What are the signs your workout program is working?

Check out the newest article in my blog - Signs your workout program is working! I can always tell based on the third sign!!

Check it out!

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/signs-your-workout-program-is-working/#!74

We know that when we exercise we perform everyday tasks better, our health is improved, and we feel better. So the question is, how do you know if your workout program is working for you? What are the Signs Your Workout Program is Working?

That is actually a funny subject. The Signs Your Workout Program is Working are actually opposite of our intended goals. The signs are soreness, feeling slow or even sluggish, and feeling hungry.  While these signs may seem like negatives, we actually want these signs. These are clear Signs Your Workout Program is Working.

So the key is to embrace programs that are designed to push you just enough to make you sore, sluggish,  sluggish, and hungry. Programs lacking this threesome don’t provide you an incentive to get in top shape. When you push your body above its normal output, even it is it barely there, and you keep it there over time, you will yield improvements.

SORENESS

Soreness is the first Sign Your Workout Program is Working. Soreness is the easiest symptom to understand. Most of us have been sore one time or another. Soreness happens when we do something physically that our bodies are not accustomed to doing. It can happen from doing yard work, to a pickup game of basketball, or spending hours at a theme park walking around. When you push your body beyond what you do in normal day-to-day activity, you can get sore.

SIGNS YOUR WORKOUT PROGRAM IS WORKING

Muscle soreness comes from the breakdown of fast-twitch muscle fibers. Our bodies have both slow-twitch and fast-twitch fibers. Slow-twitch fibers have a low recruitment factor. This means they get fired up during low outputs. Fast-twitch fibers have a high recruitment factor. This meaning it takes something more intense to get them going. An example would be when you pick up your water bottle to take a drink, this requires the use of the slow-twitch fibers. When you jump up out of your chair and run to the front door you involve fast-twitch fibers.

Fast-twitch fibers are repaired more slowly than slow-twitch fibers (i.e you don’t get tired from lifting your bottle of water, but you would get tired if you had to sprint to the door all the time).

Hypertrophy means muscle growth. Muscle growth is part of a well rounded and varied training program. The greatest change in the body involves body fat loss and muscular gains. The quickest way to lose body fat is to gain more muscle. To create hypertrophy, you need to overload your muscle fibers progressively to keep breaking them down. As you become healthier this threshold will change. When you utilize progressive weight or resistance programs, you will get sore. Programs that switch between muscle groups cause muscle confusion and avoid plateaus, so you keep making progress. The most comprehensive and well-designed programs that supply no shortage of muscle confusion and progressions are Beachbody Programs.

SLOW AND SLUGGISH

The second Sign Your Workout Program is Working is when you feel slow and sluggish. This is the hardest condition to conceptualize but the easiest to explain. Remember that hypertrophy means your muscles are growing. When your body is growing it has to adapt to the growth.

Just because a muscle is large does not mean it is strong. It takes training to create those gains in size and in strength. The best gains are realized from a combination of low repetitions, high repetitions, eccentric and isometric movements, as well as agility, cardio and plyometric movements. These all teach the muscles to operate at a higher efficiency.

When you use programs that mix the various exercise types, your muscles are learning and growing, which means you will experience times when you feel slow or sluggish. Typically you will experience slowness and sluggishness most in the first four weeks of the program,  the training phase. If you don’t feel these symptoms during this time, you are not pushing yourself hard enough and need to ramp up your training. This should be the same when you start a new program, or repeat a program. On the other hand, if the feelings of slowness or sluggishness persist beyond four weeks, you may be overdoing it and risk overtraining.  You must work to find a balance.

HUNGRY

Hunger is final Sign that Your Workout is Working. Do you typically feel hungrier when starting a new program? Well, in some cases the reason can be somewhat obvious. If you are trying to lose weight and start a nutrition plan that is portion controlled and contains foods your body isn’t necessarily use to, it takes time to adapt, especially if you leaned toward a lot of high fat and sugary foods. The body will make you feel hungry as you are weaning yourself off these foods because it is craving them. No different than a drug addict wanting more drugs, the body for a time will crave the types of food you used to feed it.

