Girls of Nerd Fitness

Sorry dudes, this post has absolutely nothing to do with a some hot chick wearing nothing but an Xbox Live headset…That’s coming tomorrow (I’m lying).

I initially started this site to help out guys like me: I can certainly relate, I’ve had the same successes and failures you have, and I want to help.   However, as the site has grown I’ve begin to receive more and more emails from female readers, and I think that’s awesome.  Girls can be nerds too, which means there’s hope out there for you guys looking to find somebody with similar interests.  To quote my favorite movie of all time (Shawshank Redemption), “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.  And no good thing ever dies.”  I realize this is quote is a little over dramatic for a post on nerds, but I will take any opportunity I can get to quote that movie.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to say hello to all of you lady readers out there, and address a few of the questions and comments I’ve been getting lately:

• I just want to “tone up.” Unfortunately, the term “toning up” is a load of crap.  To make things simple, you have your bones, your muscle, and your fat.  It’s the ratio of muscle and fat that gives you definition (that some people call “tone”).  You could have washboard abs and really cut arms, but if your body fat percentage is above a certain amount, you’ll have a muffin top around your waist and flabby arms.  You can’t spot remove fat, it comes off from ALL over your body.  Diet is 90% of the battle (whether you’re trying to build muscle or lose tons of weight), so concentrate on changing your diet (slowly but surely) and you’ll start to see that definition.  Cut out the bad carbs (stick with fruits, vegetables, lean meats, beans, and nuts).
• I don’t want to lift weights because I’ll get bulky. This is another one of those myths that keep girls on the treadmills and out of the free weights section.  Look, you don’t realize how much you have to lift to look bulky.  Unless you’re deadlifting 400 lbs and taking steroids I can almost guarantee ‘bulk’ will never be a problem.  Try circuit training to build muscle and burn fat. Your other option is starving yourself, spending 3 hours on a treadmill, and end up looking like one of the Olsen twins.  Disgusting.  Want legs like Jessica Biel or Jessica Alba?  Start doing some squats!
• I’m scare to use the free weights, so I’ll stick with the machines – You can get a much better and safer workout using free weights, so suck it up and walk over there.  Don’t worry, most of the guys there are too busy checking themselves out to even bother looking at you.  Read here why free weights are so much better than machines.  Free weights and body weight exercises are your friend (body weight exercises here).
• I just want to lose weight so I do cardio – Hopping on the treadmill at 4.5 mph for 90 minutes will certainly burn calories, but you can get better results when you mix things up – you’ll have more fun too.  Take a spinning class, jump rope, lift weights, run sprints outside with your dog, play Ultimate Frisbee (always a shortage of girls for this).  Mix it up and you’ll be more well-rounded (not literally).

I’m looking for some inspiring stories.  Have you lost a bunch of weight?  Changed your life and now run marathons?  Even if it’s just a small victory, I’d love to hear about it and possibly share it with the rest of the Nerd Fitness world.  If you overcame a big struggle or obstacle, know that there are tons of others out there like who you are still struggling; help them by passing on your story.  Email me at [email protected] or leave your story in the comments and let’s get the ball rolling.

Steve

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