Learn to Love Fitness!

Hey hey everyone! I am back! Lately it has been super difficult for me to write a post as I have been extremely busy. No need to fear though...I have been in the grind working out, just not posting about it.

With all this rain on the east coast, I feel like everyone on twitter has been either down in the dumps or not motivated to their fullest potential. Well, I wanted to post today on how you can possibly make exercise an enjoyable habit, one that you'll make time for and stick with because it makes you feel good, not because it's part of a strict regimen.

I believe in OVERCOMING! So here are six workouts you may want to try (and might not even realize you're working out) and how to overcome typical beginner's block.


Swimming

If you need to lose weight, have joint problems, or have an injury that makes you not perform at 100%, exercising in the water will make you feel lighter and more graceful. The built-in resistance also gives you a total body workout that's easy on your joints.

Beginner's Block: Bathing suit confidence
Overcome It: Check out a company specializing in larger sizes ( junonia.com ) for a suit that boasts wide straps, a neckline that doesn't scoop water, and a "magic vent" that keeps skirted styles from bubbling up. You don't have to wear a bikini to workout in the pool! One pieces work just fine! :)

Biking

An open road and the wind in you hair- turns out our favorite childhood past time is a top-notch calorie burner, melting about 540 an hour!!

Beginner's Block: A pain in the butt (literally)
Overcome It: The number one mistake beginners make is positioning their seat too low. To make sure yours is the correct height, sit in the saddle and extend your leg so the pedal is at the lowest point. Your leg should only have a slight bend in it. A specialty bike shop can also help you with positioning. Still have a sore backside? Opt for a padded seat or padded bike shorts, but not both.

Team Sports

A study of British women who attended soccer practices twice a week (Yeaaa soccer!) found that fitness benefits- like increased fat burn, strength, and lung capacity- trumped those of traditional workouts like running.

Beginner's Block: Thinking you don't have time to commit to a season.
Overcome It: You might think that do-anytime workouts are best, when actually the soccer players in the study showed up for more workouts than the runners did, finding that set schedules (plus the camaraderie) made it easier to make time to workout.

Dancing

If you love Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance?, try ballroom or swing with a partner, or tap, jazz, or line dancing if you're going solo. (Yeaaa dancing! Growing up I took tap, ballet, lyrical, jazz, hiphop, etc. and absolutely loved it! Also, I used to teach ballet and hiphop and would get so excited when beginners came into class!)

Beginner's Block: Following choreography
Overcome It: Start with a beginner's class and take it one step at a time, literally. Or get a couple of your friends and do a private session with a dance instructor. Usually the instructor will build on basic step, varying it and adding arm movements. Stick with the basics until you can move forward.

Kickboxing

Throwing punches and jabs is obviously a stress-buster, but it can also burn about 680 calories an hour!


Beginner's Block: Feeling like you have two left feet (or fists)
Overcome It: Until you master a form, go slow. You might need to perform every other punch until you feel comfortable. Make sure you exhale when you punch or kick. It helps with your breathing and also gives you more power!

Yoga

I don't think there is a better way to stretch away stress, loosen tight muscles, and make you feel like a new person.

Beginner's Block: Poor balance
Overcome It: As we say in the Labor and Delivery world, pick a focal point. It may help you with your wobbling issues. Keep focused on that spot for the remainder of the class.

I came across this amazing breakfast recipe and knew I just HAD to share it with all of you. It has only 230 calories, 8g of protein, 5g of fiber, and only 45mg of sodium! Enjoy!

Southern Start

1 cup cooked steel-cut oats

1/4 cup sliced frozen peaches, thawed (or fresh)

1 Tbl. slivered almonds

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 packet Truvia/Stevia or other natural sweetener

Combine oats, peaches, almonds, vanilla extract, almond milk, and sweetener in a bowl and stir well. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.

That's it! So simple, right?? It is on my list of things to make this week. If any of you try it as well, let me know how you like it!

Have you not participated in a workout because of beginner's block?? Which workout was it? How did YOU overcome??

I hope you all are having a wonderful start to your week! Here is to a fun and fit rest of it...on your own two feet...

