Workout Wednesday - Back from the Dead

Last summer I was super ambitious and started a Workout Wednesday series to fill my empty time - the pros of being a teacher during the summer.

Obviously it fizzled. But we're back. (I was still working out you guys. Promise.)

I've always been athletic and active. But it isn't until the last few weeks that I've found the best gym workout method for me. Just in time for Spring Break suckas!

My dear friend Shannon posted about her workout routine and we started emailing about workout philosophies. We both agree on the following

• Cardio is pretty much of the devil
• Spending more than 45 minutes in the gym makes us want to set ourselves on fire
• Lifting weights is fun
• Lifting weights makes us feel good
• Our metabolism and bodies are responding when we focus on weight training

So here's what I've been doing for approximately 3-4 weeks and I'm sold. Seriously. I feel great, I acutally LIKE going to the gym and my body is showing results. 

I go to the gym 3-5 times a week - depending on the week. I pack all my gym stuff and psych myself up for an awesome workout during the day at school. After school I drive to the West Jordan gym, not far from my school, and grind out a workout that I'm looking forward to. If it's the weekend or I'm already home, I go to the Draper Gold's. 

The point is that I get excited for a workout and I tell myself that I'm going to push hard for only 30-45 minutes and feel awesome after. Also the fact that I don't have to kill myself on the dreadmill for 30 minutes before a 30 minute weight workout is a huge factor in my happiness.

I suggest a pair of sick Nike Frees to motivate your workouts. 

I do little to no cardio. Sure, that's an essential part of a workout you may say. But I can either force myself to do crappy cardio and hate every second of it, getting into a terrible mood and doing a bad job at my weight training afterward - OR I can do a quick cardio stint to warm up and save my energy for weight training.

During my workouts I push myself hard. I lift heavy, take short breaks between sets and move quickly from exercise to exercise. That way I get a sort of cardio workout without having to run! Yahtzee. 

I motivate myself with new music and having a purpose - right now is our Spring Break trip to Vegas and St. George. I have 2 new swimsuits and boy do I want to use them. That makes it so much easier to get to the gym, push hard, do that final set.

I have 4 workouts - Lower, Upper, Core (abs, back, butt), and the rare Cardio. I make sure I do the first 3 workouts every single week. If I get in a 4th workout I make that day my cardio - I run for longer, read a book on the bike or treadmill and some interval training. 

The hardest thing for me to do is take the time to stretch every day. I'm notoriously inflexible and trying to fix it. 

I've started drinking protein shakes post-workout and I love it. I got a shakey-bottle and I mix vanilla whey protein powder with soy milk, blend it into smoothies or stir it into greek yogurt with fruit.

**Do any of you guys do protein powder? I want some more ideas of protein shakes and good powders that you guys use. 

On my sore or off days, I mix in some yoga at home - either YouTube or my own sequences. 

I'm already noticing more muscle definition, less jiggle, and a faster metabolism. 

Combine this with some self-tanner and a fresh manicure - I think I'll be able to show my face in a swimsuit next week in Vegas for Spring Break. 

Workout Wednesday - But I'd Rather Be Lazy...

A while ago I posted about an upcoming fitness series on Black with a Chance of Cheetah. Well here it comes. I know you've been anxiously waiting.

Why a fitness series? Why now? It's June and we're all feeling weird about our swimsuit physique. It's beautiful outside and it gives you more reasons to go enjoy it. I'm done with school and super bored all the time. I don't know, pick one. (By the way, I hate YOLO.)

Let me take you on a little journey through my fitness development:

Stage One: Super fit during year-round sports. Fitness was a by-product of athletics. 

Stage Two: Freshman laziness. I replaced exercising 3 hours a day with 3 hours a day of studying on my butt and eating crap. I got a Gold's Gym pass and started working out regularly, but I didn't lose any weight and didn't really improve my fitness, somehow. 

Stage Three: Busy life. I stopped working out altogether and spent all my time with The Beard, running from place to place and planning my future (graduation, teaching, marriage). I was really happy and subconsciously starting eating less and much better. 

Stage Four: Weak. I noticed how winded and pathetic I was running the bases with my slowpitch team. Moving things around in my new house made me feel like a wussy lightweight. I've been strong my whole life, until now. I started teaching and found myself mentally and physically exhausted. This whole not-working out thing isn't working out. 

Stage Five: Balance. That's when I found my PERSONAL fitness balance. I'm not a gym rat or a couch potato. I don't work out every day, but I'm not afraid to jump into a random game of flag football vs the students. 

Fitness isn't about losing weight anymore, though I wouldn't mind losing a few (amiright?). It's about feeling good. It's about confidence. It's about making myself better. 

And I do. I feel better. I feel good. I'm confident. I have more energy. I sleep better. I naturally make better eating decisions. I don't work out everyday. And I'm not a gym rat anymore. But I'm active and I feel good. That's what it's about. 

Personally I don't think fitness should be about your inspiration board full of half-naked Nike models. I don't think it should be about spending 20 hours a week at the gym. I don't think it should be about doing situps and starving yourself to fit into a size whatever. 

Fitness should be whatever works for you. Whatever makes you feel good. Whatever gives you confidence. Whatever makes you feel alive!

That's what this series is about. I will post about fitness topics that I know and love (weight-training, yoga, Just Dance!), and I have several guest posters lined up to blog about their fitness routines. Join us next week for my adorable and tough Miss Ashby's post about rock climbing!

If there's anything you want to see on the fitness blog series or if you have a hilarious gym story to share, let me know by email at dholdy {at} gmail {dot} com