Tag: Greatness

The Past, The Present & The Future ME

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It’s all about me for now on my fitness journey.

My Past – I have experienced  weight fluctuations, size fluctuations.  I’ve experienced almost every eating disorder known.  I was concerned and didn’t know how to handle when I was disliked by family, friends and yes even foes, I thought I had to appease so many.  I allowed myself to be taken advantage of.  BUT I continued to workout always a fitness junkie but there are eliminations for success in fitness.

You can not be physical engaged in any fitness and expect an outcome to be proud of with an eating disorder which will eventually affect your health.  I was blessed to only experience small bouts of anemia that only required Iron injections.  Appeasing others brings on stress and I was stressed 85% of the time.  Stress hinders a great response to any fitness and I neglected myself a lot.

My Present -& My Future -Today change and implementations is helping me to a proud future. That future begins at 1200 AM everyday.  I workout to be strong, fit, healthy- NOT THIN.   I’ve experienced the thin and the torture I did to my body was and is not an easy recovery.

I love family, friends and have learned to love but cautious of the frienemy, but no longer allow intimidation, words of negativity, nonsupport and abuse (which comes in many ways) have a value. I LOVE MYSELF, Yes . My journey to fitness is for my health, joy and loving all the GREAT aspect of life- THE FUTURE- MY FUTURE.

To GREAT WORKOUTS & GREAT LIFE.

pair of fingerless gloves and adjustable dumbbells
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Workouts With Different Trainers

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Every trainer has a different approach to workouts. To many just watching will deter your thoughts.  How so because you might think as I’ve done in the past that it is too much.

Every trainer I’ve worked out with has been GOOD.  Really each one, no kidding, each one.  I know this seems like a lie, but it’s not.  I’ve had trainers at the gym and of course I do now workout a home, love beachbody. I want to clarify NOW as I’ve been confronted for having such a support for beachbody and home workouts.  With my fluctuating schedule and other responsibilities going to the gym was not able to help with my fitness journey as I was able to make it to the gym once maybe twice a week and sometimes not at all.  Home workouts gave me a freedom And I am able to keep my goal and fitness journey in focus.

Returning to “trainers”.  Trainers have a different approach but they all have the same outcome.  The trainer may not be the BEST for you for whatever reason. PLEASE let’s show respect and not BADMOUTH a trainer. Just move on to one that works for you as well as challenge you.

If you don’t have a trainer or feel you don’t need one okay.  Just keep a schedule of your workouts and increase, routines, reps, weights and add another this will prevent the muscles and body from being complacent.

Beachbody has many trainers and for whatever your level of fitness is and with this offer I had to earn instead of running away from a challenging trainer to modify and continue. This is how I’ve learned different approach, yet challenging, satisfying workouts.  I do cry sometimes, and I huff and puff, I fall down also I question the sanity of trainers when I am challenged.  BUT once again they’re ALL GOOD.

 

Learning Not to COMPARE

 

 

believe

Beginning my workout journey wasn’t easy.  I’d look at other females regardless of age and would compare their results especially if it appeared we were doing the same workouts.
Reality since that time has taught me several things and has kept my journey ongoing even when it seems I am at a plateau.
1. We all have different DNA and body shapes, metabolism in workouts and nutrition differs.
2. Not knowing 100 percent what some one is consuming and how many workouts they are doing
3. The BIGGEST LESSON was, If I. Give 100 percent of each workout results will come. Now on this 100 percent, it can vary. Yes this isn’t a test of grading but giving my all you know there are days in a workout you feel a bit off but if you give your all as I learned that is my 100 for that day, tomorrow may be better and most of the time it is.
4. Being true to myself and applauding my progress as you should will get us to our goals.
5. FOLLOW the process of whatever workout you do, me it’s BEACHBODY and currently I am doing LIIFTFORMATION which is a hybrid of LIIFT4 @joelfreemanfitness and Transformation 20 @shaunt.
6. IGNORE those not on a journey. NOW everyone is not on a fitness journey but could be on a journey to improve certain aspect of their life. I only am saying ignore those not on a journey because they will not understand the struggles and seldom cheer for the accomplishments.
To a week of APPLAUDING, REWARDING OUR PROGRESS and Knowing Comparison is not ALWAYS a good thing.
WE ARE CHAMPIONS

I Didn’t Know Changing the Sequence will Change My Weights

several rogue gym plates
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I knew exactly what day it was  and I looked at the calendar to follow which muscles would be at work today.  I compared the previous week weights and thought I would increase my weights but I was in for a BIG AWAKENING.

The sequence was changed.  Okay I thought  and was so wrong because the muscle groups (chest and back), also changed my ability to lift heavier weights.  Oh yes I was able to increase on certain routines and others I had to decrease.  Honestly I didn’t have to decrease but if I hadn’t, I would’ve been able to do 2 maybe 3 reps instead of 10. I was and still am satisfied with my decision.

pair of fingerless gloves and adjustable dumbbells
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I know now not to be so hasty in choosing my weights, at least before knowing the trainers workout plan of sequence… AND my fitness journey continues.

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.