STRONG friend, Happy Monday! Happy August!

Wow, fall is right around the corner. Can you believe it? The days, weeks, and the whole dang year are just flying right by.

I stopped yesterday in North Pole, AK, on the way to Eagle, AK, to visit where Jeff grew up. Well, in North Pole, AK, there's a store called Santa Claus House - it's a massive Christmas Store filled with all things Christmas and reindeer.

It's open all year round. Speaking of the time flying by, it made me look up how many days to Christmas! 😝🎄 Not long - 143 days - 40 weeks. It will be here before you know it!

Slow down time! Am I right or am I right?

Anywho. Let's get into July's MVPs (Most Valuable Posts)!

If you're new here, welcome! I send this monthly recap of the most valuable posts that my STRONG community has found helpful on the Gram!

If you missed any of these or want to read the full post, click the link; it will take you straight to the post!

1 - How to Banish any body fat, yes, even belly fat! You are not doomed. It truly is possible. And you can keep it off!!

Losing body fat (yes, even belly fat) doesn't require extreme calorie deficits, detox teas, waist trainers, or mushroom lattes.

What it does require is eating in a consistent calorie deficit, lifting heavy-for-you weights, walking more, sleeping better, and managing stress.

You can't spot-reduce fat, and menopause or hormones aren't to blame; your habits are, and you can change them! You're not broken, you've just been misled. The basics work when you work them consistently.

2 - I wish more women understood that they need to spend more time intentionally eating at maintenance to build a foundation of muscle!

If you're always dieting and wondering why the "tone" isn't toning… this one's for you, sis. Muscle is the magic, and if you haven't taken the time to build it, there's nothing to reveal when you cut.

That toned look you want? It comes from eating enough, training smart and heavy, and prioritizing recovery like it's your job.

Stop shrinking yourself and start building the foundation. The sooner you pause the fat loss grind, the faster your body will thank you.

3 - The Real Flex, Sis?

If you're always chasing fat loss, no wonder you're not seeing the tone.

The real flex?

Building muscle on purpose with enough food, training with challenging weights, and enough time. You can't reveal what you haven't taken the time to build. Shrinking isn't the goal; strength and muscle is.

It's time to train like you mean it!

4 - Friendly Reminder: Cardio Won't Give You The Tone!

Cardio won't give you the tone you're after. Good for the heart, good for fun, good for endurance, just to name a few, but cardio doesn't build muscle!

If you're eating like a bird and skipping the weights, you're not building muscle, you're just spinning your wheels.

That toned look? It comes from muscle, not from starving or doing endless circuits. You need structure, challenge, and actual fuel to grow the body you say you want. STRONG friend, you can't tone what you haven't built.

5 - 5 Signs you're Gaining Muscle

Think you're not making progress? These signs say otherwise.

If your clothes are fitting differently, you're lifting heavier, and the scale's creeping up (or holding steady), - muscle weighs something, you are gaining muscle!!

Progress looks like strength, shape, and feeling damn good. Building muscle takes time, fuel, and consistency; it's not an overnight process.

So if you're doing the work, sis, keep going!!

Alright, alright, STRONG friend! That's that for July! Notice the common thing here... all things Strength and Muscle!! Can't stop, won't stop talking about the importance of it all!

Have an amazing August. Let me know if you have questions, want to share any wins, etc. I am one click away!

In Strength & to Your Success!

One Love,

Coach Candace