Truth Is –

Fitness has played a large part in my confidence levels, and the more times I think that to myself – the more I think about my confidence levels before fitness was introduced into my life regularly. I was standing at 5 feet tall, weighing close to 170lbs. I never saw myself as a bigger girl, nor did I have a problem with my size. Sure, I would have loved to be thinner, but I was somewhat happy with my state of being back then. I semi-comfortable enough to not think about changing. 

Once in high school I heard a few people call my best friend and I “PSM’s” (or plus sized models). Naturally, you think plus sized as being larger and typically overweight frames – but even though I can’t remember for the life of me what I thought when I heard this, I remember how I felt. Placing the word “model” in the term didn’t make a difference. Models don’t represent the same “beauty” to everyone, or what They might’ve pictures as so.

Prom came quickly and I wanted so badly to lose weight, show off my new bod in my bright guava colored dress with cut outs in the back and jewels in the front. (party in the front, party in the back type thing 😜). 

I had never touched a dumbbell in my life, and I could barely run a mile without wanting to barf. I remember my best friend and I would find the largest sweatpants we could find that didn’t fall off our butts, and two large trash bags – we’d cut holes in the trash bag to make a sweat suit out of it while we ran.

I always felt so efficient and sporty when we finished.

I look back and want to tell my 18 year old self that changing for someone else isn’t worth it. Being called a “plus sized” girl in high school wasn’t ideal for me, and I wanted to change it for the sake of not being seen that way to other people – or my looking glass self.

Not every workout will be the best, falling off happens and is okay – so long you get back on and try again. From the time I really started questioning my size (senior year of high school), to now, was nothing short of hard work and persistency. 

People ask “how did you lose the weight?” and the answer is always hard to pinpoint with a couple things because it’s been a multitude of them over the last 4 years. I’ve realized fail after fail after fail of trying to make this fitness thing stick was because I wasn’t in a routine – I didn’t make time to eat right, work-out and was never serious enough to make it work. I made this lifestyle work around my current life, and slowly but surely it became part of who I am today.

I broke barriers of what others thought of me when it came to becoming fit, eating this vs. that, constantly saying “I have to go work-out” and how I chose to go about doing it. I found a spark in myself and have tried every single day to keep the flame alive to see what I’m capable of this time around. 

The best project you will ever work on is yourself, so make yourself proud. 

VIGOR ON*

Frustration 101:

Last night was one out of two leg days of the week for us. I intend for today to be a raw and sincere testament about how it went, how it made me feel, and everything else in between. Not every workout can be the best one unfortunately.

I started off with light squats as a warm up (using the bar at 10-12 reps) and added weight to see what was doable with still a bit of a struggle. I was honestly worried about how much I could handle without the smith machine holding my balance while I went down to squat.

Typically, when I use the smith machine I do a 45lb + 10lb plate (on each side) + the 45lb bar = 155lbs at 3-4 sets 8-10 times each. When I was racking my plates at the gym yesterday, Brian started me off lighter than I would comfortably do on the smith machine with 25lb + 10lb on each side, plus the 45lb bar. I was already telling myself I couldn’t do it before I did one rep. I cranked out 3 of them with ease, and decided I needed more weight.

Brian believed I could do my normal smith machine amount with free weights. His little pep talk, telling me “to get mad at it”, was the fighting words behind me repping 3 sets of 8. He was proud, but most importantly I was proud. I was feeling good, sweaty and legs shaking already. I was disappointed that after how much I’ve grown through my fitness journey, there was a time I realized I didn’t believe in myself. I gave it a whirl and proved myself wrong. The mind is a powerful thing.. you master the mind in the face of fear, you can master your fear.

We did a couple other workouts after squatting and then headed to do deadlifts to focus on the hamstrings and quads. I was feeling good. We figured my estimated deadlift weight and racked them on the bar. I attempted – failed. Took off weight. I attempted – failed. Took off more weight. I attempted – FAILED. I was frustrated to say the LEAST. When we finally got the perfect weight, I began repping them out and slamming the weights on the floor as I went down. I felt weird slamming the weights. I’m not use to “being able to do that” – thanks Planet Fitness! (LOL)

So when I heard all the noise I was making, I began to try and cut back on the noise, which ultimately made my form go south. My back was capping and that causes body hazards to yourself, like pulling a muscle, straining your back, etc. Brian kept pointing that my form was wrong over and over again, and I steadily great more upset. I was gripping at him to tell me when I was doing them wrong, to tell me when I was doing them right, stopping between every 2 reps I did because all of the wrong reps didn’t count in my book. It took me about 10 minutes to do 3 sets of 10 deadlifts – and by the time I was done, I was infuriated with myself.

