How Does Tricia Stay So Lean?

One of the questions that I get asked often is how my wife Tricia stays so lean. My answer would be that there is not one thing that she does in particular, but many factors that you must consider.

One of the first things that I will tell you is that she has always made sleep a priority. For a few years she would always go to bed before me and I would wake up earlier than her. She always sleeps at least 8 hours, has no trouble falling asleep(usually within 2 minutes), and rarely wakes up during the night. She also wakes up early every day, even on the weekends. When I began to adopt her sleeping patterns I got leaner.

Another thing that Tricia does is she exercises every day. For as long as I have known her she has exercised in some way 6-7 days per week. Most of her workouts are short 20 minutes or less but they are very intense. When she finishes her 20 minutes she is usually drenched in sweat. I think that the intensity of her workouts is part of what keeps her so lean. She has a rare ability to really dig deep and push herself a little further when things are getting tough. When most people would quite she does more.

The other thing that Tricia does is she sprints. She was a pole vaulter in college and was forced to do a lot of sprinting. She has said ever since college that the fastest way to get lean and work your midsection is to sprint. When was the last time that you sprinted?

Nutritionally, Tricia does have an advantage in that she is very carbohydrate tolerant. She is able to handle a decent amount of carbs. At each meal she always eats a protein and a fruit(usually 1-2 pieces/day) or vegetable and she has always made it a priority to eat her vegetables everyday. Most people would think that Tricia eats a very low calorie diet but the truth is that she eats a large quantity of calories compared to most women probably around 2000 calories/day. Her nutrition consists mostly of meats, veggies, fruit, nuts, and organic yogurt. Rarely does she eat any grains, any dairy other than organic yogurt and some occasional cheese, and she does not drink her calories. She eats quality foods and has the ability to partition those calories to her muscles rather than her fat because she sleeps well, exercises, and eats the right foods.

One other aspect of Tricias nutrition and exercise that I think is important is that she eats according to her activity. If she is exercising less she will focus on eating even better. If she is exercising more she will adjust her nutrition accordingly.

When you add all of these variables together and consider the fact that she has been doing all of these things for as long as I have known her it adds up to be a pretty powerful formula. I would say that the most important aspect of all of this is that she has been sleeping, exercising, and eating the right way for several years. Over time the consistency adds up. Many people are looking for the quick fix, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a quick fix. Yesterday, Carol B forwarded me a great article by Mark Sisson that talks about the fact that body transformations take time and discipline. If you are trying to change your physique you should check it out here.