Update: Fitness Goals 2017 | Personal Story

It’s been a year already? WHAAAAAATTTT!!!!

Yes, I know. Very typical of me to react this way. But seriously, where did the time go?

Last year, I thought of  three fitness goals that I felt the need to share with the Internet to make me accountable, and to “send it out to the Universe” as they say. I’m happy to say, in terms of physical fitness, I made quite a progress this year.

1.) Running Consistently

I consider myself a runner again! I’ve been good at running at least three times a week for the last year and I’m so glad I have rekindled my love for it. I just put on a playlist of Lady Gaga songs and I’d feel invincible hitting the pavement regardless of how cold or hot the weather that day would be. Or, what I’d been doing more recently, is listening to audio books through Audible. I learn new things while working out. That’s a win for me!

An app I use to motivate me running is Runtastic. I like that it tells you your for pace each km you run, and it records your runs so you can keep track on how you’re doing. Also, if you purchase a one year subscription from them, you get access to a number of training programs depending on your goal. And, with the Runtastic subscription, you also get access to Runtastic Results, which is a nice segue to the next goal.

2.) Strength Training 

I’m gonna admit, I didn’t really commit to this until halfway through 2017. Until I got Runtastic Result app. You get to decide how many times you would like to workout per week. And every week, the app develops a workout program for you.  After doing each workout, the app will ask you to review how you did. Was is too easy? Just right? Too hard? The app will then use that information to build another set of workouts for next week.

What I love about Runtastic Results is that I get a variety of bodyweight exercises. I won’t get bored! It’s like having a virtual personal trainer in your pocket. Of course, having a real breathing trainer is better, but if you’re on a budget, or would rather workout at home, give this app a chance.

I exercised using the Runtastic Results app for 13 weeks before moving on to weight lifting at the gym. I just wanted to do something different, change up my routine a bit. The book I found really useful was Brett Contreras and Kellie Davis’s book Strong Curves: A Woman’s Guide To Building A Better Butt and Body. Anything you need to know about shaping your body is outlined here. I notice improvement on my physique doing bodyweight exercises, but when I started lifting, that’s when I really saw the difference.

Unfortunately, I had a health mishap late this year that wasn’t conducive to me lifting. So I switched back to bodyweight exercises through Runtastic Results, at least until I get my strength back.

3.) Abs for days.

I still don’t have a 6-pack. But I do have is the most defined abdomen I’ve ever had. I discovered while trying to reach this goal was that abs are made in the kitchen. Nutrition is the key.

The first person that made me understand this well is food scientist Christe Hronec of YouTube’s Gauge Girl Training. She has tons of videos that explain everything you need to learn about macros, and eating healthy. She really helped me figure out how much food I should be eating, and what my macro percentages should look like. Once I got that down, I was set. I just load my macro numbers to MyNetDiary and record each item I eat, making sure I’m still within those values for the day. This is called Flexible Dieting.

Also, the best cookbook I found to help me develop this lifestyle is Kendall Lou Schmidtt’s  The Ultimate Bodybuilding Cookbook: High-Impact Recipes to Make You Stronger Than Ever. The recipes are easy to follow, the ingredients are accessible, and the nutritional information for each dish are laid out for you, so you can conveniently count your macros. And  I’m telling you, the recipes here are DELICIOUS!!! I own a lot of cookbooks, and this one is my favourite by far.

I started making this goals with the whole intention of getting my ideal type of body. But after all the changes I’ve made, I don’t care about how I look anymore. The most important thing I learned in 2017 is that I am strong. I would rather be strong than just look good. Exercising for me now is proving to myself  what I can do. Eating healthy now to me is not for losing weight. It is for nurturing myself because my body deserves it. I deserve it.

Happy 2018 everyone!