Sweat It Out in Your Workout

My first real experience with fitness was my freshmen year of volleyball on the B-team, where Krista and I became friends actually.  As you may imagine the B-team is for beginners, and boy oh boy was I a beginner.  Everything awkward imaginable I did.  I couldn’t even serve the ball over the net for pretty much the entire year.  Just thinking about it gives me anxiety.  At the very start of that season we had volleyball tryouts and one of the requirements to make the team was to be able to run a 12 minute mile without stopping to walk.  When Coach Thurman gave the mile run stipulation Krista and I looked at each other like the Coach had just announced this impossible mission.  In our minds, the coach might as well have said, “To make freshman volleyball you must now be able to walk on water.”  We were terrified.  Of course, I’m laughing about it now, because today I enjoy running.  It’s something I look forward to in my workouts.  But I mention all of this because this was my starting point.  I want you to know if the word, “WORKOUT” terrifies you today, it may not always terrify you.  You will most likely begin to enjoy your workouts and maybe even look forward to them.  Either way whether, working out excites you or terrifies you, it’s important that you realize that if you’re looking to transform your body, WORKOUT is secondary to FOOD.  It’s why we put the food post first.

If it’s really all about the FOOD, why do I workout?  Well, for me working out is my favorite part of this entire process.  It’s as much of a mental release as it is physical exercise.  But I didn’t start feeling this way about the WORKOUT portion until I found something that I truly enjoyed.  I feel like I’ve tried quite a bit of different fitness routines.  I started with running.  I’ve done Zumba and Body Pump.  I’ve trained for triathlons with friends and done spin classes at the gym.  I’ve done a few yoga classes and I’ve tried a Kaia Fit class. I even attempted p90X with my hubby in the living room.  It may take you a while to find something you love, but once you do, it will be MUCH easier to be CONSISTENT, and ultimately consistency is what will drive success.

All that being said, one of the reasons I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life now, after two kids, is because of my workout programming.  I lift weights and I’m continually trying to get stronger everyday.  Five years ago you would have seen me in the cardio section of the gym trying to sweat out all my calories.  If you’re trying to lose inches and tone up that body, don’t be afraid to lift weights and lift heavy.  Lifting not only makes you stronger, but it burns fat all day.

When you’re picking a workout regimen, be sure to ask yourself these 5 questions…

1.  Does it have cardio and weight training?  Or could I at least add these components into my programming?

2.  Do I have friends that will hold me accountable and may even call me if I miss a workout?

3.  Do I look forward to my workouts or do I dread them?

4.  Can I make the workout times offered/ available fit into my routine?

5.  Does this workout program support my GOALS?

Once you’ve picked a workout program that fits into your life the MAINTENANCE component will be MUCH easier.  Anything you can do to make maintenance easier will be a bonus, because I believe that maintenance is the most difficult part.  Check out the final post in our series next: MAINTENANCE.

1.  Set GOALS to keep yourself motivated.

2.  PLAN for success.

3.  It’s all about the FOOD.

4.  Sweat it out in your WORKOUT.

5.  MAINTENANCE.