My workouts are with weights, cardio, and HIIT. I always keep a record so I can challenge myself. I challenge myself by increasing weights and reps if I wasn’t able to complete reps on the previous workout, I will increase my minutes in cardio, minutes and reps in HIIT. Some days it can really be a challenge, but my increase be it weights, reps, or time must produce that thought and feeling of “yeah I did it”, this prevents a plateau and keeps me focused on the goal. Complacency is not rewarding in a workout.
So this week, well it is almost over, maybe next week set a new goal in your workout and Challnge Yourself.
To a healthier you and to accomplishing that challenge.
Understanding Your Body
This is a topic I have to remind myself. As. Much as I love working out I have to remind myself how my body responds to certain exercise. I do not know if others experience this, but I am thinking at least one or two people experience the workout cut back.
A workout cutback is when you know a good exercise is great and give you that adrenaline flow but you get a bit bulky in an area of your body than you want. Bulky is good as I know and love building muscles, however certain exercises will bulk and shape my already thick thighs (they have decreased) and I must say shapely. I love working out on the elliptical machine when that urge to run is throbbing and this Texas weather is saying no. The treadmill is great but the adrenaline flow and caloric burn is with greater satisfaction on the elliptical.
I have to make certain that I don’t use my elliptical machine or any greater than once a week because my thighs will bulk greater than desire. Of course chest press, rotating press has decreased my breast but I can deal with that. Just the bulking of my thunders I am not fond of.
I am aware of the desired slim, tone and bulk (back and arms) for me I am aiming for. I hear many females complain about bulking of arms and back, some of us like to bulk …..however you can decrease your weights increase your reps to get the body you are aiming for.
I recommend understanding and knowing your body this will keep your workouts FUN and excitement as well as keep you Focused and make those goals closer each day.
To a healthier you and a great workout week.
Sharing About Me and My Journey
My fitness journey to where I am TODAY has not been one of ease. To begin my journey and stay focus at the beginning was with difficult. First let me say my journey is continuous and a life style.
Okay, sharing, I have a history of an eating disorder, contributing factors, low self-esteem (parents pay attention to your child, sometimes saying no does not mean I am not interested in an activity, it maybe I don’t think I am good enough because …..), bullying, and a few other factors. I am glad in later years of growing up my mother realized “the esteem” issue. Getting back to the disorder growing up I was heavy and then as an adult for years far too many I fluctuated from size 2 to 22. Yes, my metabolism is shot or was but has improved. Just over a year as I took my journey serious I cried everyday I got dressed. My size was 20 I had to pick up my stomach and put it in my pants like a leg. How did I get t this size again, I did it, I ate, first I tried to use the death of my mother as an excuse but no, and several other excuses but no. It was me. Until I accept that I was the cause of the weight gain I probably would not have begun my journey.
Today I fluctuate between size 8 and 10 and yes I still have. More toning, weight loss and muscle to gain, It’s a journey/lifestyle. My travels thus far have been pleasant.
With my poor eating and weight gain, still sharing, I loss my hair, almost all of it. I have alopecia. Poor nutrition, stress , my hair with my change has begun to return, however instead of growing front to back my growth has begin at the back and still I have about 2” in the front with strands, so I have a six head instead of a forehead..haha.
Good share, I workout 5-6 times a week, occasionally 7. I have ran several 5Ks time to go for the 10, I love weight lifting, even with RA, which I have had since childhood. I portion control my food, finally and very recent have made it to 85/15 in nutrition.
My journey is real, I may slow down, but never stop. To anyone and all on a journey of life changing I say, stay focused, YOU can reach your destination regardless of the winding road. I believe in you and so should you.
To a healthier YOU, a journey of success, Much love
Preparing for a Rest Day
On my journey of fitness, I have to consistently remind myself it is necessary to have a rest day. I know and have heard of many people who workout 7 days a week consistently unless an illness or matter of emergent.
It is necessary for the body, muscles to rest as working out with weights everyday and muscle building, the muscles retain water. The body needs to relax and allow the muscle to release. Now I am one sometimes, require proof and seriously I thought this was another workout lie. However, I have noticed my day of rest allows me to continue my journey of fitness with progression instead of as previously I would lift the same weight in pounds and add maybe one or two more reps. Yes, my body would indicate I can increase but my reps would decrease.
Today if I am fatigued or feel as if I am unable to increase my weights for a specific number of reps, I will stop and use the previous weights but continue to increase. This has helped my workouts (when working out with weights). I also include HIIT and Cardio in my workouts. Ultimately I say choose the number of days of workout that suits your body and how your body response.
Whatever choice you make, have fun and keep up the great workouts…To a healthier you, much love.
Time for a Workout….But When
Working out requires commitment, commitment to working out requires time. Time YOU must create as I do. There are days especially if I had to readjust my day which means if it is a workout day the time slot has to be “ADJUSTED not OMITTED “. I may do one of many things in regard to my workout – rest before (if I am tired), push through and complete the workout (my weights may be decrease), or drink my “jump to it juice” and get the workout my body deserves.
