We are all individuals, but some of us are more individual than others…
Ever looked at someone at the gym enviously and wondered what their secret is? How did they come by those lithe limbs, the perfect tone on their arms, the incredible six pack?
There’s no secret. Nine times out of ten they’ve worked hard, eaten healthily for 6.5 days out of 7, slept well and not sat down for too long. For the other 10% it’s blessed genetics. The key for attaining your ideal shape is that it’s your shape you’re improving on, you’re not trying to be yer wan in the crop top, nor that fella whose pecs are straining out of his vest. You do you.
We spend our lives comparing ourselves to others – whether it’s shape, size of the wallet, lifestyle, car, you name it. It stops us from living in the moment, it stops us from enjoying and taking pleasure in life right now. When it comes to our bodies here’s some direct questions:
1. When were you happiest in your body? Why? Were there intrinsic or extrinsic factors involved? Sometimes people associate a happy time in their lives with being thin or fit – getting back to that body weight won’t necessarily bring happiness.
2. Have you had children? Injury? Illness? Remember, our bodies are working tools designed to procreate, fight infection, provide strength and structure and resilience. If we celebrated our body even 10% more than we criticise it we’d be on the right track.
3. Do we listen to our body? Do we feed and hydrate it carefully, do we stretch it after exertion, do we rest it adequately, do we too frequently push it beyond its limits? Do we sometimes punish it with excessive bingeing?
4. Are we good role models for our young people? They are growing up with significantly more peer pressure than we did, thanks to the idealistic, unattainable intrusion of social media. Far better they see the older generation strong, healthy, and fit rather than forever striving for some superficial ideal.
5. Are you hormonal? The bookends of our fertile life – puberty and menopause – bring a surge or drain of hormones which directly affect many aspects of our shape, in particular body fat storage. Understanding how our bodies work at different life stages is enormously helpful.
6. Is excess weight creating illness in your body, such as diabetes mellitus? Have your blood sugars been measured recently? What’s your cholesterol level? Is your thyroid functioning efficiently?
Everyone will have a host of different answers to these questions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to diet and exercise. We’ve moved on from classifying everyone as apple or pear shapes! Talk to us at West Wood and see how we can help you be your best you.

Kathy O’Meara is a personal trainer specialising in cancer and cardiac exercise rehabilitation. She is a sports therapist, movement specialist, reflexologist and teaches a range of Les Mills classes at West Wood Club, Westmanstown www.powerdown.ie