from day to day, won’t deter you from your goals.

What I am saying is, don’t let those fluctuations throw you off. Focus on the bigger
picture, and turn up your intensity in all of your activities to get there. You are not pushing any heavy weight in class to build big muscles in your thighs.

The one thing to think about is, you are finally doing something that will actually build the muscle you need in your thighs, instead of doing steady-state cardio related activities that deplete muscle, and leave you with the small legs you want, but also with the jiggly, not so firm fat that comes with it.

Seeing that you are doing fitcamp, still running during the week on your own, and doing pilates, you cannot eat as you have been. Your diet needs to compliment your activities. I highly suggest you start keeping a food journal, as well as seek the advice of a registered sports nutritionist.

Hence the word “sports” because you are very active, and nutritionist who specialize in sports nutrition can help you better find the right foods for your active lifestyle compared to a general nutritionist who focuses more on those who are less active and generally overweight. You wouldn’t go to a general practitioner for an angioplasty, would you?

Hopefully, these things I mentioned can give you a better understanding of what changes are going on with your body, as well as some answers to why. The main idea here is to not panic, take a deep breath, and know that at the core of it all, great changes are going on with your body.

You may not see them on the surface; however, instead of only gaging your results by your clothes, try adding how you feel, sleep, move, perform daily activities at work and home, etc. After all, these feelings are much more important than what you can “actually” see (not perceive) with your physical body. In fact, once you put all of those tings together, it will show in your physical appearance.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to step off my soapbox, and grab some lunch….lol. However, I hope this does help you gain some insight on what you should be shooting for with your fitness programs, and not to panic. Just be patient, focused, sure, intense, and most of all thankful. Everything else, will come together.

Yours in health,

Sincere~

p.s. Now you can get stronger, lean out, and remove the pesky fat from those new sexy muscles in about 4 minutes. In fact, you can do it with minimal equipment, and minimal space. Click here to check out our Four Minute Workout DVD special.