WHY couldn’t I do deadlifts… WHY was I struggling so much??? It wasn’t that I was upset at myself for not pulling more weight, but more that I could not, for the life of me, get my form up to par. I stepped aside and let Brian finish his sets and we moved on to the next workout. On the drive home, Brian and I talked about it. He reminded me that form is everything in weight lifting. Once it goes south, you’re no longer doing what the workout is intended for, but instead putting yourself in harms way. He reminded me that certain workouts take practice, practice and more practice to get right before you can think about adding weight. He reminded me that it’s okay to struggle with these things, because they are tough.

I left the gym feeling defeated, like he said I might after working out with free weights. Boyyy was he right. I had NEVER been as upset at myself in the gym (to date), as I was with myself Monday night.

I want to grow, I want to get stronger, I want to continue to improve myself. We have to keep pushing ourselves in order to grow, get stronger and improve. It’s the only way we can!

But remember that it won’t happen in the amount of time we want, but such is life.

VIGOR ON*

 

Until You Make It

Living in the Central Texas area for around 2 years, I notice that the more people I encounter or pass on the streets seem to look psychically fit. It’s a view that I haven’t been particularly use to in the previous towns I’ve live in. Who knows – maybe I just never paid any attention!

But now that I do, I’m looking left and right and seeing nice legs, shapely buns, toned arms, a larger number of people walking to their destinations, over crowding the healthy living section (and the TX State Rec). Personally, that’s another motivation to keep striving to my goals. It’s not self-comparison, but rather an admiration of their hard work and understanding that they are working as often/hard as I am to have gotten to their current physical state.

Brian and I are currently looking around for new gyms to join to take our fitness to a new level when we move and begin saving a little more money (aka a gym with free weights, kettlebells and the freedom to grunt because things CAN get HEAVY), and I think we’ve found a gem. We signed up for a free week trial starting on Friday and are already excited to give it a test try. I’m actually going to have my first leg day with free weights next week and am excited to see how I stack up compared to a Smith Machine – I think I’ll find myself a little disappointed, but I have to start somewhere. My point is, we’ve searched, found, and are having to get in our comfort zone all over again; at Planet Fitness the front desk employees know us as regulars, and it’s a place we have worked to make us feel comfortable.

In the beginning of my fitness journey, I was walking through a dark room with a blindfold – and I am STILL learning as I go. But you might think to yourself, “I don’t know where to start” or “I don’t know what I’m doing”, and with that, sometimes you have to just fake it, until you make it. Sounds cheesy, I know. But imagine yourself, freshly new gym-goer, only use to cardio and strictly that and entering a gym where you assume every one else is beyond your experience level. Here are a few things to keep in mind and never forget when you’re taking the leap into YOUR fitness journey.

1. NOTE: The internet is a hell of a thing! There are thousands of workout ideas to help you along your journey. Grab a pen/paper, research workouts for the designated focused body group and all you have to do is make it into a gym.
2. People are JUST people, they understand our situations more than we think. Ask for help. Chances are they will be more than happy to help with any confusion you might have while at the gym.
3. Scope our your potential gyms before committing, the whole goal of going to a gym is to create a more confident and fit you – a gym should reflect that. Check for group classes (for the ones who want to be kept accountable), close destinations, but above all else, one that allows you to become fit without feeling uncomfortable.
4. Map out your day, plan your times of when you’re going to the gym. Eventually it will become a mandatory part of your day. If you’re a college student, I understand the frustration of terrible schedules. But there are 12 hours in a day and you can set aside 1-2 of them to break a sweat.

Frustration is normal.

Out of placement is normal.

Over time it won’t be.

Keep in mind, commitment is needed. The feelings of being lost, and wandering around not knowing will fade away – and soon enough you’ll become one of those regulars.