You may also feel hungry even when your body has passed the cravings stage. This happens because the body needs nutrients to properly repair and grow. It is very difficult to provide through normal nutrition everything your body needs when you are under the type of duress a good progressive workout program creates. You can try, but you are not going to be able to feed your body what it needs through food without overeating. With overeating, you wouldn’t be able to put those calories to use, and some may get stored as fat.

The answer to the greater nutritional needs when you are working your body hard is supplements. When your body needs to be fed the appropriate nutrients, supplements should be your best friend. High quality supplements have very few calories and a lot of very well balanced nutrients, plus some supplements have targeted nutrients, which means they’re designed for nutrient efficiency.  The best solution is to utilize a nutrient dense total nutrition shake like Shakeology, and high quality performance nutritionals like the Beachbody Performance Nutrition Line. When you want above average results, you need above average supplements.

My journey to Lasik - struggles before and opinions after surgery

I've worn glasses since grade school, I think some time around 3rd grade. When I turned 15, I got contacts! I love loved them. I tried fun colored ones, I fell in love with sunglasses, and felt great.
At some point in 2012, in my second year of law school, I started to get some weird symptoms. My eyes were extremely dry, and stung pretty bad. Thankfully, my husband had treated me to some fancy new Burberry glasses, so while studying for finals, I wore my glasses. When I tried to wear contacts during winter break, my eyes got SUPER bloodshot and swollen. You only get one set of eyes so I did not mess around. I went to the ophthalmologist right away and got prescription eye drops. After the script, I tried wearing contacts and could only wear them a few days before the symptoms returned. I tried the same pattern multiple times before, pretty soon, I couldn't even wear my contacts for an hour before they would be unbearable.
The ophthalmologist recommended we try hard contacts. I have an aunt that wears those, and while she seems to always puts drops in, she lives a very active life and seems to love them. I had heard that I would not be able to wear them while doing a lot of reading or computer work - pretty much all you do as an attorney, or Beachbody coach!! But I was willing to try them. I spent a year getting fitted for hard contacts and running tests. After finally finding a pair that fit in 2014, I purchased them. I was excited to be able to wear sunglasses again! But then I noticed, hard contacts are NEEDY and FINICKY! I couldn't rub my eyes at all, I couldn't wear them on the motorcycle, if they got too dry they would pop out, if I got ANY water in them they would HURT, I still couldn't wear them to read or do computer work for any length of time, and I was constantly putting artificial tears in.
I tried to wear them for special occasions but I found that I was just uncomfortable and always fussing with them.

I started seeing more and more of my friends RAVING about LASIK. I started some testing and before I knew it, I was in preop getting ready! Here are my thoughts so far:
The procedure was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. All pain was managed through a little ibprofen. The whole appointment, including preop and postop, was less than 2 hours. I needed to keep my eyes closed for 3 hours (without sleeping! That was hard haha). I was pretty uncomfortable for the first 4-5 hours. but by dinner I was eating with the family while sporting some very fancy (NOT!) sunglasses. I have to wear some plastic protectors over my eyes when I sleep so that I don't bump my eyes. I must say, between my mouth guard and these eye protectors, I am a hot mess!
My next day follow up went well. I was very impressed that when I showed some slight inflammation, the doctor added an extra follow up a few days later.
It appears as though I have a condition called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. This seems to pretty common and may get worse after Lasik. Fortunately it seems manageable and temporary. With a small dose of a tetracycline, some Flax seed oil and some preservative free tears, I should be good to go in a few weeks!
As of right now, 5 days postop, I am registering at 20/20. My vision is a little cloudy when they feel dry, but it gets better with the tears. It is also a little "halo"ish at night, but all of these things will get better with time!

I am very excited about my progress and I will continue to eat clean, drink my Shakeology and take all of my medications. I need to make sure I am healthy, inside and out, to make sure I am healthy and able to heal!

Aerobic Exercise Workouts: Top Reasons to Do Them!

Have you seen what cardio can do for your health?? Lower cholesterol, fight off depression, increase stamina... check out my blog for more reasons reasons to do aerobic exercise!

