Gym Motivation -Workout from Yesterday

Finally, I ran! I haven't ran since last week, which seems like an eternity. Before my run I worked out at the gym - chest and triceps. I haven't worked out my chest in months so I'm pretty sore at the moment. There use to be a times when I avoided hills but now I embrace them  Running hills has helped me become a faster runner. Not only that but when running/walking on an incline you are working your hamstrings and glutes. I'm turning 30 this year and gravity is trying to take over. I won't let it. I will have a banging body for the rest of my life!

During my run it took me a while to warm up. Do any of you have that feeling in your legs when your running that they want shatter. After a while it went away. Miles 1 & 2 were slow, then about 2 and half miles in I was able to pick up the pace to 8 min miles and throw in some wind sprints. I'd like to start running longer distances, it's been hard trying to add it with weight lifting. I'll probably be making some changes in my workouts soon.

I can't live without my oatmeal. 
* 1/2 of rolled oats
*1 cup of water
* Microwave for 2:20 minutes
*Add slivered almonds and a dash of cinnamon. Yum!

Work Out of the Day

No run for me today. I planned on running but after my strength session I wasn't in the mood. Wow, me not in the mood to run? That never happens. I love working out my shoulders, I did abs too but I forgot to add my workout in the picture above. Anyway, Happy Tuesday. Tuesday = Pretty Little Liars! Can't wait to see tonight's episode :) 

Weekend & My new found love for the Squat Rack

My weekend was consumed with pretty much of me being lazy! (Says the chick who worked out on Sat & Sun) Today is Monday and yet I still feel like I need to recuperate from the weekend. The dishes are piling up in the sink and are covering the counter tops. I have mounds of laundry to wash, and bedrooms that need to be cleaned. Ughhh I need to get off this damn computer and act like the good house wifey I promised my husband I would be. Not to mention I have some activities planned with my 4 year old.

<~~~~~ Saturdays workout: Upperbody/Run

Sundays workout: Quads/Calfs/Abs/HIIT  ~~~~~>

Squat Rack: 

I've been going to the gym for a over decade now, and when it comes to leg day I have always used the smith machine. A few months ago I finally started using the squat rack. I'm so glad I found the courage to use it. I still go on the smith machine when I want to lift heavy but I'm making all kinds of gains using the squat rack. Barbell squats, your not just working all the muscles in your legs & glutes but you are also working your upper body muscles as well. It works your core, back and arms. A huge drawback of the Smith machine is that eliminates the need for your body to build stabilizer muscles, as it does the stabilization for you. The Smith machine does have it's advantages though so don't rule it out completely.

My tip for anyone who wants to try barbell squats:

Don't use any weight. Just use the barbel alone and focus on FORM! Form form form! Form people! It is IMPORTANT. In fact when I went to the gym over the weekend I noticed a guy squatting in the squat rack and his form was ALL MESSED UP. His back forward and as he came up he used his back to bring the weight up. I couldn't help but cringe when saw him and I looked around the gym to notice if anyone else caught it. It was bad. He's lucky he didn't snap his back! Anyway...

Get the movement down first before adding weight. Barbell squats are no joke. Don't be intimated using the squat rack (or any machine in the gym). Everyone has to start somewhere. Just be smart about it and focus on form.

Why I Blog about my Fitness Journey

I'm back! No worries, just because I haven't blogged doesn't mean I stopped working out. I changed my blog and Instagram name to Lisas_Fit_Life. Instagram is where I have been posting all my daily happenings so feel free to follow me on there, my username is Lisas_Fit_Life. I would like to start blogging on a regular basis, please continue to follow me on here as well.

Why I blog

I use this blog as a fitness journal to help me stay focused and accountable. It's a real inspiration to read over my struggles and see how far I have come in my fitness journey.

Other reasons why I blog:

To inspire others: I want to be an inspiration. I want other people to see me and not just like me, but to say I can be like that and can relate to me in a lot of ways.

I love the fact that I can inspire people to change for the better. I've had friends tell me that they look up to me and that I inspire them to live a healthier lifestyle. It's great to know that I can have a positive effect on someone's life.  I've realized that once you've achieved goals, you have become a role model to someone.

To connect with other fitness enthusiasts: All my friends are well aware that I'm a little obsessed with fitness I have a passion for all things fitness, but the problem is, I don't have many friends who share the same passion . I have friends that workout but it's not the same. So I read blogs, follow people from the fitness industry on FB, and go on Instagram to chit chat with other fitness enthusiasts.

I'm not much of writer, I like to keep my blog posts short. I came real close to deleting this blog. After seeking encouragement from my social media fitness family I decided to keep it. Below are comments made to me after I mentioned how I wanted to stop blogging.

Your fitness posts will encourage at least one person to keep going, add another rep, set a new best, or just get out the door for a run. Don't doubt how inspiring your journey is to others. 

Even when it feels like nobody is reading, when nobody comments, keep going. If you are blogging about something you love, something that is coming from your heart, keep going. Someone somewhere is reading and is inspired. You better believe it. Even if they don't ever tell you. 

Don't keep inspiration to yourself, get it, then give it.