My Fitness Journey

Hi friends,

I have been wanting to share more fitness on the blog, but know it can be tricky because everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another.
With this being said, I am not an expert by any means. I have loved fitness since high school and have always been very active except while pregnant. ;P

I have always “watched my weight.” When I say this, I mean since finishing my college days a LONG time ago, I have either worked out like crazy and/or ate “healthy”. I have never been able to eat whatever I wanted and not see or feel the effects.

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I am not perfect. I do struggle. I do look in the mirror sometimes and pick apart my appearance. I do look in the mirror and wish for things to be smaller, thinner, tighter, perkier, and the list goes on and on. I am a 38 year old woman, mom to three beautiful boys, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Learning self love is something I have always struggled with. I love to help, motivate and encourage others and at the same time encourage myself. As I have gotten older, I have learned to work hard, clean eat but still enjoy the little things, and most of all find time and space in my day to bring an exercise routine.

I often get asked about my fitness routine and if you follow me on Instagram Stories I try to post what I am doing daily, to maybe inspire, help and encourage you! It’s always fun to see others trucking along with me, doing their routines, and trying new things.

Now this blog post isn’t to tell you what to do or what will work for you. It is just a post from a regular woman, mom, friend, wife and daughter that loves to share her passions. One of my passions is excercise. If I weren’t so shy I would have been a fitness coach, personal trainer, group fitness instructor…..something along those lines to help others achieve their goals……BUT insert the shy girl and that doesn’t mix. LOL 🙂

I hope this post helps inspire you to keep going, practice self love, and keep working to reach your goals that you have set.

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My Journey

Running:

Like I said, my journey I would say started when I finished college. I had always done some sort of activity to stay active and running was my jam back then. I trained and ran lots of 5K, 10K & 1/2 marathons and loved them. I love the feeling of accomplishment and the challenge to beat my previous time. While training for a marathon, my knees got the best of me and I had to tone it down……way down. I still love running, but know my body physically has limits and I have to listen to that.

At first when you are told you can’t do something you love, it is like WHAT!? How do I stay in shape? What do I do? At this point, I did a lot of cardio and no weights or any other type of exercise. Looking back, I never really lost weight, just stayed the same. I felt great so I thought, but my body image stayed the same.

MORE Cardio:

I then added in more cardio! I know…..crazy right! I trained for a Sprint Triathlon and looking back this was the most exciting race I had ever done! It was challenging but still so exciting and fun.

Again, my journey was filled with lots and lots of cardio. Although I felt I was in shape and healthy I wasn’t focusing anything on my food in take or any type of weight training. My weight and physical appearance always stayed the same. I think this is why I was always so hard on myself. I ran and ran and ran and would look in the mirror and wonder why I couldn’t lose that extra 10 pounds.

How frustrating can it be to do something almost everyday and not lose weight.

Weight Training/Cardio:

When I turned 30, I had a 4 month old and knew I would have to step up my game if I wanted to lose my baby weight and figure out an exercise routine that worked for me.

When my son turned 1, my work outs consisted of walks with the stroller, but I also tried a bootcamp class workout! It was a lot fun and I would get up really early (baby was sleeping through the night) and make the 5:30am class. This was the only time I could go because they didn’t offer childcare. I did this program for about a year and loved it. It helped me get back on track and lose most of my baby weight, but I still had the extra I just couldn’t get rid of.

So, insert baby #2 and the cycle sort of repeated itself. Fast forward a few years and my boys are 4 and 2. The gym became my go to place because the childcare was part of my membership and I could go there and have some me time.

I was nervous at first because everyone always seems like they have it all together at the gym. I would walk around and get really overwhelmed and end up just doing cardio…..which I knew wouldn’t do much for my body. I mean, yes cardio is great, but killing yourself on a treadmill to get results…..let’s just say there is an easier way! So, one day I jumped into a barbell class (the back of the class 😉 ) and then tried a total conditioning and kickboxing class and felt such a difference with a mixture of exercise routines.

