Category: Being strong

I Still Remember My “Third Leg”

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Puzzling as it sounds, I had a third leg or so it felt like. I often reflect on his to remind myself of again my transition and gains on my fitness journey.  I know I’ve shared this before and it is necessary for me to reflect on.

I have a history of horrible eating disorder.  Yes I’ve been through it all, anorexia- which I could go for a month or longer on water or a Sonic Route 44 once a day.  Bulemia if I consumed a meal greater than 500 calories or another bulemia is to workout until my burn has 3 to 4 times greater than my intake.  Oh yes I occasionally abused laxatives.  I was thin shapely an VERY VERY unhealthy.

On the flip of this I went through phases of just binging and binging and yes you guessed it, more binging.  I was large and angry because the manufacturers were making their clothes smaller.  I was not willing to accept the fact I was eat and had eaten out of smaller sizes.  I yo-yo for a minute then the third leg reality came.

I had a third leg.  I had gone from XS scrubs to XL and they were getting tight.  I one day put on my scrubs, right leg, left leg and I literally had to raise my abdomen up and drop it in my scrubs.  Now most people gain abdominal weight all around no mine just hung like a leg.  I privately cried and did not want to use the bathroom at work because of how long it took to undress and redress after doing my business.  I took a look and knew I needed to change and that’s when my fitness journey begin.

Do I fall off track sometimes but guess what?  I don’t have a third leg and NO I’m not back in XS scrubs but I am in M and they are getting just a bit loose but nearly enough for a small.

I eat normally, my intake fluctuates as so my craving but thanks to “ultimate portion fix and the containers” also 2BMindset my nutrition is one of health.  My workouts are all on point, streamed Beachbodyondemand.

So bye,bye third leg and on with my fitness journey.  To you I send my best that you can wave bye to anything in your life you are not excited about and move forward to your goal or goals as they just keep coming.

 

Workout Gains

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What the heck, who wants to gain doing workouts? Well that depends on your goal and it is all positive.

If you’re working out with weights there are benefits, yes you will gain muscle, heavier weights you will bulk up.  You can also get firmer and toner even leaner with weights.  For the females with that fear of bulk, it’s your weight lift or squat.  In other words how heavy, but before you bulk you will burn so many calories. Oh yeah your nutrition will have to also change for a bulk.

But the gains I’m focused on is all personal.

1. Attitude is positive and if you’re already there then it is enhanced
2. Personal appearance, you give it a little more attention and you should because your inner beauty or handsome good looks begin to exhibit. Now I want to share that inner to outer beauty was always there sometimes being hard on ourselves we don’t always see it. But now you are feeling it and your outer vision on you begin to see a different person.
3. You feel powerful on decisions and with this just may be open to more challenges you once feared.
4. Nutrition will change and once again you feel power and energized- “come on workouts”
5. Interactions with family, friends, co-workers, colleagues totally change. They will be at a loss. It’s okay sometimes a shock is good for a few of them.

So as that scale slowly change or fluctuates just remember all the “WORKOUT GAINS”. I’ve shared only a few but there are so many more.

To a week of workout gains……

Challenges Do Create and Motivate

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Say WHAT? Can you I say that again, of course, Challenges do create and motivate atleast for me.

My workouts especially the current one I am currently doing challenges me.  It’s not the weights but just the routines and then weights are added and I’m trying to keep on beat before the routine changes, I’m huffing and puffing and then I get angry for a minute or three.  Angry because I question why the heck am I doing this particular workout, why not just sit this routine out and see what the next one will be or just stop the program ?

Why, why, then I grasp a hold on what is going on. Why because I want change not just physical but also mental. SO what happens, I resume the workout and challenge myself on the routine and really what happens is so surprising and appeasing. Then I think, how often I have did the same thing in life.

In life it is sometimes easy to take an easier out than challenge what we think we can’t do, because of fear, or mockery from others, sometimes lazy or the fear of losing a friend.  But if you as I did challenge small things and see the outcome and most of all feel GREAT then its time. TIME to unlock our greatness, mine included.

This week or days head challenge yourself in areas you thought were unreachable, goals of satisfaction and watch the greatness in you shine and will motivate you to higher goals and challenges. Just as I believe in me, I also believe in you.

