Fitness Friday: My Basics

You may not want fitness advice and tips, and I may not be "qualified" to give them, but one thing I love reading on other blogs is what other people are doing and what works for them. In general I find it motivating and can spark ideas! So with bathing suit season pretty much upon us, I will be starting Fitness Friday themed posts! I want to share some things that I've learned or that personally work for me when getting fit and being healthy, and hopefully I will get some comments about what works for you! 

I will start at the beginning and try to outline my fitness regime. It’s hard to define because it is never the same. On average I probably work out 4 times a week. At times it’s more and at times less depending on the season, or what I’ve got going on any particular week. I want to say it right now that I do NOT let the gym take priority in my life if plans happen or something comes up. I plan for the gym and make time for it (like anything else), but life first, then plan the gym around that. 

With summer approaching I am definitely on a fitness kick. The past few weeks I have been pretty strict with my workouts and they have been more like 5 or 6 times a week. I realize that might sound like a lot but they are not all intense workouts. I very much like to run (or rather jog - I rarely get up to 6 miles/hour which is technically what running is). It’s something I have to work up to (as far as distance, speed and consistency) but I enjoy being outside and working with different terrain. It’s my favourite cardio. I also love yoga. Yoga is a big one for me, not just physically but mentally too! I find it very calming and it can almost be like hitting the "reset" button after a busy day. There are many days I will just do yoga. Because it’s so excellent for your body when you mix in other workouts here and there, I try to do that whenever I can. My latest one in the mix is Jillian Michaels Shred class that my gym just started offering. I love it and I hate it. It's so intense but a perfect addition to my routine and it's timing couldn't be better! It’s a known fact that everyone's body responds to different things and different workouts, but through the years of trying different workouts and listening to my body, it’s definitely running and yoga that do it for me. 

On now to motivation. Motivation is hard. It can be the hardest part. Our minds are very powerful beasts and it’s about no longer being your own worst critic and becoming your biggest cheerleader! Only you know what your ultimate personal goal/desire is, and only you can get yourself there. My thing is that I cannot wait to throw on a bikini for the first time this season, and I tend to live in bikinis all summer long. As a result my current goal is toning. It is so difficult, so tedious. I find toning to be the worst. It's a difficult change to spot since it's not an obvious, drastic, or quick change, and because of that, it can be hard to stay motivated. I really have to find an inner motivation by telling myself, "it's not for today, it's not for tomorrow, it's for a month from now", or two months from now! And YOU have to be the one motivating YOU. You can absolutely find supporters in friends and family, but at the end of the day it's personal. That's why I when I work out I tend to do it solo. Not necessarily on purpose but I think it’s important to march to the beat of your own drum. A friend of mine who's a trainer said that so many people HAVE to have a workout buddy and, more often than not, they use each other as a crutch (without realizing it) and end up not meeting their goals. That's not to say I don't ever workout with a friend - I will definitely join someone for their workout and I also share my workout plans with friends and welcome them to join me! It's just that I control my own routine. No coordinating with anyone, and no dependency. You get to work out at your own pace, and it's on your own when you can push yourself and your limits and meet those goals faster. I definitely do. Your own personal motivation is more powerful than anything else, and by finding it, you’re more likely to succeed!  

With summer approaching is anyone else on a fitness kick? Do you make plans and goals?