Author: nitrice

I am sharing my Fitness journey with others. I have experienced weight gains and weight loss both unhealthy and healthy. My journey now is one of a healthy lifestlye with fitness and nutrition. I want others to be EMPOWERED with my shared journey and know they too, can overcome the challenges and join me on my journey and make it an "Our Journey"

My 3 AM Fitness Levels

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A few days a week I begin my day at 3 AM.  Yes it is 3 AM so I can do what MY responsibilities to household chores and get a workout in and my efforts are always my 100 but it’s not the same. My efforts require more of a push and although I have drink my “jump to it juice” as always before a workout there is a difference. Why?

I know, what’s the purpose of my juice if I’m not getting the results; well the juice is doing what it should.  It’s me.  It’s my hours of sleep, no matter what I just cannot get the sleep before that alarm goes off.  I’ve tried so many times to crawl into bed by 8 PM but then I’m up by 10 PM because my body thinks I’m taking a nap.  Oh I don’t fall asleep at 8, it takes a minute or two more like 30 to 40.  I have tried working out later on these days  but that means 9 PM or 10, doesn’t work for me.  So……

I know my levels are decreased but I do the workouts and still feel good just know it is not the same and it works for ME.  That’s it with a 3 AM workout or later it is necessary not only to get the most sleep (because it is important), as well as to know what works for you to stay committed on your journey.  I’m sharing my fitness journey but this applies to any journey know what works for you to stay focus and keep it moving onward.

To OUR Greatness.

I’m A Snacker

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Yes, yes, yes, I am a snacker which means I try to always have healthy choices around.  There are times I do crave and will eat potato chips. Are these chips a healthy brand, NOPE, if I crave it there is no substitution for Lays.  I do however have healthy choices available.

I am good with Beachbody bars available in 3 flavors. beachbars

The third is a chocolate almond crunch. I also make my own, say what? Yes I make homemade granola which is not only for a snack, but I sprinkle on my salads and vegetables.

Now to the snacking it is not daily but I am working on stopping the snacking and increase my hydration (water) which helps when I want to snack without cause. I have also become aware of snacking when I get impatient, stress or having to make certain decisions. Again it’s water, but there are days I do just need a snack because I’m not able to sit down for a meal. Or at work swallow a meal in 5 minutes, its just that way.
I will continue however to work on my snacking but for now I will keep it as healthy as possible.

I Fumbled, Fell and Then

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That’s what I did today in Barre today.  I was all excited at the beginning.  I did a few minutes of meditating high intensity today and then I pushed play.

High intensity, as I’m in week 7, 40 minutes. I was sweating giving what I thought was more than 💯, kicking this cardio workout then it happened.  I noticed my leg was swinging so high and my balance was off. Who doesn’t know if their balance is off, Me. One of my canines decide to place kibbles on my workout mat and I stumbled on a few, did a quick clean-up and back to the workout.  I fumbled as I my skin was glistening and dropping sweat on the mat, I broke my fall with grace and decided I needed to modify and that’s what I did. Did I decrease my 💯, NOPE, just my level and completed the workout.  Barre Blend is a challenge.

Have you ever tried a barre workout? Are you interested to see if Barre if for you well comment below and I will send you a link for 2 week try of this fun, yoga,Pilates, muscle, dance, boxing, ballet workout.  Or maybe you’re like me always looking for an accountability partner I’m here let’s share our journey together. Otherwise if you fumble or fall just change your pace and keep it moving.

Who Told You That and WHAT

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I can only think as I share my journey with many of all ages and hear these sayings. “WHAT”.  Okay a list and I’m not sure if these are to deter me, mock me or if people believe it.

