Being Grateful

I'm a bit delayed on this post, but with the holiday season upon us, it makes me think about all I am thankful for. It seems these days that people get so caught up with things that they forget to take a step back and see the good in what they can only see as negative. Sometimes I find myself listening to other people's conversations and they all sound so similar, some of the most common complaints I hear:

1. Ugh, I have to go workout today when I'd rather just lay on the couch
2. I hate my job
3. I wish I was thinner
4. I wish I could change how I look without working for it
5. I wish I didn't have to get up so early
6. Life would be better if I wasn't so busy all the time

These are just a few examples of the endless amount of complaints people have. Now don't get me wrong, I myself am very guilty of complaining about some of this stuff as well. It's so easy to let a little complaint slip here and there and before you know it you find yourself wishing you could change every little thing about your life. The last couple weeks I've been thinking long and hard about my life. I am unbelievably blessed; I have a great life, I have two good jobs that allow me to pay the bills comfortably and still leave me enough to have a savings. I have a wonderful family who would do anything for me; the positives in my life are endless! Sure, I still have complaints, but why not find the good and be thankful even for the things I want to change?

1. I'm thankful that I can go workout because it means I'm healthy, strong and one day closer to achieving my goals
2. I'm thankful for my jobs, because it means I'm not only making money to support myself and my future, but it means I'm meeting new people and learning new things (and helping people get in shape to improve their lives at one of my jobs!)
3. I'm thankful that my thighs are a little bit thick, because that means I have strong, powerful legs that allow me to lift heavy weights and take me where I need to go
4. I'm thankful that I get up early every day, because there are so many people in the world suffering from an illness that won't be able to get out of bed today
5. I'm thankful for all the hard work I put into my workouts each day because that means God gave me a good work ethic
6. I'm thankful for the bills I pay because that means I have a roof over my head, electricity for heat and light, and a reliable vehicle to get me from point A to point B.
7. I'm thankful for the struggles I've encountered because it means God has made me a strong enough person to always see the bright side of life

I could go on and on with what I am thankful for. Life is beautiful. We all need to appreciate the greatness of the little things each day brings us. Sure, there might be things you want to change, but just remember; the grass isn't always greener on the other side. There is always good; never over look it :)

Recent Workout Successes

Hello again! It seems that due to the hectic-ness of life I haven't been posting nearly as much as I'd like. Rest assured, even though I have been neglecting my blog I have certainly not been neglecting my workouts!! I can feel myself getting stronger with each workout and have recently been able to acheive two PR's! The first one came a couple weeks ago when I bench pressed 90 lbs for 7 reps; definitely an all time high for me! The second one happened just earlier today when I deadlifted 170 lbs for 5 reps. There's still quite a long road ahead of me to get the numbers that I have set for my goals, but knowing that I am making progress is a fantastic feeling. I've been working more on my glutes lately and I do believe that is one of the big reasons my deadlift (as well as my squat) is improving.

On my off days I have been using my sled outside as well as my new kettlebell that Brandon bought me for my birthday a couple weeks back. I love using both of those things and have found plenty of fun ways to torture myself (haha). All in all the workouts are awesome and I can't wait to keep progressing! With the holidays starting up I'll be getting a few days off from work which will give me some time to catch up on here :D

Until next time,

 

Lazy Girl Fitness...?

In my free time I really enjoy to browse through the website Pintrest. I'm sure most of you (females especially) are familiar with this site. Making crafts for the home and trying interesting new recipes is something that I've always enjoyed trying my hand at. Although my attempts at crafting like Martha Stewart and cooking like Emril typically fail, it's still a website I find myself on just about every evening for a few minutes. I usually scroll through the Health and Fitness page, just to see what they have to say about the topic. I always find your typically workouts that are obviously geared toward girls; things like "Eat Yourself Skinny," "Tush Toning Interval Workout," and "Pop Pilates Butt Blaster" just to name a few. I usually just chuckle to myself and dismiss these silly-named workouts while I continue to browse the massive selection of awesome Nike shoes and Under Armour workout pants that I want in my closet in every color. However, last night I stumbled upon an article that really caught my attention and couldn't help but look at: "Lazy Girl Fitness."

Lazy Girl Fitness, as it turns out is an entire blog with workouts that had titles such as "Microwave Abs" "3 Minute Arms" and "Read a Book." I'll admit, some of her ideas were decent. I, too, like lunges and mountain climbers are okay from time to time. Some of her other exercises included ideas such as doing a standing torso rotation while you wait for your food to cook in the microwave, doing calf raises while brushing your teeth, and using your milk jug to do a few bicep curls while you cook.

That blog epitomizes everything I dislike about the view on female fitness. I understand that beginner exercisers might be scared/intimidated to join a gym and at home workouts can be a great alternative, but only if done correctly. Being in good shape and in optimum health is not something that you can be lazy with. It is something that takes hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of sweat and effort. Being the best you is not something you can achieve during commercial breaks or while you fold the laundry.

So many people have the misconception that girls shouldn't use anything heavier than a 10 pound dumbbell and should just spend some time on the elliptical and call it a day. Girls who want to get in shape and be healthy but do not have the knowledge on the topic see things like Lazy Girl Fitness and think things like that are all they need to do. They stick with it for awhile, don't see any changes, and inevitably get discouraged and quit. Girls need to get over the mindset that they should not lift heavy weight because they will "bulk up." Females need to see less websites like Lazy Girl Fitness and more like girlsgonestrong.com. Girls need to read articles that teach them the benefits of lifting heavy weights rather than reading things that make them think it is okay to be "lazy" about their workouts and take the easy way out. I know from experience that there is no easy way out when it comes to reaching your fitness goals, but once you start seeing results, you immediately see that all the hard work was more than worth it.

I will continue to post things on here that will hopefully be helpful and beneficial to females; however, in the meantime, here are the links to a couple of my favorite sites that always have great articles:

http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/ (they also have really awesome clothes!!!)
http://www.jencomaskeck.com/
http://julialadewski.com/

Just remember to work hard whether you workout at a gym or at home; give it your best effort and never take the easy way out.