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.

Fun In My Workouts

box cheerful color cute
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

What the heck is that who has fun working out? 🙋🏽‍♀️. Am I smiling , really no, BUT I am enjoying my workout the challenge, me building a relationship with my body, learning my strength and endurance has out weighed what I thought my limits were.  As well as the mental growth as a person.

Now back to the fun, remember when. you were younger going to the park and the energy, well it was a workout, a recess at school a workout. Hmm not sure if recess was a workout or a hallelujah time to think about that upcoming test or hoping you I wasn’t the next one that had to answer a question I didn’t know the answer to, but I enjoyed it between theses thoughts.  So with this said if you are not sweaty, but high energy, making progress, breaking through plateaus, and looking to the next workout well, it maybe time to evaluate your workout.  Workouts though challenging should be enjoyable and FUN.

To workouts of FUN. Enjoy……

When Do I Increase My Weights

My barbells

Weight lifting has become a HUGE part of my fitness journey, and I am still working on as well have improved on my nutrition which is major.  I am fond of my home workouts for reasons I shall share later but my focus is on weight increase.

My workouts are with a trainer, and still at home.  There is a sheet to record weights used and monitor growth and the trainer actually suggests when to increase the weights. I am good in following the trainers because they have more knowledge than I.  However if my current weight use is still challenging I will not increase for reasons of : possible injury and compromising form to get the benefits.  When I am able to lift, lunge or press with weights that are not challenging or I am able to do 3-5 more reps without feeling a challenge then I will increase my weights.

I know by how much well, this depends on what I have at home.  There weights in between the 5 pound increase such as 10 to 12 instead of 15 or 15 to 17 instead of 20 and yes 20 to 22 instead of 25.  Oh yeah I am speaking of dumbbells because I can increase in increments of 2 or 2.5 on the barbels.  For me I have only that 12 on the dumbbells so I have to up my weights by 5 .  Which I do with caution.

Cautious weight increase is important to stay on the journey without injury and to benefit from the challenge of increasing the weights.  To a week of increasing weights and or reps with safety.

My Reasons for Combining Caridio and Weights

My fitness journey like so many has ups and down but there is one thing I know for certain it is necessary for me to combine my workouts with cardio and weights.

It took me awhile to like  weights, what got me interested?  There are a several reasons :
1. With my history of eating disorder it has assisted (not solely) in increasing my metabolism.
2. Weights has assisted me in giving shape to legs, arms and (in the works) lift that butt and the boobs.
3. I feel stronger also.
Now for the cardio- endurance, fat burning but so are weights, toning and leaning out muscles. By the way it took me a minute to realize with continuous weight training and no cardio, my muscles become define and contracted that it shorten my stretching another reason to combine the both.

All of my reasons for the combination which I am certain I have left out a few, these are my REASONS and may or may not apply to anyone else.

To a week of workouts, choose what works best for you and go get it.

Supporting Others and Neglecting Myself

dance

Hi there I’m uncertain if I have used the correct title on this blog, not at all.  Simply put I am not neglecting myself by all means but I am neglecting my support.

As I travel and it is travel on my fitness journey, I see how so many of my friends, family, coworkers and just sometimes those occasional associates are so unsupported. Nothing positive, join a challenge group with you? What? This is a foreign or forbidden term, give positive support, are you CRAZY ?.  However I get emails to support their goals, or a challenge, listen to voice messages or texts for support. I have responded willingly because YES I do want the best for you however  I DO NOT value your goals GREATER than mine.

This has pressured my conscious thinking for while and I had to realize I have allowed my goals to be devalued.  Yes I will continue my journey with or without your support and I am hoping you can also do the same without mine.

To those on a fitness journey without the support of those so close and near, look ahead, keep up your pace, you are not alone. To a week of achieving  greatness.

Workout Demon

Do you know him or her? What? You never met? Really? Well, the demon was disguised because you have met.  Yes you know when you hear, “you deserve a few days off” and you are just lazy, upset with the flow of the day, energy drained from dealing with BS, not that you really need those days off unless. Your workout trainer said so or you or on vacation, traveling. Okay to assist on the vacation or travel you can join me and be workout ready where ever you go.

BUT don’t let that “workout demon” deter you from your fitness journey. Kick him out the way and get your  workout gear on and GET GOING.

To a week of destroying the workout demon.

The Benefits Of A Challenge Group

What is a Challenge Group? , for sure it’s not a competition group. You are not competing against others or measuring your fitness level against another.  It is a group of individuals, you can reside in the same area or you can be all about the country.  You post and share your fitness journey with each other, you cheer and encourage one another on their greatness and progress.  So what about the not so good days, well you are not alone, you cheer each other through that struggle, positive vibes, encouragement.   You will not receive negativity its like a cheering squad with in a cheering squad and everyone in the group is on the squad.  So why is it a “Challenge Group”?, because the squad encourages you to challenge yourself to dig deeper on your journey, not to give up when you think “I can’t”and well make that 100 mark you thought was the end a new beginning. When you are at 50 you get that cheer from so many.

You get the cheer, the shares of suggestions to break plateaus, share your progress exchange recipes and oh my the list just grows.  Of course everyone does not require a challenge group but the benefit is priceless.

With this shared think about it, any questions, just ask me. Continue reading “The Benefits Of A Challenge Group”

My Early AM Workout VSA Later Workout

My workout time varies and I am noticing a different in my energy after specific times.

My early AM workouts after I have completed my duties to the canines and felines of the house as I have recently found out they are the Royalty, me just their servant.  Anyways after and I get my workout on my adrenaline flow is high and I am feeling Great, my focus is higher and I really do accomplish more in less time.

aged alarm clock antique background
Photo by Krivec Ales on Pexels.com

On those days, which are few but they remain, I drag about pondering on things mostly what I can’t change immediately it takes a minute or two to get my mindset into workout mode.  Once my mind is there I have noticed I don’t have the same level of energy after even though I have given my 100 in the workout.  I am really trying to figure this one out as well as make less time on pondering.

To a week of workouts regardless of when.