A Fabulous Friend...

There's this kickass friend at my gym, we'll call her Superwoman, who's a fitness instructor. I love her so much because she's a mine of knowledge. You ask her one question about MSG's, or weight-loss facts, or a work-out routine, and she'll clarify everything like an encyclopedia. Unbelieeeevably articulate.

And the best thing about her is that she's been where we are. She's like 30 or something, although she looks my age, and she's GORGEOUS; toned, fit. Basically an athlete. I mean, she used to train a professional football player a few years ago.

But when she was in university, around the age of 22 I think, she started to gain a lot of weight really fast. And she said it happened to many people at her age because when you're in university, you studying constantly, so you eat whatever's around you. You don't have time to make wholesome home-cooked food, so you eat fast food several times a day.

So at 5'5, she was in the 170 range. She said her arms and legs didn't change, but she got a large belly.

That's when she started working out.

She met a fitness instructor who was a real bitch, but she was Superwoman's idol. The instructor was the kind who points out your flaws loudly, thinking that it would motivate you. Everybody else in the class hated her guts because she would bruise their feelings, but Superwoman loved this method. She knew she was at an unhealthy weight and the instructor's harsh words inspired her. That lady was exactly what Superwoman needed.

So not only would she attend these brutal classes, but she started doing weights. She went to the gym twice a day, and the pounds melted off within a couple of months.

And the wicked thing about her is that, although she is super skinny (Like size 4 jeans... that kind of body), she weighs 150. Lemme explain. Her legs are perfect toned. When she runs across the gym, there isn't any jiggle. It's just flat muscle. (Not the rippling kind that dudes have. The toned, pretty kind.) Her arms are extremely toned, but she said that's just her genes. Apparantly everyone in her family has wicked arms without even trying. Grrr.

The reason why she weighs 150 pounds, when she's so tiny and slim, is because she has lots and lots of lean muscle throughout her body.

Muscle is twice as heavy as fat, but only takes up 1 quarter of the room that fat does.

That means, although muscle is heavier on the scale, it takes less surface area on your body.

I learned this through my research a few years ago, but I had never met an actual specimen.

But Superwoman is it!

Which leads me to another point:

Superwoman suggested that I not get so hung up on the number 135 (my goal weight). She said the number on the scale doesn't really matter because you can be super thin like her, but still have a big number.

So she said to measure weight-loss by clothing size. If I am really replacing my fat with muscle, I will get smaller, and my clothing sizes will go down, but the number on the scale may not be giving me an accurate reading of fat-loss.

I started out size 16 or 18. I am now 12.

Today's a good day. :)

And all this Superwoman business... She has so many stories and experiences about her life that I find very inspiring. They clarify things for me and give me a direction to work towards. I wanted to share a few of those stories with you. I'm gonna ask her to start a blog of her own. It seems unfair that I can soak up her knowledge just cuz I know her, but you guys can't.

About to start day 6 of my diet and fitness regiment. All I have to do is think about Superwoman.