Part 2: My Workout Plan

15 weeks into my fitness journey and I am down 15 lbs! It is SUCH a good feeling knowing that I have worked hard to accomplish this for myself. I feel so much better and healthier, as well as my mental and emotional state has skyrocketed to beautiful places. I don't remember the last time I thought a bad thought about myself, felt unsatisfied, was moody without reason, or ate something and felt guilty about it (which I used to have a problem with fairly often). This journey so far has taught me balance, self love, motivation, and the beauty of encouraging others, and what a wonderful journey it has been thus far.

Last week I shared the first half of my fitness journey which is *FOOD* and my meal plan. You can check out my meal plan and my thoughts on basic nutrition here: http://juliesfitnessadventure.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-meal-plan.html

The second part of my fitness journey has been my workout routine. Although weight loss is 80% what you eat and only 20% working out, it is still important to maintain a fitness routine, which again, just like food, is different for each person. You should be getting some sort of exercise daily, at least 45 minutes. Each body reacts differently to different types of workouts so I am not going to sit here and tell you what is going to help you lose weight because there is just no way I can know that. I've tried a lot of different exercise from walking, dancing, lifting, I even completed the P90X dvd's. Just a little example how each person is different... Everyone talked about how ripped you will be after doing P90X. I heard people say they got in the best shape of their life from doing it, they lost so much weight, gained a ton of muscle, exc.... Well my husband and I dedicated 12 weeks of our life consistently to this P90X dvd-- morning after morning we religiously woke up at 6 am and completed each disk-- and I'm totally gonna toot my own horn and say we did AWESOME with each activity P90X had to offer. But let me tell you something.... I did not lose any weight. I became a bit stronger, but I didn't look different, I didn't feel different, I wasn't in the best shape of my life, I didn't shed pounds-- even with maintaining a healthy diet while doing the P90X dvd's, nothing happened for me. It was really discouraging for me and I felt like well if that didn't work to shed this stubborn weight than nothing will... But that's because I wasn't trying to figure out my body. I wasn't trying to learn what worked for ME, I was just doing what everyone else was doing. And I feel that just goes to show that each person's body reacts differently to different types of workouts-- Find what works for YOU. What is creating progress in your life? And do that.

MY WORKOUT PLAN:

MONDAY-    *20min ab routine at work while baby sleeps
                       *30min walk with baby
                       -GYM: *30mins of cardio
                                    *30-40mins of legs & butt exercises

TUESDAY-    *30min walk with baby
                        GYM: *30 mins of cardio at the gym
                                   *30-40mins of arm & back exercises

WEDNESDAY-   *20min ab routine at work while baby sleeps
                              *1 full hour of cardio (I usually alternate running/walking for the first half hour  and then speed walk the 2nd half hour)

THURSDAY-   *30min walk with baby
                            -GYM: *30mins of cardio
                                         *30-40mins of legs & butt exercises

FRIDAY-   *30min walk with baby
                   *20min ab routine at work while baby sleeps
                   -GYM: *30 mins of cardio at the gym
                                *30-40mins of arm & back exercises

SATURDAY-    Rest

SUNDAY-   Rest

*Looking at this it looks a bit excessive but I also basically have a sit-down job. I am a nanny to 1 baby so when he is playing, I'm sitting with him. And when he's sleeping I'm sitting on my computer working or reading. So I try to throw in extra exercises where I can to keep moving.

                                                      ^Stir fried brocoli, zucchini, pepper, and carrot ribbons over quinoa           ^Me down 15lbs! 

WHAT EXERCISES DO I DO
Here are the charts that I have designed for myself with the workout moves that I have either created or picked out myself. A lot of them have made up names for machines I don't know the name of, or moves that I came up with myself-- but you can kind of get the idea. I have each of these charts printed out and take them with me for every workout. I write down how many sets/reps I've done as well as the amount of weight I'm lifting. Keeping track of what you're doing is the best way to make SURE you are making progress and not plateauing. Every few weeks I will add weight or reps, and eventually when I feel the activities are too easy, I will update my charts to challenge myself with new moves.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Find what works for YOU. Create a written workout plan that you will take with you and keep track of yourself on-- get serious about making progress! Try lots of different things to figure out what works best for your body. Take before and after photos to track progress (sometimes it's easier to *see* than to *feel* progress and pictures are a great reminder as to why you started a fitness journey in the first place). Get a buddy to work out with you if it makes it easier to stay dedicated, but don't fully rely on anyone else to keep you on track but yourself. Friends and family will fail you, they will not always be there to hold your hand through every workout. Learn to press on alone when you need to because only YOU can truly hold yourself accountable, and the reward is so great. And always, love yourself.