Be Fit, Be Merry, & Have Fun

Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality. –Ralph Marston

“Lift weights? 100 sit ups? Mountain Climber? Bear Crawl? Frog Jump? Windshield Wiper? You want me to do what?”

These are a few of the thoughts I had when I first received my workout routine from Caroline; Barbelles at Home. How can I possibly do these things? What will people think of me? How will I get over my fear of the scary matted area with sweaty beefcakes and barbells/dumbbells?

Motivation, Determination, Desire, Courage and a little bit of Encouragement.

I reached out to Caroline late summer of 2010, a year after my son’s birth. While I was able to lose all my baby weight fairly quickly (thanks to nursing), I couldn’t seem to manage to tone up and tighten up. I hate to say it, but I gained a little over 50 pounds with my pregnancy. I started at 115 pounds and managed to be 170 the day I delivered. I try not to beat myself up over the amount of weight I gained. From the moment we found out I was pregnant, my son always measured ahead and was always several ounces larger than the typical baby at that stage of pregnancy. I guess I was just meant to have a larger baby…at least that is what I tell myself. I exercised during my pregnancy, but had a difficult time during my first trimester due to “morning sickness” from the moment I woke up until I went to bed. I felt as though all I did was get sick or fall asleep. However, I went to the gym and attempted to exercise. Afterwards, I just needed a little push, ok, a HUGE push.

Positive Possibilities, Substantial Energy, Effective Determination and Real Strength

I have always exercised (prior to my pregnancy, during and after), but had never truly WORKED OUT. I would use the elliptical and stay close to the machines I knew how to use (strictly by watching other gym goers). Yet, I didn’t have a method or structure to my workout. I didn’t have an organized plan that would ultimately benefit my body or heart (after all, I’m also fighting a family history of heart disease). Caroline developed an intense and productive workout for me as a beginner to total body fitness that I utilized for 3 months.

I saw results within 2 weeks. I began dropping weight, even though I was already at my pre pregnancy weight. So, I had to adjust my caloric intake to be able to maintain weight and build muscle. I started doing bicep curls at 12.5 pounds (now 20 pounds). I lifted 20 pounds for shoulder press exercises (now at 40 pounds). I started at about 50 pounds for lateral exercises (now at 85+ pounds). I was squatting at about 30 pounds (now at 60-80 pounds). I started leg presses at about 90 pounds (now at 150 pounds). My greatest accomplishment is my back. I started doing rows, dead lifts at about 50 pounds (now can lift 120+ pounds). I am rowing at about 120 pounds and can lift 70 pounds for a dead lift. While these are just numbers to some they are accomplishments for me, achievements, goals met and most of all strength.

Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude! –Ralph Marston

I fell in love with my new workout routine, so much that I wanted more challenging routines. I got a second set of workouts from Caroline that truly pushed me to new levels. I had to relearn how to balance my body weight, stamina and how to push myself to overcome fear and unknown territory. There was no more watching people lift, do leg presses, pull ups, etc and wish I could do the same. I was doing it; I was lifting weights; I was lifting my body with my own strength. My husband has always told me lifting weights is one thing but real strength is when you can lift something outside of the gym; actually using your muscles for work. I saw my muscles, muscles I didn’t even know existed and have been hooked ever since. I have now made my workouts more beneficial and more challenging which makes me excited to go to the gym. I started out slow, listened to my body, visualized success, stayed balanced and most of all started having fun!
I no longer feel tied down to a treadmill or elliptical. I feel much more empowered and confident due to my increase in knowledge about dumbbells, cable machines, smith machines, stability balls, and so on. Knowledge truly is power and power gives us strength over our destiny.

What you do today can improve all your tomorrows. –Ralph Marston
I am thankful that Barbelles At Home has workouts that can be done at home, on the go or in the gym. There should be no limit to where you exercise. You have to do what works best for you, your schedule and your family. There are days I don’t want to be away from my son for an hour, so I workout in the backyard while he naps or he runs up the hill with me. I enjoy doing lunges up and down the hill in my backyard or even doing push ups and sit ups while talking in the sun. Then, there are days when Mommy needs a little breathing room (gotta love terrible 2’s) and I take my workout to the gym. But, no matter where I am, I can challenge my body and mind to a fitter me.
The best advice I can give anyone is do not measure your self or success necessarily by weight lost; but by inches, the way your clothing fits and improvements in strength. I am proud of my weight, my body and me; and that is exactly what I wanted to accomplish.

Be fit, be merry and have fun!

By Shannon :o)

Facebook Comments

comments