VIGOR ON*

 

Better to Balance

Spring Break has recently come and gone, and I couldn’t help but notice that people were becoming more strict about where they were striving to be by a certain time. I thought about myself, thinking maybe I also do those things – restrict myself of foods, take a pill to speed things up a bit, weigh myself a few times a day to see if I’ve made my “SB 2K16” goal weight, or do crazy two-a-days because wearing my body down will make me feel like things are happening faster. 

Keep in mind, I go off of what has worked for me and how I feel when doing such things. “My way” is no better or worse than others – but I’m proof that if you stick with a changed way of living, things will happen. I’ve always told Brian that I firmly believe that too much of anything in life is never good for a person – in any way. For this particular example, too much obsession over fitness can cause sicknesses, stress, hormone imbalance, fatigue, etc. 

I’ve tried those things – not eating often to keep my calories down (which later led to my hulk hunger), working out for 2 hours at a time (which later led to me thinking I could go home and eat whatever I wanted), wanting to buy that “#1 fat burner” at Wal-Mart. Nothing is as full proof as finding a balance in fitness and in life. 

Balance… Get it??

I eat healthy 90% of my week, and along side that – I’ve learned that if I don’t get my pint of Pistachio Almond ice cream a few times out of the month to satisfy my insane craving, that I would wreck havoc on my weeks progress previously by going craving crazy. I’ve learned that no matter how healthy you eat, it’s okay to still want those cheese fries or ice cream. If you’re like me and healthy eating was something like a “learn as you go” type thing, then realize cravings will happen. We’ve all heard the quote that goes, “one hamburger didn’t make you bigger, just like one salad will make you fit” and I’ll standby that until the end of time. 

Some might not agree with my way of fitness/eating habits, but know that I’ve been able to work my tail off and stay on top of my goals through balancing without ever getting to a point of unhealthy obsession. 

With mindfulness and care, it’s possible to want your cake and eat it too. 🍑🍰🍴  

One of my favorite hobbies – eating angel food cake with strawberries and sugar free whipped cream. WOO!

How I Found My Strength…

To those that still read, I know the blog posts have been scarce but life happens, y’know?

Anywho, I’d like to start today’s blog off with a fairly recent experience and all that I’ve learned when it comes to fitness journeys.

In the middle of December a friend offered to include Brian and I in a Half-Marathon run, so naturally I didn’t think THAT big of a challenge would arise from it… but I was WRONG. We began training for a half in a shorter amount of time than most would recommend (normally 12 week training is ideal) – instead we had 6 weeks to train.

Along the way, I didn’t think I could hate running as much as I had started to near the end of training. Running every single day, just to run the large amount on a single day in 2+ hours. I was more than over it. But now that I look back on the long mile runs each night, aches and pains from doing so, and the nostalgia for weight lifting had taught me more than I realized as I was training.

When I was running on the day of the race, all was well – the terrain was tough to adjust to, but overall I was proud of myself for stopping little to none and maintaining a decent pace for my body size (aka stubby legs). When we first started the race at 7AM it was freezing cold, but nearing 8:30AM it began to warm up, the sun was drying the sweat on my back and the breeze in between was perfect. The terrain in which we ran was beautiful, the Hill Country made me fall in love with this part of Texas all over again and got my emotions flowing. When I was nearing the end around mile 10 or so and running back towards the finish line – I couldn’t help but think about how much my right knee hurt. I wanted to stop, just walk for 5 minutes, the pain that felt like my bones were rubbing together was unbearable.

But thoughts were flowing through my mind and one stuck out specifically. I thought about my Dad. He’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever met, like anyone’s Dad – but he’s my own. With recent health issues I’ve seen him in states I never thought I would, but when we get together I see a smile on his face and the trials he’s gone though I would like to think go away.

As I was running, he was my source of strength. The more I thought about how he always wants us to do our very best, how he’s fought to overcome cancer and how he’s lost numerous things in life but has gained many in different aspects – the more I told myself I had to finish and finish strong. I had to look past the pain because it was soon to be over. I finished with him in mind. I found a source of strength in the ideas that my Dad was next to me cheering me on.

