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Why You Need an Exercise Log
An exercise log has three primary functions: it should contain a pre-written daily workout or workout of the day (WOD, as CrossFitters say); it can be used to track training output per training session; and it’s a way to compare weekly and monthly training progress. Although a written exercise log (digital or physical) might seem too simple a tool to boost goal attainment on your fitness journey, there many uses for it that can lead to tangible results, regardless of your goal. For starters, exercise logs are a regular tool of professional coaches and personal trainers, who use them to plan and measure the progress of athletes or clients. If…
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Do You Need a Gym for an Effective Workout? – A Fit Mom’s Experience
As a young, broke mom, I worked out at home for five years before ever joining a gym. I developed a six-pack for the first time a month after giving birth to my son, and a few months later, my legs were toned for the first time. I had my first taste of muscle growth and progress with exercise. I developed so much strength and solid conditioning that when I joined the military a year later, I was awarded Top Female Physical Readiness Trainee and Warhawk. I created my own exercise schedule, starting at just three days per week, then I gradually moved up to doing something every day. My…
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2020 Self-help Message
I’ve been part of a superficial industry for a long time now: the fitness world. After seventeen years of people criticizing my body shape or exercise goals, I came to realize what I wrote below, which is intended for anyone struggling with rejection, minimization, or insults regarding their health and fitness goals. The message: don’t seek validation outside yourself I’ve learned that in all areas of life, it’s important to focus on your unique journey and not what others think or say about you. Doing otherwise can lead to a negative self-image and poor mental health. Only you know all your starting points: the struggles and obstacles you broke through…
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How I Raised My Credit Score as a Broke Single Mom
Financial literacy wasn’t a topic in my family home while I was growing up. By my early twenties, my mind was pretty much programmed to believe the financial odds were stacked against me. I never looked into building my credit because I didn’t understand the value of doing so, and after gross mismanagement of my first credit card, I was hesitant to ever get another. My debts at the time were composed of over $9k in student loans from a for-profit college (yes, I fell for one of those) and a $500 interest-gathering balance from my first credit card. In my twenty-one-year-old mind, I had simply too much debt to…
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Testimony from a Female Ex-Steroid User
This post correlates with my earlier posts: “Undesirable Side Effects of Steroid Use” and “7 Reasons Why I Don’t Compete.” The video below is of strength athlete Gracie Davis. She is a voice of caution for women who use or are considering using steroids. Her deepened voice and the other masculine changes she has experienced are permanent — her gains in strength were not. Anyone who has created a decent body through athletics is likely to at some point be compared to someone who has taken steroids. This is sad, but true, and has happened to me multiple times. Why? Because many “users” reach the top of their sport and often…
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7 Reasons Why I Don’t Compete
Bodybuilding seems to be gaining in popularity, and many die-hard gym rats train with the ultimate goal of competing. This goal provides purpose and motivation to train hard. But there are a fraction of fitness enthusiasts who have no intention of competing – at least not in an aesthetics-based competition like bodybuilding. These people don’t care who finds their body to be attractive or not. They push their physical limits for the fun and love of it. They are performance and skill-driven and do not seek recognition and approval from others. I fall into that camp, but I haven’t always. As a fitness newbie, I was sucked into the superficial world…
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My New Training Mix vs Old
For thirteen years (as of 2015), I followed a bodybuilding training regime. Now for the past year, I’ve been following a new training mix of athletic training: mobility, flexibility, and functional exercise. Why the change? I found flaws in my old routine. Strict bodybuilding practices, with limited focus on flexibility, mobility, or functionality, led to muscle imbalances and tightness in my body, leaving me prone to injury. So, after a binge on athletic training books and audio seminars, I modified my exercise priorities to better help me with my goal of lifelong fitness. Below is a summary of the changes I’ve made to my training. Mobility, Flexibility, & Functional Training…
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Standing at Work
Many people sit at work, sit in the car, then plop down on another seat when they get home. They may even get a meal via a drive-thru, when they can, instead, get out of the car and order inside. This type of lifestyle can adversely affect one’s overall health, not just one’s body composition. A sedentary lifestyle interferes with athletic goals and can have serious consequences on progress by creating a body that is prone to injury. In addition, sitting for long periods isn’t heart healthy. Below is more information on the negative effects of sitting for prolonged periods. Muscle Imbalances The seated position encourages poor posture and can create muscle imbalances, e.g., tightness in…
