This weekend I’ve got five miles planned on Saturday, and then my awesomesauce friend comes back from vaca and we will be running 11 miles on Sunday. I’m strangely looking forward to it — mostly so I can hear all about her trip to Paris and Germany.
On that note, the Iron Horse Half Marathon is coming up quickly. Two more long runs and then it’s go time. “Can’t wait” is a complete understatement. I’m almost giddy with excitement.
Today’s Fitness Friday post is from Amber V. at Eats and Exercise by Amber. She is one amazing chica. Check out why she stays fit, some of her favorite workouts, and her awesome tips to keeping up the health and fitness lifestyle.
What is your favorite fitness day/activity?
My “favorites of fitness” have changed over the
course of the last few years, and recently over the last few months due to
injuries. I used to thrive on body weight cardio moves like burpees and tuck
jumps, loving every minute of jumping around like a bouncy ball or doing
sprints in between sets of lifting! While I may not be the “crazy girl in
the air” at my gym currently, I can still do my OTHER favorite activity,
which is a positive! I LOVE lifting weights and leg day. Whether I’m training
legs with squats, or lifting weights for arms, I feel so empowered lifting and
squatting, I always leave the gym in a good mood!
What is your favorite fitness routine?
My favorite routine currently is a potpourri of things I’m
working on daily:
Un-assisted Pull Ups – walk up to the bar like a
total bad a** and try and do as many as possible, currently I can do six! Which
is an improvement from none a few months ago!
Handstand Holds – trying to hold a handstand
sans wall
Handstand Push Ups
THESE are my favorite leg days exercises I do
until failure:
Single Leg Sit to Stand Squats
Single Leg Leg Press
Plie Squats
Why do you choose to stay fit?
I choose to stay fit because of its positive effect on my
mental, emotional, and physical health.Staying fit helps keep my severe IBS symptoms
from exacerbating.Staying fit EMPOWERS me, when my body becomes
stronger, when I can do one more pull up, or one more rep than I could beforeStaying fit taught me the importance of FOOD AS
FUEL, since I cannot grow or make gains in the gym on an empty tankStaying fit makes me feel BEAUTIFUL when I look
in the mirror and see muscles that weren’t always thereStaying fit keeps me happy, which helps keep me
healthy!
Aside from physical exercise, what other ways
do you incorporate healthy choices into your life?
Healthy choices for me, extend beyond the gym! I believe that
in order to be healthy, you must at first be happy, which stems from self-love
and self-care.
I practice self-love by embracing my body, and
all of its parts. I do not critique myself, but rather compliments myself.
Instead of focusing on my imperfections, I focus on my favorite parts, and what
I can do.
I practice self-care by listening to my body and
respecting what it needs. I rest when it is tired, and don’t push it past its
limits. I make “me” time every day, even if it’s just a few minutes
to practice gratitude, and hardwire my happiness.
I make healthy choices by seeing food as fuel! I
fuel my body right with lean proteins, LOTS of greens, complex carbs, and
healthy fats BUT I also treat myself to sweets like chocolate, cookies, and
cake. Healthy eating is about balance, not restriction.
How have you dealt with any setbacks that have prevented you from working out, staying in
shape, or eating healthily?
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO, NOT WHAT YOU CANNOT DOI nearly cried when the orthopedist told me
“no jumping, running, excessive exercise that will inflame your Calf
Strain” this past Spring. Well, actually, I DID cry, after leaving the
office and calling my mom, exasperate and repeating “I’m not allowed to do
any of my usual work out stuff, no cardio, no jumping, nothing extreme!”
After having a self pity party for a week, I
decided that I would focus on what I COULD do, instead of what I could not do.
Here I am, four months later, feeling the
strongest and leanest I EVER have, without an ounce of cardio, jumping, or
crazy moves done. I focused on regaining strength and my balance, doing minimal
weight movements for my legs and sticking to my physical therapy routine.
Life is crazy, sometimes you eat an entire bag
of Tortilla chips and peanuts, or an entire tray of cookies, skip your workouts
cause your schedule is too hectic and injure yourself and have to stop all
together, and that is OKAY. How you deal with it, is by focusing on the good,
the good choices you made, or the things you have done/can do. The glass is
always half full!
What advice do you have for someone just
beginning their journey into healthy living and/or exercising?
DO WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU
Health and fitness is personal, what works for
one person, may not work for you, so don’t take everything you read or hear
from others to heart as the “only way.” Experiment with your body,
your workouts, your eating habits and choices and do what works best for you!
Once you find what works, stick with it, and be proud of yourself and your
progress EVERY single step of the way!
DON’T COMPARE
You are doing this for YOU, so the only person
you should compare yourself to is who you were yesterday, last week, last
month, or last year. Everyone one is different, with different body types,
different genetics, schedules, routines, and responsibilities. You cannot
compare yourself to the person with a six pack who works out for hours and
lives off of grilled chicken and greens only. Accept your body and yourself as
they are, and be proud of your OWN progress! Don’t diminish your
accomplishments by comparing to someone else.
BEYOUTIFUL
—
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Have a glorious day, loves!
