Is being thin enough. I worry about my weight and appearance a lot and I have for years. As much as I try not to think about it and let it take over my life, it’s a thought that’s always there, somewhere below the surface. Although dancers are very thin, they are also very fit individuals, but when you are still a student it’s really easy to get caught up in the “thin” part. Well, it’s always easy to get caught up in the “thin” part. Sometimes I think that we forget about being fit and healthy and spend too much time thinking about our weight and size.

IS BEING THIN ENOUGH

There is such a thing as “skinny fat” otherwise known as metabolically obese normal weight (MONW). This means that while you may have the appearance of being in shape on the outside, your insides may not be very healthy. Another way to look at it is if you have more fat than muscle.
It’s probably a good idea to get tested for the following, because:

• You might have high cholesterol
• You might have high triglycerides
• You might have high blood sugar
• You might have high blood pressure

How Do You Know If You Are Skinny Fat?

• You stick to a very low calorie diet. Sure, you need to have a calorie deficit to lose weight but you also need to eat enough to feed your body properly. It’s also worth noting that maybe at this point in your journey, you need to be thinking about striking a balance rather than consuming fewer calories.
• You over-train cardio. Cardio is great but it can’t be all that you are doing, you need to build muscle.
• You don’t lift any weights ever (this includes body weight exercises). I can’t believe how many women are afraid to lift weights, but it’s vital for weight loss. Read: WHY YOU SHOULD LIFT WEIGHTS
• You carry your fat in your abdomen, you might notice that while you aren’t big per say, you have those dreaded love handles.
• You don’t eat enough protein
• You mostly eat carbs, processed foods and sugar

What Do You Do?

Okay, so now that you might have determined that you are skinny fat, what do you need to do to go about getting healthy.

• Start by adopting a healthy, well balanced diet comprised of all the major food groups so that you are getting enough minerals and vitamins which are necessary for heart and organ health.
• Increase your intake of protein. This includes: lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs and nuts which will all help keep you feeling fuller for longer as well as protect your muscles and help to keep you metabolism running smoothly. Read HOW TO BOOST UP YOUR METABOLISM
• Stay away from sweetened drinks, juice and soda while limiting your alcohol intake.
• Work on building those muscles. A toned body is always a good thing and it will help keep you healthy for longer.
• Get your heart pumping. Even if it’s for a short period of time, 30 minutes a day should do it. Here’s a great workout you can do almost anywhere: 20 MINUTE WORKOUT BY FITWISE
• Give yourself a break once in while. Just as working out is important, so is rest and relaxation (and that includes getting enough sleep). Too much stress won’t do your body or health any good. Read HOW TO RELIEVE STRESS IN 15 MINUTES

Remember that while being thin is not in itself a bad thing, being healthy is much better even if you are carrying a little bit of extra weight.

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