When I take on new clients, I have them fill out a questionnaire to help me better understand their fitness goals. Clients are asked to rank potential areas of focus in order of importance—core strength, weight loss, muscle toning, injury rehab, better energy, etc. The top three are almost always the same, especially when it comes to my female clients: Core strength is the primary goal, followed by weight loss and toning.
It’s not surprising that most women are looking to improve their core; after all, the term “core strength” has become practically synonymous with “fitness” in the past decade. We’ve all been told that a stronger core is absolutely essential to good health, fewer aches and pains, and most importantly a better physique. There is certainly no shame in wanting a more defined midsection. After all, isn’t that what we’re all saying when we profess to wanting greater core strength?
As women, we are presented with an overwhelming number of products, supplements, and workouts that promise a tighter tummy and perfect six-pack abs. The irony about that flashy six-pack is that it does not in any way imply that you have functional core strength, yet it continues to be the hallmark of a fit, sexy body. The pursuit of goddesslike abs is the reason we are willing to engage in self-inflicted torture—hundreds of crunches, a cycle of diets and cleanses, and a litany of unregulated supplements that claim to burn belly fat in mere minutes. In our desperation to find a solution to the flabby abby, we can be easily swayed by perfectly sculpted models, most of whom did not get chiseled abs by using the product they are promoting. The problem is that most of these efforts deliver short-lived results, if any at all, and leave us utterly frustrated. How can we keep our waistlines from expanding without starving ourselves or devoting hours a day to grueling workouts? Why isn’t there a solution that is both effective and sustainable? These are questions that I hear from my clients on a daily basis, and this is why I developed the Core Envy program: to give you a strong, sexy core that is functional and looks great.
You might look at me and assume that I can’t empathize with your fitness struggle, but let me assure you that I’ve run into many of the same dead ends you have in my attempts to control my waistline. Growing up, I was never categorized as overweight, but I certainly was never referred to as “thin.” In fact, the term that was most often used to describe me was “stocky,” which basically meant I was short and thick. I never paid attention to food or calories because I was an athlete and thought I needed the fuel for performance.
When I got to college I was confronted with a frightening reality—no more team sports and an unlimited dessert bar in the dining hall. I was well aware of the “freshman 15,” but I didn’t think it would happen to me. I was putting in 30-minute sessions on the elliptical at the fitness center and walking to class—surely that had to burn lots of calories! By sophomore year I had managed to put on close to 20 pounds, which is pretty noticeable on a stocky 5-foot-2-inch frame. I clearly remember the day at the end of my sophomore year when I could no longer button my jeans. In a fit of panic I immediately started doing crunches, hoping that my waistline would magically shrink over the course of the next 100 repetitions. It didn’t, but I continued to incorporate crunches into my exercise routine for more years than I like to acknowledge, convinced that if I abandoned this time-honored exercise routine, I would surely be tempting the muffin-top gods. It took a master’s degree in exercise science, scores of scientific studies, and—most convincingly—personal experience to persuade me to ditch the crunches and turn to a more integrated approach in order to achieve an enviable core.
In this book, I’ll share with you what I’ve learned about achieving and maintaining a strong, sexy core. I’ve done my research; vetted my approach with thousands of clients over the past 15 years; and landed on a program that is effective, is easy to follow, and won’t leave you in a continued state of frustration and dismay. I can’t promise you a flat stomach overnight, but if you have 8 weeks to devote to a program based on fact, not fad, you will see a significant change in your core.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
This program is designed for real people with real time constraints, real jobs, real families, and a real desire to follow a program that isn’t complicated. I’m not going to ask you to do hundreds of crunches, set aside two hours a day for workouts, or spend money on weird vegetables and supplements that aren’t normally a part of your diet. My Core Envy program integrates three routines to build a strong, sexy core:
Sculpting exercises to tighten and tone
Cardio workouts to melt belly fat
A diet makeover to help you reach your goals
Along the way, I’ll explain the science behind the workouts, helping you feel confident that you’re devoting your time to a program that is effective and efficient.
We live in an age of information overload. With so many promises of overnight results being thrown at you from all directions, you deserve to know the relevant facts about your health and your body. I’m not going to sugarcoat the process or make outlandish claims that you can have a better body with “5 easy moves.” Getting fit and staying fit takes time and dedication, but the experience doesn’t have to be a miserable one. My Core Envy program can be tailored to fit your lifestyle and your current level of fitness. I’ll show you how to choose the most powerful forms of sculpting, cardio, and nutrition to transform your core.
SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Maybe this is your first fitness book, or maybe it’s your fiftieth. Either way, I want it to be your last. The Core Envy program can help you achieve your goals, but in order to do that you need to set yourself up for success. There are a few things that are essential to maximizing your results—if you can focus on these three things, you will greatly increase your chances of sticking to this program and finally achieving the core you want.
1. Today is the perfect day to start. Yes, I know that you have the company holiday party next week and that your best friend’s birthday is the following Tuesday, but guess what? Life is always happening, and there will always be the perfect excuse for why you can’t start living a healthy lifestyle right now. The biggest disservice that we do ourselves is expecting 100 percent perfection 100 percent of the time and then deciding that anything less is failure. Start the Core Envy program today, then go to that holiday party next week and do the best you can. If you make food choices that you’re unhappy with, don’t throw in the towel and decide that all the work you did the week before was worthless. Health is the cumulative effect of choices you make over time. I’m guessing it took you more than a week to gain the extra weight that you’re carrying around your tummy, so don’t expect it to go away in a week. Make a commitment to yourself today. And the next day, and the next …
2. Schedule your entire day around your workout. Study after study shows that people who work out first thing in the morning are exponentially more likely to work out regularly. Why? Because emergencies at work or home are much more common at 6 p.m. than at 6 a.m. Set your alarm and get your workout done before the rest of the day takes over. If the morning hours just aren’t an option, then put your workout in your calendar and make sure that everyone around you knows that block of time is non-negotiable. If you are like me, you might have to get a little creative in blocking out your time. Because many of my personal training clients switch their day and time from week to week, I’ve learned that I must block off time in my calendar for my own workouts or else I run the risk of scheduling too many clients and not leaving any breaks for myself. I used to write “workout” in my calendar, but then I had one too many clients look over my shoulder and ask if I could move my workout because it was the only time that worked for her to come in. After sacrificing my own workouts numerous times, I started writing “Dana” on my schedule for my personal workout. I even had one client comment, “Dana seems super dedicated—she comes in almost every day!” I just smiled and said, “Yes, and she’s seeing great results!”
3. Surround yourself with support. Don’t try to go through this journey on your own. Let your family, friends, and colleagues know that you’re making a commitment to living healthier and ask them to help keep you accountable. The most important people to have on board are the people with whom you live because they have the ability to encourage or sabotage your progress with the foods they bring into the house. It’s very difficult to stay true to your nutrition plan when you’re surrounded by chocolate-chip cookies and potato chips! Maybe the people in your life need a little encouragement in this area as well, so recruit your friends to do the Core Envy program with you.
If you find yourself struggling, want to share your journey, or need further information about the workouts and nutrition plan, please visit the Core Envy web site at www.coreenvybook.com.