Want to Catch Up on the Fitness Fridays Series?
Get Your Fitness on in the A.M.
Smoothies
Inspiration Boards
Sports Bras
****************************
I have to say, that on this particular Fitness Friday, I am positively Tickled Pink!
Since joining the YMCA almost a year ago (a year in March) I had set a weight loss plan for myself. I knew I wanted to lose 30 pounds. But I also knew that I wanted to lose about a pound a month. At that slow of a weight loss I felt like I could manage the holidays, being in school while working, and really keep the weight off permanently.
I weighed myself yesterday, and I am officially 15 pounds lighter. And what’s even better is that I know that some of those pounds that are still on me aren’t even fat like they were, they are stone cold muscle baby!
In my last FF post , I told you guys how I made it easier to become a morning workout person. So today I thought I would share a few more tips that have made it easier for me to succeed!
Count to 4, Then 4 Again
There’s something about doing any form of crunches or sit ups, that makes me want to quit right away. Especially since you mostly do sets of 20 and repeat 4 to 5 times. So I started counting to 4. I do five sets of four, and break up the sets with other heart rate raising moves in between like jump rope or burpees. It honestly helps me get to the end. I don’t feel nearly as tired when I get to 20, and my brain never slams in to a wall and tells me to quit. I still end up doing 100, but I never hear that number and I never get overwhelmed.
Keep it Low, Then Pump It
When I start out on the Arc Trainer or Elliptical, I always keep my music pretty low. Then when I feel the will to sweat start waning, I pump up the volume one or two clicks. This burst in song is usually exactly what I need to get over the hump. I really hate that around 8 minutes in to a workout my brain turns in to a quitter, and almost a year into it and it still happens! But pumping it up helps.
Promise yourself 10 minutes, Then 10 more
Much like counting to 4, for any cardio I always promise myself 10 minutes. It doesn’t seem like an overwhelming goal and by the time I reach that mark I’m usually starting to sweat and feeling loose, so I promise myself 10 more. I like to do 30 minutes on the Arc Trainer, but some days I can only manage 20. But I don’t beat myself up about those lingering 10 minutes, because 20 is better than zero!
Source
Keep it Fresh
Every two to three weeks, I go on to iTunes and download two to three new songs for my workout. The cost at that rate is minimal, and having new music keeps my booty moving. I also weed out older music, or any tracks that I notice I’ve started skipping through. I don’t need anything holding me back, especially bad music. I have the iPod Nano that clips to my sports bra, and if you have $129 bucks to spare, I highly recommend it! I LOVE mine.
*******
Next Friday I’m going to show you my favorite gut busting moves, and none of them involve a sit up!
Have one you love? Email it to me by next Thursday and I’ll include it in the post!
Want to Catch Up on the Fitness Fridays Series?
Get Your Fitness on in the A.M.
Smoothies
Inspiration Boards
Sports Bras
****************************
I have to say, that on this particular Fitness Friday, I am positively Tickled Pink!
Since joining the YMCA almost a year ago (a year in March) I had set a weight loss plan for myself. I knew I wanted to lose 30 pounds. But I also knew that I wanted to lose about a pound a month. At that slow of a weight loss I felt like I could manage the holidays, being in school while working, and really keep the weight off permanently.
I weighed myself yesterday, and I am officially 15 pounds lighter. And what’s even better is that I know that some of those pounds that are still on me aren’t even fat like they were, they are stone cold muscle baby!
In my last FF post , I told you guys how I made it easier to become a morning workout person. So today I thought I would share a few more tips that have made it easier for me to succeed!
Count to 4, Then 4 Again
There’s something about doing any form of crunches or sit ups, that makes me want to quit right away. Especially since you mostly do sets of 20 and repeat 4 to 5 times. So I started counting to 4. I do five sets of four, and break up the sets with other heart rate raising moves in between like jump rope or burpees. It honestly helps me get to the end. I don’t feel nearly as tired when I get to 20, and my brain never slams in to a wall and tells me to quit. I still end up doing 100, but I never hear that number and I never get overwhelmed.
Keep it Low, Then Pump It
When I start out on the Arc Trainer or Elliptical, I always keep my music pretty low. Then when I feel the will to sweat start waning, I pump up the volume one or two clicks. This burst in song is usually exactly what I need to get over the hump. I really hate that around 8 minutes in to a workout my brain turns in to a quitter, and almost a year into it and it still happens! But pumping it up helps.
Promise yourself 10 minutes, Then 10 more
Much like counting to 4, for any cardio I always promise myself 10 minutes. It doesn’t seem like an overwhelming goal and by the time I reach that mark I’m usually starting to sweat and feeling loose, so I promise myself 10 more. I like to do 30 minutes on the Arc Trainer, but some days I can only manage 20. But I don’t beat myself up about those lingering 10 minutes, because 20 is better than zero!
Source
Keep it Fresh
Every two to three weeks, I go on to iTunes and download two to three new songs for my workout. The cost at that rate is minimal, and having new music keeps my booty moving. I also weed out older music, or any tracks that I notice I’ve started skipping through. I don’t need anything holding me back, especially bad music. I have the iPod Nano that clips to my sports bra, and if you have $129 bucks to spare, I highly recommend it! I LOVE mine.
*******
Next Friday I’m going to show you my favorite gut busting moves, and none of them involve a sit up!
Have one you love? Email it to me by next Thursday and I’ll include it in the post!