Episode 39: The 3 Phases of Fitness

LISTEN: Apple Podcast | Spotify

When it comes to your fitness journey, I don’t think most people realize that you shouldn’t be doing the same thing forever (like constant dieting and cardio to get the body you want-this used to be me)! You’ll actually go through different phases throughout your fitness journey.

I personally used to think I would have to do low-carb, low-fat, low-calorie, etc. diets my entire life, as well as strictly cardio to reach my health and body goals. I see this a lot with the ladies I work with too-they just don't know there is a better way, and there are actually specific stages when it comes to our fitness (which I think is so cool)! 

At certain times, you may be wanting to lose fat on your body, build your body a certain way, or just maintain current body you have. This is never a one-size-fits-all for people either, because we all have different goals, and different things going on in our lives. I’m excited to dive into each of these parts in more detail with you here today!

In this episode, I’m talking about the 3 main phases of fitness, which are:

• Build phase. 'Building' or putting on muscle is what this phase is about. This sometimes sounds a little scary to my clients, but it definitely shouldn't be. If the number on the scale isn't changing much, but your clothes are fitting better and you're feeling more confident about how you look/feel, then that is a positive thing! You're also most likely eating in a calorie surplus, lifting heavier weights, and ultimately, turning the food you're eating into muscle. Essentially, you really are building the body you want!
• Fat loss phase. This comes after the build phase, and essentially, you are shedding the fat and exposing the muscle you have underneath. You will be eating less than you were in the build phase, but you will NOT feel like you're starving (that is something that tends to scare a lot of people when they first hear about this phase). You may hear this fitness phase termed a 'cut' or 'shred', but I promise, it is nothing to be afraid of!
• Maintenance phase. When you get to the point where you feel like your clothes are fitting well, you are happy with what you're seeing in the mirror, you're happy with the number on the scale, etc. the maintenance phase comes into play. Maintenance is really just about maintaining, and keeping your body the same. You'll have a good idea of the calorie range you should be in (it should be between the build and fat loss ranges). You should be getting to eat a little bit more compared to the fat loss phase, but your workouts should be staying about the same (as far as the types of workouts). You now know what you need to do to keep the body you have and feel your best, which is amazing!

When it comes to the 3 phases of fitness, you have to know what specific phase you are in so you're not stuck spinning your wheels, and thinking you're doing something wrong.

I want you to understand what each phase entails, what will be happening to your body during each phase, why experiencing the different phases (just like the different seasons throughout the year), is necessary, and more. All 3 of these phases should fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, and you can adjust/adapt where you need to, which I love!

I truly believe knowledge is power-especially when it comes to your health and fitness, and your specific goals. If you’re stuck in the ugly dieting cycle and you think you’ll have to do endless cardio workouts that you don’t enjoy for the rest of your life, I’m happy to tell you that you do NOT! 

Once you understand how your body works and what it needs to really thrive and flourish, you’ll be unstoppable. If you know you’re ready to get to this point and need some help along the way, I would be honored to walk with you and show you that it is possible!