Until the next step bloggers... 

From Me to You...

Not having the internet at your house is not good for the "blogger scene." How am I supposed to post anything when my own work blocks websites such as blogger. Ugh! I apologize that it has taken me so long to put something up here but yay for a new one!

I have talked with many people as well as seen posts that this summer was very difficult, health/fitness wise. It was for me as well. Staying up late, seeing people you haven't seen in a while, weddings, vacations, family reunions, etc. fill up our days and make summer easily the fastest season to go by. I wanted to share with you all some of my own personal tips for either getting back on track or making sure you keep yourself accountable.

• Make short-term goals. Achieving a goal helps you stay focused and positive throughout your journey. Who wants to sit there everyday and think to themselves, "How am I going to lose 150lbs in a year??" Reward yourself for the goals you do accomplish and you will be pushing yourself to new limits in no time!
• Plan social activities that are active! Instead of telling your girlfriend, "Hey, let's meet up for dinner," you can suggest to go for a walk, hike, kayaking, rock climbing, whatever! You can get your physical activity and have fun at the same time!
• Keep a journal. This can be a diary like journal, a workout journal, a food journal...Writing down experiences, your workouts, and/or your meals helps keep you accountable for your actions. Plus, its a great way to see how far you have come since the beginning of your journey!
• Enjoy nature's candy. Though I am not a candy person myself, you should know that healthy foods can taste sweet and help fight your cravings! Fruits like apples, berries, cantaloupe, and other fruits can help satisfy that sweet tooth!
• Be flexible. Fitness and health is not an "all or nothing" mentality. If you miss a workout or cheat a little bit with your food, adapt. Run an extra mile the next day or go to an extra group fitness class that week.
• If you need help, ask! Admitting you have failed or realizing you are slipping is not a sign of weakness! Surround yourself with positive people and energy and lean on them for support when you need it! Sometimes, I need positive words to give me a little push or to jump start the little voice in my head again (like yesterday).

Do you have any other tips to help people stay on track??


Sorry for the short post but I at least wanted to get something down and I must go take a nap before working tonight!

Keep the positive vibes going, everyone! Keep your goals in mind and your eye on the prize. I have faith in each of you that you can achieve anything and everything you want...on your own two feet...



Until the next step bloggers...

Fresh Start and New Goals!

Ok so Hurricane Irene totally put a damper on my week as I didn't have power for 3 1/2 days and still do not have internet or cable at my house. Thank Goodness for smart phones and my new HP Touchpad! So I am finally getting around to writing a new post. Given that it is the first of the month, what better time than right now??


If you did not hear via my twitter, CJ from Healthy, Happy, Whole won my amazing giveaway! Unfortunately my random number generator was acting up and I could not post the image on here but the lucky number it gave me was 93...Congrats CJ! Expect a very large package to come your way soon!


August was a hard month for me as far as my workouts and eating right was concerned. After telling myself I would start something, I found myself slacking off and not even holding myself accountable for it. Anyone else having this problem?? 

I got excited when Cait from Beyond Bananas said she was starting a challenge: "100 Pushups in 30 Days." I started strong for about 3 days but then work and other crap got in my way and I did not follow through with it for even a week.

HOWEVER...

Today is a new day. It is the first of the month and I can smell fall in the air. It is time for some new goals and a fresh start. I woke up today feeling excited about starting anew. SO, here is a list of some of my September goals. I find that writing them down and keeping a journal (which I have talked about numerous times) can help you stay on top of yourself and hold you accountable for your actions.

• Complete Cait's challenge of "100 Pushups in 30 Days" challenge and send her pictures so she can link up with me during the rest of her own challenge.
• Start my own challenge of "100 Squats in 30 Days." Get ready to feel the burn in those thighs ladies!
• Run at least 4 days a week.
• Complete at least three 5K's within the month.
• Keep up with my journal.
• Read at least 4 books that I normally would not be interested in.
• Revamp my blog.

What are some of your September goals? How are you going to hold yourself accountable??



Today is the first day of the rest of your life! Why not go after it on your own two feet??...





Until the next step bloggers...