Tag: health

The Truth About Losing Belly Fat

vasforgymsWah Lum

We’ve all seen magazine and internet articles with titles like this:

“The 5-Second Flat Belly Trick!”

Or:

“6 Days to a Six-Pack!”

But here’s the truth 

Belly fat isn’t eradicated quickly, nor is being “totally shredded” always the most productive health goal.

However…

Some types of belly fat are associated with health risks.

Visceral fat—that’s belly fat found deep in your abdomen, surrounding your internal organs—is linked to chronic inflammation, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders.

(Subcutaneous fat—the padding just under the surface of the skin—is relatively benign.)

I’ve noticed some extra “padding” as the years have gone by myself!

Of course, without slicing yourself open (hard pass), you won’t easily know what kind of fat your belly harbors.

Luckily, the healthy behaviors that help you lose belly fat for aesthetic reasons will also help you improve your health and reduce your risk of disease.

They look something like this:

  • Consume a diet centered around minimally-processed foods. (This makes it harder to overeat, and easier to feel satisfied and meet your nutrition requirements.)
  • Find movement that you like and will do regularly. That’s Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Strength training for me. (Consistency trumps just about everything else.)
  • Eat slowly and mindfully. Still working on it! (Helps improve mind-body awareness so you can more easily eat the right amount for your body.)
  • Practice self-compassion. (Sure, it sounds woo-woo, but it’s linked to healthier eating, more consistent exercise habits, and lower rates of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress.)

Not exactly clickbait, huh?

But consider: How many people actually do all of these things… day in and day out?

Well, statistically-speaking: Less than 3 percent of Americans meet the basic qualifications for a “healthy lifestyle.”

The point: If so few people can do just the basics, how likely is it that they’ll be able to do something that’s even harder? Especially when they’re just starting out?

(Like those advanced, “cutting edge” nutrition or fitness protocols that “celebrity models and Marvel heroes use.”) 

The reality…

Fat loss tactics don’t need to be complicated. In fact, the “boring” stuff totally works—and is a lot more doable (and certainly more sustainable) than pretty much any “extreme” plan. 

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.

Off The Wagon Real Talk

vasforgymsWah Lum

What if we treated “off the wagon” periods as a natural and normal part of the entire experience of change and growth? 

When speaking to potential students, few things motivate healthier choices better than waking up with meat sweats, heartburn, a hangover, or general discomfort when moving around….

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that our health is one of our most prized possessions. 

But that doesn’t mean that getting or staying healthy is easy. 

The good news? 

Reaching your pressure point can sometimes be what you need to get started… again. 

People always think that I spend most days working out, but as of today, I’ve gone almost 2 weeks without deliberate Kung Fu practice or a strength training session. 

And that’s ok. This is just the natural and normal part of my health journey. As soon as I hit send, I’m going to get a 15-minute session of mindful movement practice in. 

If you get a chance, reply with what made you decide to join Wah Lum. 

My mom made me do it is a valid answer. 

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.

Can I Get A Spell Check Please?

vasforgymsWah Lum

Seriously!? Again!?

That is my internal response when my wife finds grammatical errors in my weekly emails. Comments usually (and maybe too often) go something like this…. 

“Oh… oops! You wrote there instead of there are. Huh?”

I proceed to take a deep breath and forgive myself. 

Because it’s ok to make mis-steaks (that was intentional). 

Especially when it comes to health, nutrition, and fitness. Most of us have failed in a particular goal because we expected perfection. 

Fear of failure can be motivating for some things, but when it comes to something like dieting and fat loss, it is almost impossible. 

For example, the best meat you can have is grass-fed beef. 

Great, but was it ethically slaughtered? 

Was it ethically slaughtered by a Tibetan Warrior monk? 

By a monk with one arm? 

Right arm or left arm missing? 

This is pretty ridiculous, and not only because everyone knows it has to be the left arm. 

But our nervous system has a funny way of working, “Oh, I was going to do this but I went to a party and I wasn’t perfect, so… Ben and Jerry’s.”

Disregard perfection as a goal, and it will be an act of compassion and kindness towards yourself. 

Forgive yourself, move on, and decide to do something that will get you closer to your goals. 

That’s why we tell our students at Wah Lum that we can always make an adjustment to a particular exercise or move. 

Or if you were stuck in traffic, just drive safely and get into class a little bit late. (if possible just leave earlier… you know who you are)

Coming in and doing something is better than nothing!

With nutrition, don’t think about what you need to stop doing, but what you can add to make your meal more nutritious. 

That’s all for know, I have to help my almost perfect wife with something. (see what I did there?)

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.