Excuses and Workouts!!!

Hey everybody!

Thanks for joining me on the first Monday of February! Today, as with every Monday I hit the gym! Its very important to me that I always go to the gym on Monday, it helps me determine if I'm going to have a good week or not. #1 rule: NEVER MISS A MONDAY!!!

Before I get to the workouts though, I wanted to discuss reasons and/or excuses people have for not going to the gym or not exercising at all. I did a little research this afternoon, and compiled a list of some frequent excuses for not going to the gym and/or working out.

1. Too noisy
2. Too crowded
3. Not seeing results
4. Reached goal fitness level
5. Don't feel the necessity
6. Intimidated
7. Unsure of what to do at the gym
8. Bad location
9. Bad past experience
10. Feels like everybody else knows what they're doing
11. Feels like everybody else is in shape
12. Would rather be outside
13. Costs and fees
14. Time consuming
15. Germ phobia
16. Too tired
17. Bad weather
18. Missing a television show
19. Already been to the gym this week
20. Too sore from last workout
21. Wanting to do other things
22. Bored with the same routine
23. Don't want too

So that's a pretty long list. So here's my thing, exercising for 1 hour is 4% of your day, which makes exercising for 30 minutes only 2% of your day! I find it insanely hard to believe, when people can't spare 1 hour or even 30 minutes to workout. I can kinda understand, if you have to drive to the gym, but nobody is asking you to go to the gym, just exercise. It takes no time at all to do some jumping-jacks, sit-ups, knee-highs,  triceps-dips, push-ups, planks, wall-sits, squats, or even some yoga, in the comfortable environment of your own home. That rationalization there, took care of 11/23 excuses.

As far as not feeling the necessity to workout, or you're satisfied with your fitness level, then you are about to have your eyes opened. Working out and exercising can be used to maintain your fitness level. If you do nothing, then one day you will lose your physique, whether toned or not.

If your reason, is that you aren't seeing results, even though you've been putting in the time, look at what you're doing when you're not exercising. What I mean by that, is look at what you are eating and drinking. If you workout like a beast, but eat and drink like a glutton, then you are not going to get the results you want. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand when trying to get in-shape and become fitter.

For the being too sore, or having already been to the gym this week excuses: who cares! Science shows that exercising while sore, helps to get rid of the soreness sooner. Now I didn't say go super Saiyan everyday. If you worked out hard one day, then on the next day do either some light exercise, or focus on a different muscle group. This will increase blood flow, and help with muscle recovery.

As far as only exercising once a week, that's about as beneficial as only dieting one day a week; it is pointless. Yes, exercise is good but it needs to be more of a habit. I read a quote from my brother-in-law today that was on the topic of working out and exercising, "Treat it like a job. You have to go. It has to be a necessity." I have heard variations of this before, but it still stands true. If you want results, then you have to really put in an effort.

The biggest reason people don't workout or go to the gym, is the last one, "They just don't want too". Some people won't go, just because. They either don't have a reason, or they're lazy. There is no valid reason why people can't exercise or workout. YouTube is full of videos, of people with all sorts of disabilities killing workouts and feats of strength! If you want some motivation click here!

If you're just lazy and want to be a stick in the mud, then I've done all I can do, but if you're reading this blog, then you have shown some type of interest in exercise, or maybe just getting healthier. I encourage you to contact a local gym, most have a visitor's pass of some sort, or even just Google some at home workout routines. The internet is full of healthy recipes as well. If you need some help, I am more than willing to help you and support you!

Now on to the workouts! The following workouts are from last night's and today's gym sessions. Sunday night's Body Pump session, I went a little lighter for the squat track, because I wore out my legs on the weight machines before class. Other than that, both sessions were killer, and I felt really good afterward!

Squat Track

I used the bar-bell with 20kg or 44lbs

Triceps Track

I used a 5kg or 11lb plate

Triceps Track

I used a 5 kg or 11 lb plate and a 7lb dumb-bell

Lunge Track

I used a 5kg or 11lb plate

 Body Pump, has really helped me a lot, in my fitness journey. It's my go-to class when I need to burn some calories and break a sweat! Now that I'm within 5-10 lbs of my goal weight, I'm wanting to change my focus from weight loss, and turn it to toning-up. For that reason, I'm going to start working with the weight machines. I've played around with them before, just trying to familiarize myself with them. Today after class, I went and worked on the leg machines, everyone I could find! I did 3 sets of 15 reps on each machine. I didn't really push myself too hard, my main goal today was to find a good starting weight. So hopefully within the next couple of months, I will start to see some results.

I can only pray that my legs work tomorrow! And like I said, even if I am sore, I will work out the soreness with my favorite spin class tomorrow, Les Mills RPM!

Until next time, 

-Lesli