1. Is this workout appropriate for your age? Is there an age limit to workouts, if you can do it well do it.
2. What’s your reason, I don’t understand. My workout reason is that I enjoy it, the way I feel in so many ways and YOU don’t need to understand my why for my fitness, however if you’d like to join me to experience the joy, fun and change I am, well come on over Let’s Do This.
3. Are you afraid of injury, I thought you had RA. Yes, I do have RA and if I’m not flaring I’m good and if I am I just adjust the move, weight or whatever is necessary for me to complete the workout. Yes, I’m afraid, afraid I will become lazy, unhealthy and let others decide MY designation in MY fitness journey.
4. I was told that after a certain age blah blah blah. Really and no one ever told you to encourage others, or not to place limitations on your self, maybe someone said your age should not define your capability or stop your growth in every possible area of your life and that does include fitness.

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I encourage ANYONE that wants to begin a fitness regimen PLEASE do so. You are denying yourself if you listen to the whispers that say no, you can’t, or don’t.
It’s time to drown out the whispers and become You for YOU. Do IT

I Almost Forgot, Did You ?

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On the journey to fitness there are so many components but one I almost forgot until I went out late in the evening and looked up.  I should say late at night and looked up, then I remembered.

What did I remember?  Well it was so relaxing, quiet every now and then a vehicle but all in all so relaxing and my mind relaxed.  What you ask?, the pleasure, appreciation of  quiet moments with nature.  The sky with the stars and the moon it was just a connection.  I do yoga but not consistently, I am quiet especially when I’m praying The Rosary.  But this is so different, have I  ever did this type of meditation? yes.  Yes, I have but it has been such a  long time and again the connection to the universe, my prayers to God, my appreciation of life had a new feeling and meaning.  At this time I’m not certain what days and how many days a week, but this will become a routine.  I miss this connection just didn’t realize because I forgot.

How about you? What have you forgotten that really had an impact on your life, assisted in creating, awakening the greatness in you ? Whatever it is, is time to renew that relationship. YOUR GREATNESS

 

WOW – It’s Week 6 of Barre Blend

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Another week of great barre workouts, how did I do ? Well I completed with again greater balance, improved elongation in legs in the workout and have learned more ballet terms (don’t test me on them though).  My flexibility has improved and I notice in my sitting whether at home, in transportation or at  work my posture is higher and more aligned. No change in the weights, I continue to use 2 lb.

I have two weeks remaining, as of today I’m certain if I will do another round of Barre Blend, but for now I’m in love with my current barre workout. I

If you’ve never tried a barre workout, well you’re missing out. However for now whatever workout you’re doing give it your 100 and keep up the good work.

It’s Commitment

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It is about the commitment and how so important.  I was so committed today because I so wanted to just STOP my workout today.  Stop just for today not permanently.

It’s a norm for me on rising after expelling by night build up to cleanup-up if necessary after my canines they are my fur babies and the felines. Not certain of the rush but sometimes they miss the pad so I have to mop with the pick up and exchange. I have one cat with wobbly legs so sometimes she misses the liter box. My AM chores which can take 20 minutes to an hour but today it was so quick I decided to additional clean up. I shouldn’t have. I know clean up is important not downsizing it but t my air condition is off and early AM is not so bad but there is no ventilation surviving on fans and that is not bad, but definitely not my usually cool temp and the ventilation/ circulation I really notice the difference.

Here is what happened, I was swifting (wet jet) and spot drooping Clorox as I went along, not paying attention I tumbled in the process of placing the bottle down and spilled. The fumes were enormous. I just pour water and coughing because this concentrated Clorox was so strong. I increased the speed on the fan, took the canine out because now they were sneezing, moved the felines into a room with a fan, raised the window. Why didn’t I take them out, well I also have outside that has taken up residency in the backyard and my older feline 16 years of black beauty is not so friendly at first and she is declawed so no.
The fumes subsided but not completely gone, what next? I set my workout space and begin Barre Blend workout. Of course today was cardio.

Yes I worked out in warm temp and was sneezing, coughing and snotting through it all. I endured it because I was committed but now hours later I just wondered why I didn’t take my workout to the outside. The fumes are now minimum. I hope I remember this, but my technician is suppose to come repair my air and I will not be using Clorox without extra precaution.

I WAS COMMITTED, although it’s not always this, we just have to make that choice. Just so you’ll know I was poring with sweat post Barre Blend today along with sneezing, coughing and everything that follows a large Clorox spill.