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Clean Eating

Still, fast forward another year… I had established a workout routine that I enjoyed and looked forward to almost everyday. I did a combination of strength training, cardio and stretching/yoga. BUT that pesky 10 pounds still hung around, so I knew I had to focus on food for once. I mean I always “ate healthy”, so I thought.

Brands and labels have a funny way of tricking people to thinking “Fat Free” “Low Fat” “Low Carb” etc…. is the way to go every time. I dove in head first and established my own “CLEAN” eating habits. For example, lots of water, no more sodas and sugary foods. I started reading labels and educating myself on what was really in a “fat free” product or a grocery store product. You would be amazing! Sugar is added to so much, but there are always brands that don’t add sugar to their products.

My eating habits changed and I began to see change. A huge change. That silly 10 pounds I had wanted to lose finally started going away. I was completely amazed at what change happens when you make changes in the kitchen. It is right what they say about it’s 90% what you eat and 10% of workouts. Eating clean has changed my body completely from the inside out, and I feel 100% better when I am eating clean.

Now, I am human and I do enjoy drinks with friends, desserts after dinner and can’t live without chips and salsa! So, then I insert the 80/20 rule or for most times 90/10 for me!

Present time:

I have had another baby since then and now that he is almost 2, I feel myself getting focused again. I have gotten back into a workout routine that suits my lifestyle and works for me. The sugars and processed food that crept back into my diet after having baby #3 are being thrown out again. Because I know this works and it’s what will make me feel the best.

Take Aways/Results

My biggest take away from trying so many different things over the years has helped me understand that our bodies need different things.  #1 and most important is what we put into our bodies.  It is so important to focus on eating just as much as fitness.  I thrive when I am clean eating and cut out all the processed foods.  Adding weights and cardio into my weekly workout plan is just icing on the cake.  I try to do weights 2-3 times a week & cardio like kickboxing, stairs, running etc. 3 times a week. The cardio can be a 20-30 minute evening walk too. As long as you are moving your body and pushing yourself.

Don’t be afraid to try weights. You won’t bulk up! I lift light weights to tone and firm my muscles. I really enjoy my barbell class at my local gym and it has taught me different moves for different muscle groups.

Exercising doesn’t have to be boring or miserable. If walking is your jam….get it girl! Any physical activity is so great for your body. You might also see a difference in your sleeping habits, energy levels and appetite.

Now, if the gym isn’t your thing, working out at home is a great alternative. I have worked out at home off and on with babies. It fit my lifestyle just recently when I did BBG at home. I wasn’t ready to get back to the gym and with a napping little baby it was just easier to exercise when he took his morning nap at home. I still throw in home workouts during a baby nap and on the weekend.

Let’s do this!

With all this being said, this goes to show you that trying things until you find what works for you can be very rewarding in the end. If you first try something and don’t succeed or don’t like it, keep going. Move on to the next workout and give it a go!

Don’t give up! Stay consistent with your workout routine and know it takes time to see the results you are looking for. I am still working on my goals.  This just means I am going to keep going. Stay positive.  When I look in the mirror, I give myself a little grace on days I am too tired to workout, too busy doing my mom job or just needing a break! And you all should do the same. 🙂

We can’t jump all in and change all at once! So whether it’s a change in eating habits first or your exercise, making a change is the first and hardest step! Let’s make that first step!

What is a fitness routine that works for you? Do you like working out at home or at a gym?

Do you have food goals?  I would love to hear about them!

I hope this post has inspired you to stay focused and don’t give up!  If you are looking to start a program.  It’s never is too late.  You can do it!  We all have our struggles mentally and physically.  Focusing on your lifestyle and what is important to you will help you achieve your goals and will produce results.

-“When you feel like quitting remember why you started.” -Unknown

-“No matter how slow you go you are still lapping everyone on the couch”
-Unknown

-“If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.” -Thomas Jefferson

-“Nothing will work unless you do” -Maya Angelou

XOXO, Ja’Net

Posts you might have missed:

Fitness/Exercise Blog Posts:

BBG 1
BBG 2
After Baby Workouts
Working out at home

Clean Eating Blog Posts:

My Whole30 Recap

Tips To Clean Eating