Fitness: How Do You Feel?

Recently, I was talking to someone about another piece of fitness equipment I was about to acquire, and someone else spoke up and asked, “Don’t you think you look good enough?”

And it took me back. There is a misconception of fitness, what it does, and what it’s for.

At the beginning of my fitness journey, it was about “looking better,” more specifically, losing weight because I was unhealthy and overweight.

The key word is unhealthy.

Getting healthier and dedicating myself to fitness is more than looking good. It’s about living a whole life. It’s about moving, playing, and keeping up with my kid. Being able to carry a heavy object without hurting myself. (Love me some Amazon mail!)

That journey never ends.
Not once you “look good” not once you “get old”. Fitness is a part of life. It’s about performance and being fully functional for as long as possible.

It’s about treating your body correctly.

And you know what? I LOVE IT!

Exercising makes me feel amazing! I love feeling the sweat drip down my back, of totally exhausting my muscles, of the pride and extreme gratitude that I get to move my body the way I do. The feeling of being able to run faster or lift heavier than I was captain of the day and win previously is euphoric. I watched myself grow and learn and was able to teach and watch my son how to keep moving and be healthy.

Fitness is enjoyable! I love being active, even walking down the road with my family after dinner.

But that’s not to say that sometimes I don’t have motivation. Because sometimes I don’t. And that is ok. It is a part of the fitness journey and being healthy. Sometimes, your body does need to rest.

Fitness comes in many forms. So, I haven’t just increased my physical fitness and improved my mental wellness. With work and time, exercising gives you the practice and strength to push through mental barriers, create a healthier relationship with your self-talk, and give you the confidence to take on things you once thought you couldn’t do.

So, to answer the question.

‘Do I think I look good enough,’ – Yes, I think I ‘look’ good enough. But more importantly, I feel good. I feel strong. I feel I have more energy. I think I can move with purpose for extended periods. I feel competent that I can be functional on my own.

Fitness has become my answer to everything. Exercise when –
Feeling down? Get your heart rate up.
Are you feeling anxious? Lift some weights.
Are lab results off? Go for a run. (And stop eating junk.)
Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that, etc.

Things that have helped me to Feel better

Over the years, I have found multiple items I love using daily. It keeps me motivated, is fun to use, and has helped me to move better.

1. The first thing is My Fitbit!

I love recording things and seeing statistics; Fitbit does everything for me. I started with a Fitbit Charge and wore that consistently for about a year and a half. Then the Charge 2 came out, and I needed to have it! I love how you can switch bands. I even bought a fancier-looking band to wear my Fitbit with my wedding dress on the day of my wedding! Wearing my Fitbit during my wedding ceremony was a good move because I now have my heart rate recorded from the moment I said, ‘I Do!’ That is an excellent piece of the day that I wouldn’t have had without the Fitbit.

It also keeps me motivated. I have it set that every 10 minutes to the top of the hour, it will alert me if I haven’t taken at least 250 steps for that hour. Even sitting here writing this blog post, it has told me to get up and move. So I ran in circles in my kitchen until I reached 250 steps.

2. Treadmill

If I am feeling anxious, if I want to sweat, if I want a quick workout or a good warm-up before my workout, I get on my treadmill. It has helped me so much! Even when I am unmotivated (because that does happen), I will at least start walking. Usually, within minutes, I am running and feel much better than when I got on. I will do intervals or steady states depending on my mood. I will incline it high and sprint for a minute, or keep it at an even elevation and zone out listening to my music.

3. Foam Roller

My foam roller is my best friend and worst enemy. Getting my muscles warmed up and massaged before (or after) a workout can feel so good. But when I am sore, it hurts like wild on those tight muscles. Only to loosen the muscles and allow me to move again without feeling stiff. The Foam Roller is an excellent mobility and warm-up tool.

Need an excellent warm-up Routine? Click Here!

4. BSN Protein Powder

When I first started to try to get healthier, one part of my transformation was to eat more and more of the right things. My metabolism wasn’t working correctly. At the time, eating breakfast was difficult because I had a very needy baby, and didn’t have much time for me until his first nap. So, I found this Whey Protein from BSN on Amazon. It had many good reviews, so I bought some and haven’t been without it since. When I get to the kitchen in the morning, I drink a glass of water with one scoop of the BSN Whey Protein (Chocolate Peanut Butter is my favorite!) It fills me up for a couple of hours because it has casein protein in it as well. And it gets my metabolism started for the day. I also take it when I need a quick meal during the day during my workout or if I am extra hungry before bed. It helps me stay on track with my macros.

Try this delicious Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter Pudding Recipe!

5. Dumbbells

Dumbbells can kick your gluteus maximus! They are small, so storing them isn’t difficult, but you can sculpt some large muscles. Dumbbells can grow with you and your progress because you can use them in varying ways. Adding weighted movements to a workout routine not only makes you stronger but burns more calories as well. They can pack a good punch in a little amount of time.

Click here for a full-body strength and cardio workout using Dumbbells!

6. Battle Rope

Sometimes, I get bored and need to mix up some fun. The Battle Rope does just that. I was slamming that rope against the ground, which doesn’t do anything to bring out a childlike spirit. It is also an excellent tool to get your heart rate jacked. I usually use my battle rope in a TABATA-type workout. I go as hard as I can for a few seconds and then take a quick couple-second break before going at it repeatedly. It doesn’t take long to get a good sweat started.

Click HERE for a good Battle Rope Workout.

Fitness Should Be About How You Feel

Fitness is not all about how you look. Forget the mirror. Forget the scale. How do you FEEL? You deserve to feel good all the time. Exercising will get you there and keep you there! Get your fitness on and have some fun!