‘I’m happier after gaining 20lbs – you don’t have to restrict diet to feel good’
Putting on weight isn’t always a bad thing.
Personal trainer Isabelle – AKA fitness4lazygirls – revealed how gaining 20lbs changed her life for the better.
The gym bunny, from the US, used to calorie count and restrict her diet.
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But when she stopped being as strict with her food intake, the body positive babe started seeing better results.
Isabelle now follows the 80/20 approach to nutrition, which involves eating “healthily” 80% of the time and indulging in treats occasionally.
Not only is this more sustainable in the long run, it has also made her a lot happier.
(Image: @fitness4lazygirls/Instagram)
Isabelle shared two pictures of herself taken during and after restrictive eating.
While she looks gorgeous in both snaps, Isabelle’s muscles are more visible since she gained weight.
And the most noticeable difference is the big smile she has on her face when she’s not dieting!
The fitness guru told her 62,100 followers: “You don’t have to restrict to see results!
“In the left picture, I was following a cookie-cutter meal plan around 1000 calories a day with 1 cheat day a week. Doing cardio before and after school PLUS working out.
“Needless to say, I was miserable and my life revolved around food and the number on the scale.
(Image: @fitness4lazygirls/Instagram)
“Fast forward seven years, and I’ve found a healthy balance with food and fitness where it ADDS to my life rather than takes away from it.
“I lift 4-5x a week, follow an 80/20 approach to nutrition, and LOVE my life!
“The crazy thing is, I starting seeing BETTER results when I stopped restricting.
“I was able to reach my goals easier without cutting out certain groups—because I actually was able to enjoy what I was eating, and working toward a certain goal didn’t feel so difficult!
“It’s funny—back then, all I wanted to do was lose weight. Now, I’m 20lbs heavier and 100x happier.”
(Image: @fitness4lazygirls/Instagram)
Isabelle’s post garnered more than 2,400 likes – and many agreed with her message.
One fan said: “Results are coming when we’re feeling our bodies.”
Another gushed: “I love this.”
And a third added: “Awesome work.”
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