Ok, so I've been back in the gym for less than a week after a month long hiatus. So I wanted to write down some things I've noticed since getting back in the #beastmode grind that may help y'all who are new to the gym or have been otherwise engaged with more important matters.
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| True dat, yo. This is a judgement free zone. |
1. Challenge yourself, but don't go crazy. So I pretty much need to take my own advice on this one. I'm the queen of boppin in the gym, seeing something I know I probably shouldn't do, do it anyways, and wind up injured. If it's been a while, use lighter weights for your first reps. If that's too easy, up it by a pound or so the next round. It's much better to build up than it is to get a hernia. Always push yourself a little outside your comfort zone, but don't do something that's just not going to happen. If you're not a runner, don't expect to just pull a non-stop 5k out of your ass. Build up to it. But rememberrrr...
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| Strike the proper balance. Get it? Because she's balancing?....ok I'll stop. |
2. Have a plan. And a backup plan. Don't show up at the gym with no idea what you want to train. Do you want to do cardio? Weights? If you feel overwhelmed with what to do, the internet is about to become your BFFFFFFFFFFFFFL. Pinterest, Body Building, and Tone It Up all offer free training plans, and there are tons of blogs for all fitness levels. Print some stuff out so you don't have to remember everything off the top of your head.
In addition, have a backup plan. Like the other day, I showed up to the gym, ready to kill it on the elliptical, or the treadmill, or the stairmaster and every single machine was taken. Every. Single. Machine. That would've been a wash of a gym visit if I didn't have a backup plan! But thankfully, I had a weight lifting routine in my back pocket and was able to get a good sweat sesh. So you aren't so upset when your original plan is a wash.
3. If you're bored, research! Stop whining about how bored you are with cardio on a treadmill. There are TOO many options out there for you to whine. Check your local gym's schedule for new classes. I just found out my gym offers a POUND class on Thursday's that I am officially pumped about. Don't have a gym membership? Check on Groupon for fitness deals in your area that are cheap without a membership. Or look on youtube- there are tons of free classes and such on the interwebs. So stop whining and start looking!
4. It's ok to have motivation, but don't compare yourself too much. It's totally chill if you have some fitspiration of toned women or men, or if you have an idol on instagram or something. I do. I have like a million of them. You have to remember- they are most likely way farther along than you are. That's why you look up to them. But that doesn't mean you should tear yourself down because you don't start off looking like that person (or peoples). You CAN look like them- you can look fabulous! It just takes a lot of dedication, hard work, and most importantly time. No one starts looking like that. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Use people as inspiration, but remember you can be as every bit as good as they are! :)
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| This is your to-do list every day! |
5. Rest!! Rest days are just as important as exercise days. If you go balls to the wall, you will more than likely end up injuring yourself. Like me. Take at least one day off a week. Take more off if needed. Listen to your body! Don't feel bad by taking one day off every once and awhile. You got this, boo.
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| Mission Accomplished Indeed |
So these are my New Year's hints for newbies and people who've not been to the gym in a while. Do you have any other advice I may have missed?
Stay classy and lift heavy
~K