That’s what we have to do. Find our strength when it comes to bettering ourselves through fitness and through trials in life – whatever that might be. Find it in yourself or in others and run with it.

VIGOR ON*

One Must Never…

SKIP LEG DAY! The reasons are endless. But as anyone else, I have my personal favorite reasons why you should LOOK FORWARD to these days versus dreading them – as well as other body benefits of making sure your leg days are never missed.

For starters, lets face it – I can understand the ideology of WANTING to skip leg day, only due to the aftermath of putting your legs under such shock – AKA I CAN’T FREAKING WALK! I leave the gym JUICED every single time I go and rest days are just as important as getting up and going to workout. Keep in mind recovery days (rest days) are also important – you’re tearing muscle tissue, and not giving them enough time to recover can stunt your progress!

I’ve found that you’re not only strengthening one of the LARGEST muscle groups in the human body, but you’re strengthening them for every day use when working out your legs. Think about it… Our legs are used almost all day, every day. Standing, walking, running, carrying a child around which adds more weight, walking up stairs on campus, etc.

When leg day rolls around put it into perspective. Sure, it’s going to be painful for a few days and during your workout, but leg workouts aid in fat loss, speeding up your metabolism (who doesn’t want a faster metabolism?!), and for the guys out there it increases testosterone – and when you train your legs you are MORE prone to gaining muscle all over the body due to increased levels of testosterone. 

Muscles burn calories when you use them, larger muscles burn more calories than smaller muscles -and with your legs being one of the largest muscle groups on your body you’re burning more calories which leads to burning more fat. When talking about speeding up your metabolism, lifting weights helps in building and maintaing muscle and when your body has more muscle you’re entire body speeds up, works faster and longer throughout the day. 

Strength training outperforms running, walking, and any other cardio exercise when it comes to keeping metabolism in check. It’s pretty simple!

Set aside the thought of “torture” when your next leg day thoughts approach.

IT’S WORTH IT.

Until next time,

VIGOR ON*

Taking Control

I’ve recently heard people say “the flesh is strong, but it’s the mind that’s vulnerable”, and I’ve come to realize that’s the truth in most aspects of life. I’m currently training to run a 13.1 mile half marathon in roughly 2 weeks, and I can say I’m more prepared to do it than I was 4-5 weeks ago. The key that I’ve found instilled in myself, and my way of thinking is that I must take control – of my goals and my mind.

Brian and I have been running almost every.. single.. day since 4 weeks ago, and roughly around week 3, I was ready to just skip our biggest run from then on out. I missed lifting weights everyday, finding new lifts to accomplish, all the while still including my light cardio warm-up… needless to say, I missed walking past the treadmills! I’ve never been a runner. My short legs screamed at the thought of running… anywhere. I’ve never RAN more than 3-4 miles at a time, so how am I now expected to run 13.1 at ONCE, I would tell myself! I was ready to flat out give up, not cardio train until the half marathon morning, and just hope for the best.

Granted I do NOT see this half marathon as a race, I see it more as a learning experience along the way, on the day of, and what I will carry with me after I’ve finished my 13.1 miles – finishing something I thought was a completely unobtainable. Already, I have found myself learning more about my body, what works for me when I run, when I’m breathing while running, my pace, my steps and strides and when to quiet my BODY and let my MIND take control of my emotions.

I was talking to a friend today about some issues she has been dealing with as of recently, and she asked me to be a help in her goals and struggles. As I was texting her, and reading what I was writing along the way, I began to realize that everything I was telling her was not only true, but not always easy to do.

I’ve talked a lot in this post about training for a half marathon, when that’s not the only thing I’ve found myself training – like I said in the beginning, the flesh is strong. What I mean by that is that the flesh can take the soreness, the physical act of eating healthy and not eating until you could explode from fullness. I believe and have experienced that’s something the flesh can do.

It’s the mind that ultimately needs training, above all else. It can’t take the eating healthy every day, it wants to take the easy way out and get fast food for dinner. It can’t take working out every day for an hour, it wants to go out and have drinks with friends, it wants to give up way before the flesh and body is ready. Training the mind takes practice, though it’s never perfect. Change and train the mind, and the rest will follow. 

*VIGOR ON

 

 

2016!

