Switching Gears With MY Workouts
I cannot begin to tell you how amazing PRESSING THE RESET BUTTON felt for me! Not only did I love writing that post, but it seriously made a lot of changes for me already in just a week. WINNING over here! But seriously though, all good stuff mentally, emotionally, and this past week physically was the biggest change that I felt. When the #2020shitshow greeted us, I was a workout nut job. It was a way to release my stress, to escape, to sweat out the crazy (I still sweat out the crazy, but I was "extra" crazy...Just ask Shannon). I was 100% overtraining and it definitely caught up to me and possibly caused this knee pain that I am feeling. There was just too much of EVERYTHING. I was exhausted, not a healthy sore, not seeing any changes, and just stuck in the rut of doing the same dang thing. YES...Over here admitting that I know I did something wrong, but already making the changes and that is what matters.
But pressing the reset button with my workouts and admitting I need to make some changes is what I did and have been doing. Below is what I am NOW focusing on and I am excited about it. Just like everything else in life and nowadays, things are always changing…our bodies, our appetites, our jobs, our lives, so we have to learn how to adjust and do what makes us feel our best inside and out.
RUNNING
I have missed running so much! It has been a really long time since I have committed to running or signed up for a half marathon. The pain I have been in my right knee has not been good...there I said it out loud. It makes me mad and sad. Running for me is way more than the physical benefits. It is emotional, mental, and my time alone where I just go and go and go. I love it. I love being outdoors and sweating and the challenge...but you know all this, so I don't want to repeat myself. Due to a pair of running shoes, overtraining, and probably too much HIIT workout, I have not been able to do more than 4 miles and when I do 4 miles it is not often.
So...I could be a "Negative Nancy" and throw in the towel, but that is not me. Instead, I have switched gears and I am remaining positive. I bought some new shoes. I have cut back on HIIT. I am doing limited runs and easing back into it. When I start to feel an inkling of pain, I stop. I am also doing more of the below. I am crossing fingers and toes that my attitude and my method work, because I MISS THE RUN!
SPINNING
MethodRide Studios is literally 2 miles from my home, so it is really a no brainer that I should be a member. But in all honesty, I love Meg and she was one of the first studio owners I met when I moved to Charleston. We connected through social media and the next thing I know, we are meeting for coffee at the Brown Fox in Mount Pleasant. A mother of two, an entrepreneur, and a business owner, she is badass, passionate, and a good human. Her classes are intense, fast, and soulful. The studio is also expanding and starting to offer more of a variety of classes, such as a yoga/sculpt, as well as boot camp workouts in the parking lot, so there is something for EVERYONE.
Why do I love spinning? I love endurance training. I love the speed, the sweat, the way it makes me feel, and the way it makes my body look. And who would have thought that 3-pound sandbags could make your upper body burn so much? I owe a lot of my shoulder definition to those 4-minute bursts of strength training.
Spinning is also not as intense on my body. Right now, I am trying to ease back on the high impact workouts and spinning allows me to do that. MethodRide has a good mix of instructors who each have their own energy and style, which allows enough variety and change to the mix. I personally, love more speed and jumps...I am NOT a fan of hills...HATE hills, which is weird, because I love hills when I run...If you are in Charleston come ride with me! If you aren't, there are classes online, if you are looking for some extra motivation or something new. Trust me, you will love it and you will not regret it. ENJOY!
BACK TO THE GYM
It has been a while since I have been back to Pivotal Fitness. Last Monday was the first time I was back there in over a month and after my run, I went in there to just do some strength training and it felt GOOD! I was sore in all the right places. I have been training at Pivotal Fitness for almost two years. I know people have their opinions about it, but for me, it works. It is close to my home. It has all the equipment that I need. The staff is friendly and I am grateful that they have been open. I do not need a fancy gym for when I go to lift weights or a spa-like bathroom. I just want to go in, do my workout, and leave. They also offered me a great membership deal that I just could not say no too.
Why am I back in the gym? Strength training is key right now for me personally, but for all women in my age group. Need some reasons why to add strength training to your routine? I talk about it HERE. Sometimes I like to lift heavy and other times I just like to do the basics with lighter weights. Now that I am back to lifting weights, I am doing lighter weights this time around. The higher intensity workouts have left me feeling swollen and feeling a little out of sorts. It has also been pretty humid here too, so the swelling and bloating can also be due to that as well. Look...I know that I can be hard on myself when it comes to my body, but when things do not feel right, I just feel off. I listen to my body and just make the changes that work for me and to get ME to feel better. You always have to do what works for YOU!
Here is a workout that I did at the gym last week...Simple, effective, and low impact, while still building strength, toning, and working multiple muscle groups. Back to the basics...I also warmed up with interval training on the StepMill, so it truly was a full-body workout. This workout should take you 30 minutes total. Let me know if you have any questions.
What are your favorite workouts these days?
xoxo
