Are You a Lefty or Righty?
Is One Side Stronger Than the Other?
Does one side of your body feel like a pro while the other feels totally confused?
If that’s you, you’re not alone.Being uneven is completely normal.Most of us have one side that’s stronger, more balanced, or more flexible.
Think about your hands.You likely have a dominant hand.
For me, it’s my right. Which means that my right arm is noticeably stronger than the left.
But my LEFT leg is my dominant leg.
That’s common!Our bodies tend to be dominant in an opposing pattern.
So I have to give a little extra love to my left arm and right leg.
Why This Matters
When one side is a lot weaker than the other, it could lead to injuries.
FITNESS SIMPLIFIED
Is it a problem if one side is stronger than the other?
No… and Yes.
Fitness Tip To Balance Your Strength
Do functional style, one-sided (unilateral) exercises
You’ll never be perfectly even.
That’s okay!
But if one side is much weaker than the other, it can lead to injury.
The goal is to get your strength as balanced as possible.
So how do you do that?I’ve got just the thing to help...
One Leg Stronger Than the Other? Do This to Even Out Your Sides!
- Watch yourself in a mirror or record yourself on video to watch it back, trying to pinpoint if your weight shifts more to one side than the other.
- Walking quad stretch + forward lean – Open up your hip flexors & improve balance.
- Do a few more reps or another set on the weaker side if you want.
Extra tip: Make sure that your workout routine includes plenty of “functional style” exercises that train just one leg or one arm at a time. This ensures that your weaker side HAS to work and get stronger, rather than always relying on the stronger side to do the work.
Did You Know...
- Around 90% of people are right handed, with only 10% being left handed. Are you one of the 10%?
- Leg dominance - or preference - is common, too. But oddly enough, while the leg that you would choose to kick with is considered your dominant leg, it’s often the other one that ends up being stronger and more stable with certain tasks, since that is the leg you would plant with.
- “Bilateral” exercises use both limbs simultaneously, while “unilateral” exercises use just one side at a time. Unilateral exercises are far superior for developing total body strength because they force your core muscles to engage more during the exercise.
NUTRITION SIMPLIFIED
Maybe It’s Not Just Your Legs
Nutrition Tip of The Week
Eat meals with protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats
Are your meals balanced?
Your body works best when you eat the three major macronutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
You can survive by cutting one out, but it’s not ideal for long-term health.
You should have some of each of the following in your meals:
✔️ Carbs provide fuel for your brain and nervous system function, as well as quick energy for your working muscles.Choose whole grains, fruits, veggies, and legumes.
✔️ Fats help manufacture and balance hormones, transfer vitamins, and help form our brains, nervous system and even cell membranes.Choose fats in nuts, seeds, dairy, avocados, and fish.
✔️ Protein is responsible for nearly all of our physical structures, hormones, enzymes, immune system chemicals and virtually all metabolic processes.
Get it from lean animal sources or high-protein plant sources.
Here’s a recipe that has them all in a simple, versatile dish that will make you look like a gourmet chef.
Zucchini Frittata
More “in a pinch” PRO-filled meals:
- Oatmeal with nuts, seeds and mixed berries
- Mixed greens salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, salmon and olive oil based dressing
- Tacos with lean ground beef, avocados, tomatoes and corn tortillas
MINDSET SIMPLIFIED
Keeping a balanced mindset is about avoiding extremes.
Think of your healthy habits like a swinging pendulum.
If it swings too far in one direction (like perfectionism, extreme diets, or intense exercise), it’s likely to swing just as far in the other direction (like giving up on your habits completely).
Your goal is to keep the pendulum as steady as possible.
Notice when you’re obsessing over doing things perfectly.
Also notice when you’re ignoring your habits altogether.
Remember: a little of something is infinitely better than all or nothing.
Mindset Tip to Stay Balanced
Avoid the extremes
THE TAKEAWAY
Keeping balance in your fitness, nutrition, and mindset helps you stay strong, avoid injury, and stay consistent for the long run. Avoiding extremes and focusing on steady habits is the real key to being strong and energetic, regardless of your age!!
- Do functional style, one-sided (unilateral) exercises
- Eat meals with protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats
- Avoid the extremes
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Self Care Simplified podcast
Ep 339. Balance Training? Avoid These Mistakes!
Ep 314. This One Little Word Changes Everything!
Ep 294. Easy Ways to Improve your Balance and Prevent Falls
SPECIAL RESOURCE
This follow-along workout includes a lot of “unilateral” exercises, forcing each side to work independently and get stronger! The bonus effect? You’ll be improving your balance, too!
15 MIN Balance and Strength Workout
Until next week... Be strong