 

 

Am I the Only One

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How many times do I ask myself this? Am I the only one, how many times do you ask yourself this question?

For me today I’ve aske m self this a thousand times or so it seems.
1. Am I’m the only one that is working out as much in my age group
2. Am I’m the only that gets frustrated when I can’t get all my workout in, today I planned for 2 but my responsibility list was long.
3. Am I the only one that laundry piled up and it will be late before I can get to it or although there aren’t but a few dishes I will place them in the dishwasher and either wash them on another day or turn the dishwasher on in hopes I don’t runout of glasses because unless its a holiday it’s paper plates.
4. Am I’m the only one that everything is breaking, the lawn mower, the edger, the chain saw (limbs on the tree- I do my own)
5. Am I the only wondering how the heck I can keep my house cool because today my air went out and it will be 2 days before the contractor can come out (thanks for home warranty).
6. Today this list is long and then I had to think.

Really, no you’re not it just sometimes I’m hard on myself and have everything planned and then comes the life curve. I just have to deal with it because I have so much to be thankful for in these times.

Tomorrow as I pray the Rosary I will ask God to continue remind me of all the blessings I have received, those I know of and those I don’t because HE has given strength to survive, handle and still be Me despite life’s curve.

How about you? Are you looking at the goodness that surrounds you and know you can handle the curve life tosses to you. You got this, We got this we’re not the only one.

Friday – The Week Workout Wrap UP

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I am so happy Friday is here, just kidding and mocking so many people.  I’ve learned through years of growth in so many ways to enjoy and cherish each and every day.  I’m one to raise my hand as I know each day, week, month will have different levels of joy as well as there is a lesson in each whether we are aware of it or not, IT’S THERE.

I completed my 5th week of Barre Blend, by the way if you’ve never tried a barre work out and think it is too easy you have wronged yourself in so many ways.  Nonetheless I completed week 5 and continue to use 2 lb. weights, there will be no heavy weights in a barre workout.  I learned that quick. My balance has improved so much and for reason or reason unknown to my  shoulders have been on fire with each workout this week . Next week will begin week 6, there are 8 weeks in this program which is streamed on BOD and who know I may just repeat it again, because I did not know what I now know about barre workouts.

To complete my week in full as I love Barre Blend I will do heavy lifting not that it’s necessary to complement the barre workout because I love weight lifting.  As I continue my fitness journey and note the changes in my body as well as my nutrition I get so EXCITED. Excited for the change but to know I did not stop or give up on me regardless to unsupportive friends and family. Age  is not the factor but learning to accept, respect yourself is and sometimes it has to be about YOU.

So this week give Yourself more on whatever journey you are pursuing and make it about YOU, because it is.

The Components of Fitness

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It is everywhere, what fitness that’s what.  Fitness in ads on every media and so many begin a fitness program and so many begin, stop then begin again as well as many begin and just stop.

Fitness has many components and its not just the workout, say what? Yes many components and here are a few.

1. Workout- There are levels to any workout begin at your most comfortable level, then advance. Don’t compare yourself because everyone is different of course there will be similarities. It’s okay if you challenge yourself to a higher intensity in a workout and out of nowhere you have to adjust the intensity a bit lower, that’s gain; you’re responding to your body’s capability for that day.
2. Sleep – You want a good workout, well you need to get a good sleep in. I cannot decide the hours for you but a tired body cannot give 💯 percent in a workout. Oh you can go through the motion, but why? You should want to get the most out of your workout so get that slumber in.
3. Nutrition- So important, don’t over eat as well as don’t under eat.
4. Commit- How many days are you able to workout each week, commit to that number
5. The scale- yeah, about that gadget, it can only tell you how much you’ve gained or lost and it is important it cannot tell you how you feel about yourself, the new energy you now have, how many reps you’ve increased, increased flexibility, inches lost and so many other changes. Is the scale important, uh yes it has a role but don’t ignore or forget “all those non scale victories”

Okay just know these are a few components and very important in your fitness journey. I still have to remind myself of them so to woo hoo to the components of fitness.