3 Simple Secrets to Getting Lean While Eating What You Love

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of Americans try to lose weight every year. According to an Everyday Health survey, 79 percent of people believed that reaching their target weight would make them “happier.” However, Alexandra Redmond, a fitness influencer with over 431,00 followers on Instagram, is living, breathing proof that leaner isn’t always. In an Instagram post, Redmond reveals that being super lean isn’t necessarily the key to happiness.

1. Why I Gave Up on Getting Lean and Found My Happy Medium

“Unless you have the genetics, achieving this level of leanness requires more sacrifice than the average person is willing to give,” she wrote in the caption of the post. “I used to think that if I looked the part and was ‘shredded,’ people would trust me more, I’d be happier and more ‘credible’. What it actually did was mess with my mental and physical health and had me focusing more on my imperfections than ever,” she admits. “I think everyone has a ‘happy medium’ where they feel their best, can enjoy foods they love AND feel good in their body."

2. The Hidden Costs of Having Abs

Shutterstock

In the video, which she titled “Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting This Lean,” she explains that while “having abs might be cool,” there are also disadvantages of being at such a low body fat percent. For one, it “can actually hurt your hormone health,” she says.

Related: I'm a Bikini Fitness Competitor and Here's My #1 Rule for Weight Loss

3. Being Lean Ruined My Happiness and Social Life

Shutterstock

And, “being this lean” did not bring her any more happiness than she had at a higher body fat percentage. “I thought it would help my body image, but it actually made me fixate more on my imperfections than ever,” she confessed. She also had to sacrifice her social life. “If I went out to eat with my family or friends, I would actually pack my own food,” she said. “This level of leanness is not sustainable and it certainly didn't make me a more qualified coach,” she concluded.

4. A Study Reveals the Surprising Link Between Obesity and Happiness

Shutterstock

Research has found that while weight loss can come with mental health benefits, seriously restricting or avoiding foods can lead to disordered and psychological problems. In fact, a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that people who are obese were generally happier than those who are thin and also have a calmer state of mind.

Related: What Happens When You Quit Soda, According to a Nutritionist

5. Finding Your Happy Medium

Shutterstock

This doesn’t mean you are better off being obese, as obesity is linked to a number of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. As Redmond mentions, a “happy medium,” a weight where you feel healthy but not deprived, is the ideal goal.

💪🔥Body Booster: While the majority of people believe that getting leaner and skinnier will make them happier, research doesn’t support this.

Frustrated with love handles that just won't budge? If you've tried everything from endless side crunches to restrictive diets with no success, you're not alone. "It would be amazing if we could do a particular exercise that targeted love handle fat only, but there is no known way currently to spot reduce fat," says Jenna Collins, a certified personal trainer who's helped thousands transform their bodies. With over 400,000 YouTube subscribers and 25 years of fitness expertise, Collins has developed a science-backed approach that delivers real results. Here's her proven system that actually works for eliminating those stubborn love handles.

Why Love Handles Are So Stubborn

"Love handles don't appear overnight," Jenna explains in her post. "They develop over the years through excess calorie consumption and various factors like stress, medication, and genetics." She notes that women, especially after menopause, are more prone to storing fat in this area due to decreased estrogen levels.

"They don't appear because you went on vacation for a week and ate too much food," Jenna emphasizes. "This happens over a long period of time. Often, in the years, we've become so used to our bad habits that the problem can go undetected or, more likely, ignored."

RELATED:She Could Have Lost Weight Faster If She Had Known These 5 Fat Loss Tricks

Step 1: The Nutrition Strategy That Makes the Difference

The foundation of losing love handles starts with smart eating. "You need to be in a calorie deficit to lose fat," Jenna emphasizes. "This means consuming fewer calories than you burn daily." She recommends reducing your daily caloric intake by no more than 500 calories to lose fat at a sustainable pace.

"Definitely don't jump in and reduce your calories to the bare minimum in the hopes of speeding up fat loss," Jenna warns. "This will always result in gaining the weight back very fast. The truth is you're looking at many months and possibly even years, depending on how much fat you need to lose."

The Protein Rule That Protects Your Muscles While Burning Fat

Protein intake is crucial to maintaining muscle while losing fat. "If you're not getting adequate protein in your diet, you can start to lose muscle, especially while in a calorie deficit," Jenna explains. She recommends consuming 0.7-1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight daily.

Step 2: The Exercise Approach That Really Works

Surprisingly, the most effective exercise isn't what most people expect. "If I had to choose one exercise for all people and all fitness levels, walking is your best exercise to lose fat," Jenna reveals. She notes that "walking for 45 minutes at a steady pace can burn as many calories as a 15-minute HIIT workout."

For optimal results, combine walking with strength training. "Resistance training will help you to tone and build muscle, and the more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories your body will burn at rest. Yes, that's right. At rest, doing nothing."

Start Here: Your Simple 3-Day Workout Plan for Results

For beginners, Jenna recommends "a full body workout three times per week. Two could be shorter HIIT workouts with or without equipment, and one could be lower intensity weights." As you progress, you can advance to more specialized routines.

RELATED:10 Warning Signs Your Calories Are Dangerously Low

Step 3: The Missing Link - Sustainable Consistency

"If you can't put the first two steps into practice consistently and make it a lifestyle change rather than seeing it as a challenge, then those steps are pointless," Jenna states firmly. "You don't need to jump in with both feet and make drastic changes overnight. For some, this might work, but for most people, this won't work."

Work With Your Body Type, Not Against It

She highlights working with your unique body type: "We really just need to accept that we all have different body shapes. You can't go comparing your body shape to someone else's. Work with your own body and don't try to shape it the way somebody else is built."

Breaking Through Plateaus

When progress stalls, Jenna shares her proven solution: the refeed day. "After some time being in a calorie deficit, your body will reduce the amount of calories it burns. This is your body's way of going into survival mode," she explains. By strategically increasing carbohydrates for one day, "you're signaling to your body that you are getting enough calories, and there's no need to lower your metabolism."

RELATED:She Tried the 75 Soft Challenge and "Actually Craves Healthy Food Now"

Your Blueprint for Success

"Combine the science and a lifestyle change that works for you, meaning something that is sustainable and enjoyable for you long-term," Jenna concludes. The key to success lies in the combination of proper nutrition, strategic exercise, and unwavering consistency. While the journey requires patience, following these science-backed steps will lead to real, lasting results. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.