CHALLENGES WE’RE COMING

How Often To Increase Your Lifting Weight

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Really, How often? Well to be honest I cannot not answer the question, however I can give a few tips I use .  I’m a Beachbodyondemand lover,  all. To say I have several trainers with awesome workouts by a calendar. The trainers do suggest when its time to increase, do I follow?  Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

I increase my weights according to my strength, if I feel the current weight is not challenging I will increase prior to the trainer recommendation. On the flip if the weight is already challenging well no and no I’m not changing my weights.

Now the question is how do I know if they are not challenging, huh, have you ever lifted if not let me share.  When you’re lifting and on rep 3 or 4 you gotta dig in with a face you hope no one is taking pictures or video taping and by rep 8 you;r a bit shaky but know you can maybe do 2 more reps and that’s MAYBE, the weights are challenging.

If you are able to lift and it feels like air or you can continue to lift on and on without any muscle fatigue. Just stop and  increase the weights but if you like to go through the motion okay.  It’s not really going through the motion because if you continue on and on the muscle will fatigue, the increase in weights cause the muscle to work and fatigue sooner, but with safe measures.

With any weight lifting make it about you, as I do, your goals, your challenge and most of all your safety as I also do. To weeks of weight lifting of fun (you have to enjoy your workout), safety and meeting those fitness goals,  ENJOY.

The Struggle is REAL

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It is, and I’d say it one thousand times.  There are many struggles for me on my fitness journey.

1. Pushing myself to workout when I want to be just lazy which is not a good idea because I know me I’d use that excuse even when I’m not.

2. Making certain I don’t over indulge when I’m celebrating with friends and family.  It is so easy to over indulge and there is a difference between enjoying yourself, (which I do) and over indulging.  When I consume way too much my workouts are TOUGH.  I be breathing harder, a 40 pound dumbbell feels like 90, two jumping jacks feel like I’ve ran a mile so I’ve learned, however there are a few times I forget.

3.  When life challenges appear and you want to throw in the towel and just stop everything.  For life challenges drain me, energy and all.  On these time I PRAY and ask God for guidance and strength.  Of course I read and listen to Personal Development books and podcast.

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These are a few of my struggles and I pedal through, keep the focus and  goal in my vision.  For those who struggle just know you are not alone and you too should keep the focus and goal and know your goals are achievable.

Small Changes and Then

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Do you know the value of small changes? I am aware there are people that really want to make a physical change and begin their fitness journey but will not because of easy excuses:

1. I don’t have time or my time is limited – I know but just start anywhere, 5 minutes of a workout will begin a process and progress and outweighs NOTHING

2.  My days are so limited – okay commit to the day or days you do have again JUST GET STARTED

3. I’m not sure if I can lift as much as others, run as long , squat as low and so on- uh huh its not about others, its about YOU.  Yes you give your best, stop measuring your self to others.

Making the small changes, commit, 5 minutes, one day two days, lift 2 lbs, run 30 seconds  squat as low as you can and with consistency all of this will change and those small changes will add up  and not only that you will be so proud of yourself. How do I know, because  this was once me.

SMALL CHANGES MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Change Isn’t Always Instant….Unless

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That’s right, change isn’t instant.  On my fitness journey I hear this, “what are you doing?  How long do you workout? What time do you get up to workout? How many days do you workout? The most common conversation is I need to join you, I think we can do it together don’t you.  Of course I always respond I’m delighted and then well it goes down .

Why. Because after I answer the question or questions I then get another response.  NO that’s too long, no too many days a week, I can not workout that early. Now I do understand the timing because a few days I am up working out at 3:30 AM or 4. If I say okay I’ll adjust to the evenings the response becomes oh that’s a bit late to workout don’t you think.  Perhaps, I guess. Maybe you really don’t want to do this with me, I don’t really say it but the words are in bold, big print in my thoughts.

CHANGE does not come instant if you are looking for change in your fitness help.  YOU must first decide you want it and commit. Secondly you may need to make adjustment in your daily schedule.  I was one that repeatedly said “ I don’t have the time”.  This was partially true.  I didn’t have time for the drive to and from the gym but I did have time for home workouts.  Not saying  gyms are a waste of time, when I had that time I did go to the gym, but sometimes life changes and we have to adjust, I had to adjust.

Adjust and not stop. I did stop and used self satisfying excuses.  Home workouts with beachbodyondemand.com have been so rewarding for me, dang it no excuses.  Even with home workouts my body’s response fluctuates but there is change.  Without commitment to yourself change will not come and then not instantly…..UNLESS you get the surgeon on board then of course it is instant.

Commit to yourself, Change is coming, You just have to open the door and walk in.