My time for my workouts can be as early as 3 AM or late as 7:30 PM. I workout by my energy and yes there are days at 3 AM I am not popping out the bed, but I had to learn and realize I am not so excited about the late eve workout and the most is WOW. That is my experience with my 3 AM workouts WOW, my energy level raises, my mindset is high and these are only a few attributes to a 3AM workout. There are days my workouts are later but 90% of these times my energy is high and I am giving it my all.
To you I say in committing to workouts and time choose the best time, adjust so that you can give YOUR workouts the best your body deserve.
To great, positive, rewarding commitments and a healthier you…Much love.
I Don’t Have Time …How Do You Find Time
I don’t have time, how do you find time? I don’t know how you do it. What am I talking about? I am speaking of the questions and excuses I hear when people I know look at the changes my body has made on my journey ( I still have a ways to go).
People if you want it, and not think about it, or dream about it and wishing does not work either, YOU must commit. Commit to the change you want. You must begin, set a start date, decide how many times a week you will commit (PLEASE let it be more than 1 day), set your time schedule. Yes, family and friends need to know this is your workout time. Yes, you will need to teach them to respect it especially if it is a change and yes let them know you are committed to more than one day a week. Any why because you love yourself and want to make a change in your body, health and mind. Why mind because you are setting your mind to the change and the commitment.
So if you have been one of I don’t and how do you, TODAY begin a change. I do have time and I have found time and add I am committed to myself. To great beginning of change and “to a healthier you”.
Words I Despise……Still On a Diet
Today I am sharing a short blog, word I despise…. Still on a diet?
No, it is not a diet, it is my lifestyle. A diet to me is sort termed.
I AM NOT ON A DIET
I AM NOT ON A DIET
IT IS MY LIFESTYLE AND I LOVE IT
IT IS MY LIFESTYLE AND I LOVE IT
Get it, I really hope so.
Now I have shared my day of frustration because some of my dear friends and family fail to understand.
Changing Taste Buds, Cravings Oh My
I remember if I let my sometime busy days interfere with my meals blood sugar drops, or the headache. I do not like the hunger headache. Although I meal prep some days I am too busy to have that break and it is so easy to eat what a Pharmaceutical rep has brought in or the workplace has provided.
As I continue to focus on my 85/15 eating there are days temptation and those hangry (angry because you are hungry with a headache) pains hit and I want to say just give me anything. The solution that has helped me is to just stop and drink 8-16 ounces of water, then wait about 5 minutes. My hunger decreases, the original thought “just give me anything” fades. I take bites of my prepared food and feel better.
Now, truth is there are days after that water I have tried a bite of other foods. First the more you make better choices at eating the more you will taste the undesirable. Now I can taste the extra oil, extra sodium will either burn my lips or dehydrate me, too much carbs my energy level takes a dive.
How do I manage that 15% well, that is usually on planned outings, celebrations and I do small portions. Took me awhile to get to this point but I am but yes, yes sometimes I do go to 20%. I jut deal with it and do not repeat for a while at least.
Loving myself and you should love yourself as well. To a week of a healthier US.
Compare – Stop – Believe
I am not certain how everyone else feels, but for me there are days I have to check myself. When I say check myself I mean my attitude on fitness journey.
You ever look at someone who is so fit, toned and muscles popping in the right place? As a female I think muscles are awesome as long as you do not look like the Hulk 24-7, but flexing, contest I just adore. I am so guilty in comparing my journey and success of journey to others and look at someone else and do the EVIL thing. I say it is evil because we are made up differenlty, our bodies, response to different workouts, food consumption, metabolism. Instead of admiring of course I am one to always complement, but that EVIL which is
Yes “Compare” is unfair to me to you. Everyones’ struggle and success is different. Instead of comparing I have learned and must remind myself to set goals and continue my journey. Goal setting allows me to check myself and see my own success. So I say let’s eliminate the “evil”
Instead let’s love ourselves and whatever journey you are on stay focused because you are already a winner, achiever.
To a winning week of GREATNESS.
Finding The Right Workout For ME
Finding my workouts for my fitness journey has taken me a minute, a long minute. I’d go to the gym, but it would not always fit into my work schedule, or mother schedule, daughter schedule. Also there were days I’d go and just use what ever darn equipment I could and this was before my days of weight lifting.
I am not my any means knocking the gym, but a person as myself need guidance and a calendar to follow otherwise I am all over the place. Do I get a good workout well……. and that is my answer.
Thanks to my finding Beachbody and ShaunT who was my first BB trainer I feel I am trainable and no longer just staggering about. Did you know and maybe so, but I did not know they have workouts (over 700) yep, that you choose depending on your level of fitness that make you sweat and feel as if you’ve worked out for 2 hours. Yes and yes, Yoga, Dance, Weights, Cardio, Weights and Cardio, and my favorite which I used at the beginning a what??? Yep they have that too a modifier until you can build up to a level for the “badassers”. My name for the fittest of people .
My love for weights begin with beachbody, interested, give me a holla. But whatever workout you are doing make it the best because you are the best.
To a week of wokouts at your best. Much love.