“New Year. New Me!” AMIRIGHT?!

No, but really! How many times have we said this year after year?Countless time! Atleast I know I have.

Each year you make a list in your head about what you’re going to “change” about yourself in the new year, and initially start off strong in the first month and then February-March-April, etc come and go; and you suddenly slip back into your old ways because life is tough sometimes, and your focus shifts to a number of things.

This post isn’t necessarily about fitness, but if that’s your resolution for the year then more power to you! But one thing I’ve come to realize is that as fast as a year seems to fly by, you look back and have experiences, and learn a lot in that time. This year, I personally have a few things to work on and that I aim to fix, like my time management and roller coaster of emotions towards people I love.

I ask myself, so how can I begin to tackle these things I want to change to better myself? I’ve created a list to help me along the way:

1.) Realizing change is a challenge, but challenges change you.

2.) Mistakes along the way doesn’t mean there isn’t progress.

3.) Take things one day, one month at a time.

Changing yourself into being the best version of yourself is a hard task, and if it were easy everyone would do it. But no matter what your resolution is, trials and errors are bound to be made. We’re humans.

Self-care in any and every aspect is not a selfish thing, but a favor to yourself. You are what you do, not what you say. Stick to it – succeed, fail, and succeed again. 

*VIGOR ON

Cancer Prevention – Viva La Veggies

Recently, I’ve been searching cancer preventing foods due to certain events in my families life – in hopes that things will steer a new path in the future. Hey, anything could help.

This semester I took a Bio class and learned that many vegetables can help the prevention of cancer, however not the main thing to prevent them such as routinely getting your exercise, eating healthy, etc. Veggies that are brighter in color have been found be loaded with essential nutrients and offers many health benefits – including keeping eyes and bones healthy, and the possibility of the prevention of countless health issues.

Many veggies are loaded with:

Vitamin C which helps aid in wound recovery and help blood sugar levels (such as bright leafy greens, broccoli, bell peppers)

Fiber – to help reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, even weight loss (such as carrots and sweet potatoes)

Iron – to help transport oxygen throughout the body (such as mushrooms and asparagus).

I wanted to share these facts that I learned in hopes that it might get a few people to think about the future health of yourself, and if it doesn’t, well then you might have learned something new.

These veggies are to name a few that give perks from mother nature to humans, and that in itself, is a pretty awesome thought.

Live whole, life well, live long.

ROCKY BELIEVES IN YOU!

VIGOR ON*

 

Love of Fitness & Travel

Traveling places is like a sickness. Once you get a taste of what other destinations have to offer, you are quick to make your next plan to get the heck out of dodge towards a place you’ve never visited.

The same can apply towards fitness. One day you start your journey and see a progress and then you find yourself wanting to keep going – just to see where you can go.

Sure, it’s a lot harder to get into the act of taking care of your body to build a healthier – one versus packing up your suitcase and booking it to another state/country, but the end results of both are what I’ve come to find rewarding.

If you’re like me you’re starting at the bottom of things, fitness and travel wise. Having my highest weight being 165-170lbs at 5 feet tall at the age of 18yrs, and never to have traveled outside of Texas (from what I can remember). I’ve come to realize that they share something in common. They both have taken a lot of time, and will continue to do so in order to get to a certain destination.

However, hard work isn’t the only way through life, especially with these two particular aspects (fitness: dieting pills, barely eating, etc. travel: hand-outs, blessings from your parents, etc.) It IS a new year, and although you don’t necessarily have to try and become a “new you” – think about possibly creating a new mindset.

Save for a trip, or try sticking with a gym visit each day for two weeks. Brian and I are currently saving for a trip over Spring Break to Georgia/Florida to visit a couple friends, and instead of scrambling at the last second to get money we’re throwing money to the side when we can to get us there – as well as training for a half-marathon in February thanks to a few friends (when we are not the best runners… at all).

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My point is, give things a chance to grow on you, or for you to venture out some place remotely different.

I personally want to work for what I have in life, that way I find out what it’s like to make myself proud when I’m hiking up a mountain I’ve saved money for to get to, or when I’m finally able to be the one to see my body and not so redeeming qualities evolving.

“Each year is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” – Hals Borland

*VIGOR ON