As we kick off 2016, there are many people looking to improve their eating habits and exercising more. There are a lot of options when it comes to diets and workout routines so where do you start?
Jessenia Vice landed a spot on Maxim’s “Top 100 Hotties,” but it took a lot of hard work and dedication to get there. The YouTube Personality and Social Media Influencer lost a total of 70 lbs and on her journey also battled anorexia and bulimia. Today, she has a healthier relationship with food and she loves working out.
I spoke to Jessenia about how we can kick-start our fitness goals to ensure we’re ready to look and feel our best this year.
January is always the time when people want to start working out and eating better. With so many fitness plans and diets, where do we begin?
“I always tell people to start with a small obtainable goal. Also, don’t stress yourself by looking at the number on the scale. It’s easy to lose track of your goal the healthy way when we are too caught up on how much we weigh.
Instead of fasting and overdoing it at the gym, first eliminate bad carbs and sugars. No potato chips, no soda. You’ll be amazed how well your body responds and how different your clothes will fit by just making small changes. This will not only motivate you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but also encourage you to move forward slowly by increasing your daily activities at a healthy pace.”
Should we focus more on what we eat or getting to the gym?
“People have the misconception of, ‘If I eat this, I’ll just go harder at the gym tomorrow.’ Well, it’s not that simple. What you put into your body is 80% of the process and the rest is exercising. It might sound cliché, but we seriously are what we eat!”
Let’s talk deprivation…bad or good?
“It’s very bad. Our body is like a car, we need fuel for it to run. It’s our main source of energy. If our body has no fuel, it’ll go into ‘survival mode. Our body is smart, when it senses low food intake, it retain whatever fat it can to survive. I encourage people to eat small portions every 2-3 hours a day. By doing this, you will lose weight because your body breaks things down better.”
Why should women embrace weights as part of their fitness routine?
“I used to think doing weights would make me look like a man. I think that’s everyone’s misconception. I learned that you could literally build the body you want with patience, discipline and training. I can squat twice my weight!”
How do you find inspiration?
“Follow a few people online who you admire, not just their looks, but their healthy habits. I follow a few fitness gurus and I learn from them. Use them as inspiration especially when you find yourself in a funk.”
