If you haven’t already, be sure to check out this post, where I share my 8 BIG GOALS for these 43 days.
And don’t forget to GET IN ON THE GIVEAWAY!
This post will be short because it’s been a busy day, and it’s almost 9:00, which means it’s almost time to shut this thing down (read more HERE).
Basically, I just want to introduce my 6th BIG GOAL for this 43-Day Challenge: Meaningful Workouts. What does this mean? Well, fitness is definitely one of those things that is different for everyone (n=1), but I’ll tell you what it means to me…
I’m a firm believer in not killing yourself during a workout. What this means is that I don’t agree with the mentality that a workout has only been good if you’re about to pass out on the floor by the end of it. In fact, I don’t really think you should be overly exhausted after a workout. Working yourself to the point of pain and exhaustion only adds stress to the crazy amounts of stress we already have to deal with on a daily basis. And I’m not just talking about mental stress here, though that is an issue… I’m also talking about our bodies’ already on-the-go predicament. If you think about how things used to be, before the craziness of the agricultural revolution and the development of the 40-hour work-week, things weren’t as busy as we keep ourselves these days. Just keeping up with real life puts enough stress on us, and I don’t think adding “just a little more” is worth the benefits that may come from killer workouts. Basically, I think those types of workouts just shoot us in the foot, so to speak.
What I believe is best is MEANINGFUL workouts. Do just enough to work your core muscle groups HARD. Then stop. For me, this means lifting heavy dumbbells (bigger than the ones pictured, I promise!), squatting, lunging, etc. I do a little low-impact cardio in intervals just to raise my heart rate a little, and then I let it lower again while I do more lifting. I do around four 45-minute workouts each week, and I find that this keeps me in great shape. All these exercises are done in my home, and I do use a few videos occasionally to keep me motivated, as well as a few yoga tapes for some variety. Keep it simple!
I’m firm, toned, and strong, and I like it like that!
Again, my workout may be very different from the one that is best for you… I’m just sharing my thoughts on my eight goals (though I do believe the same “don’t kill yourself” philosophy goes for everyone).
For more of my posts on fitness, click here.
Killing myself in a workout is not my ideal either… I am currently recovering from a shoulder injury (which is super frustrating!) so I am walking and rebounding for my light cardio and doing hot yoga. When I am able to get back to full on workouts I use suspension straps for body weight exercises…and kettelbells…I walk outside everyday for at least 45 minutes, my yoga classes would be my longest workout at 60 minutes…everything else runs only 20-30 minutes max.
Love it!