Hi everyone!
A new year has arrived and resolutions have been made! I've broken most of mine already but that's okay because it's never too late to get back on track. We are starting a new edition called New Year, New me where we will give you tips on how to get your act together during the month of January. Today's topic is Health and more specifically workout tips, how to not lose focus, and how to stay safe while working out. Most people do not think of working out as a fun and exciting thing to do, but maybe this can help you change your mind.
Focus!
An issue with working out is losing focus. By losing focus I mean not sticking to your workout schedule of the week, or even getting lazy once you are working out.
Trust me, working out can be fun! I know, crazy right? Here are a few tips:
1. Get a fun outfit
This might sound ridiculous, but feeling good in your skin is important. You do not want your self-consciousness to get in your way of your exercise. Getting fun shirts, pants, and shoes can help you boost your confidence! You do not need to spend a crazy amount of cash and can even make some shirts yourself from old t-shirts in the back of your closet. DIY's are always fun and help you not break the bank!
2. Write it down
Write down a schedule and plan what you are going to do: give yourself a workout list of what exercise you are going to do, or what machine you will use, and how many reps or for how long do you plan to do it. The first time you might be a little off and realize you were too harsh or maybe not harsh enough. This allows you to know where you are and what level you are comfortable with. We can't all bench 150 lbs! This can help you meet your goal!
3. Have a playlist
Before you workout, create a playlist on your ipod, Pandora, Spotify etc. . . Put fun, upbeat, and inspiring music. Most importantly, find what works for you. Listening to classical music might help you concentrate more and give you that extra boost, or maybe house music, rock, pop, ballads . . . whatever floats your boat!
Safety
1. Why are you working out?
What i mean by being safe mentally is making sure that you are working out for the right reasons. Loosing a few pounds before a big event is okay but is it really efficient and the right state of mind to have? Working out is not just to lose weight or change this and that part of your body. It is most importantly to live a healthy lifestyle. It should not be done for one month here and one month there. You will be much more efficient by working out all year long instead on in small patches. And remember this : you cannot target one part of your body when trying to loose weight. To get abs, you cannot just work on your core, you also have to work on every other part of your body! So make sure your mind is ready for the exercise too! :)
2. Water, water, WATER!!!
Staying hydrated is very important. When you workout, your body heat goes up and you sweat. Therefore you loose water from your body and recharging your body is absolutely necessary! I would advise to stick to water instead of any vitamin waters or Gatorade. To actually benefit from what Gatorade is suppose to give you, by "recharging" your body or what not, you would need to drink gallons of it! In that case, it loses it's benefits and you might as well drink water.
3. Overworking your muscles
It is possible to overwork your muscles! Sometimes they need a break, and honestly you do too! If you are working out often, try to give yourself two break days in the week. If you feel that you need to be moving, a break can consist of going for a short jog, doing yoga, walking your dog for an hour. But, try to have one day where your body has the time to catch up and rest.
Another way of preventing an injury is to read the instructions when using machines at the gym. Using a machine the wrong way could do more damage than good. Be 100% sure you know how to use it correctly, and if you don't ask somebody who works at the gym. That's what they are here for!
Lastly, if you feel strong pain stop what you are doing and go to a doctor if necessary. When you are stretching and working out, you should feel a little amount of pain: that's how you know your body is working. Too much pain isn't okay though. Be careful determining the good and bad pain.
My Tips and Tricks
1. Change up your routine
2. Check out WeHeartIt (@rockstarlova) and Pinterest (XO Felicie Frenchonistas) for boards or collections of workouts.
3. Find an app you love to give you inspiration and help you stay on track. My favorite one is SWORKIT. You can choose from tons of different workouts, how long they will last, what type of workout you want (core, leg, cardio ...) and they show you how to do each move and count with you so that you don't have to keep track! They even help with yoga and stretching!
4. You don't need a pricey gym membership or to own a fancy machine. Don't forget that you can run up and down stairs or hills, use a real bike, or run outside!
5. Before you start a workout, be sure to have all of your accessories: water bottle, towel, hair elastic, headband, or any other material you need. You don't want to have to stop in the middle of your workout out to go fetch something. Also, a towel can be helpful, especially in a gym, to use it on a machine while you use it so that you don't sweat on the machine, or to use it to wipe your own sweat.
6.Check that your sneakers fit and are properly tied before going on a treadmill or any other electronic machine. Never use an electric machine without sneakers on as it is bad for your feet!
7. Enjoy it!
And that is all for today! Geesh this is long! If you want to keep up with this blog and when we post something new, follow us on instagram @xofrenchonistas
Lots of love and Good luck,
XO Felicie