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/aerobic-exercise-workouts-top-reasons-to-do-them/#!74

Regardless of age, weight or athletic ability, Aerobic Exercise Workouts are good for you. Regular aerobic activity can help you live longer and healthier. Need motivation? See how aerobic exercise affects your heart, lungs and blood flow. Then get moving and start reaping the rewards.

HOW DOES YOUR BODY RESPONDS TO AEROBIC EXERCISE WORKOUTS?

During aerobic activity, you repeatedly move large muscle groups in your arms, legs and hips. When you do this you will breathe faster and more deeply. This maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your heart will beat faster, which increases blood flow to your muscles and back to your lungs. Small blood vessels (capillaries) also widen to deliver more oxygen to your muscles and carry away waste products, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid. As this is all happening your body will begin to release endorphins, natural painkillers that promote and increase the sense of well-being. What are you waiting for, it is time to get moving!

AEROBIC EXERCISE WORKOUTS: TOP REASONS TO DO THEM!

Aerobic Exercise Workouts are needed by everybody. It may be a bit more difficult at first, but once you get going your body will adapt and you will get stronger and more fit.

Consider the following to see how Aerobic Exercise Workouts can help you feel better and enjoy life to the fullest.

AEROBIC EXERCISE WORKOUTS CAN HELP YOU:

• Keep excess pounds at bay
• Combined with a healthy nutrition plan, aerobic exercise helps you lose weight and keep it off.
• Increase your stamina
• Boost your mood
• Aerobic exercise may make you tired in the short term, but over the long term, you’ll enjoy increased stamina and reduced fatigue.
• Ward off viral illnesses
• May activate your immune system. This may leave you less susceptible to minor viral illnesses, such as colds and flu.
• Reduces the risk of many conditions, including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke, certain types of cancer, and more.
• Boosts your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good,” cholesterol, and lowers your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad,” cholesterol. This may result in less buildup of plaque in your arteries.
• May help strengthen your heart, keep arteries clear, and control blood sugar. If you have coronary artery disease, aerobic exercise may help you manage your condition.
• It can help ease the gloominess of depression, reduce the tension associated with anxiety, and promote relaxation.
• Helps keep your muscles strong, which can help you maintain mobility as you get older.
• Keeps your mind sharp.
• Increase your longevity

Ready to get more active? How can you not be with all those benefits that Aerobic Exercise Workouts provide?

Start smart with small steps if you’ve been inactive for a long time or if you have a chronic health condition. When you’re ready to begin exercising, start slowly.  Walking in the morning and evening is a good way to begin. After a few weeks you can step it up to brisk walking or jogging. Those types of Aerobic Exercise have their benefits, but you also want to combine Aerobic Exercise Workouts that provide exercises that move you in multiple directions. This allows your heart rate to gradually increase while training your body to move in many directions. It also strengthens tissues around your joints, which gives them more stability.

Beachbody On-Demand offers a varied selection of Aerobic Exercise Workouts. What’s great about Beachbody On-Demand is there are programs for every fitness level and the programs progress properly. Gradual workout progression can keep you motivated, keep you from boredom, and help prevent injury.

So grab all the benefits of Aerobic Exercise Workouts with the best programs on the market through Beachbody On-Demand!

Creating a Plan for Weight Loss Success

I know getting started can be SO HARD!! Check out my blog for SIX suggestions Creating a Plan for Weight Loss Success. Be sure to check it out (Sample menu included!!)

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/creating-a-plan-for-weight-loss-success/#!74

Creating a Plan for Weight Loss Success doesn’t have to be difficult or hard. Even if you choose to implement just one or two suggestions as you get started, and then add more down the road you will be on your way to weight loss success. If you do this you will be Creating a Plan for Weight Loss Success and well on your way to a healthier lifestyle with positive changes.

Here are six suggestions for Creating a Plan for Weight Loss Success.

MAKE A MEAL PLAN, SHOP FOR THE MEAL PLAN, AND PREPARE THE MEAL PLAN

This is very important. This doesn’t mean just make a plan for just the next two or three meals. This means creating a one to two week meal plan that will keep you focused. Whether you plan for one or two weeks depends on how often you want to shop

Yes, planning is necessary! Most people who are lean, healthy, and athletic stick to a meal plan for 90% of their meals. Your meals should be balanced with lean proteins, whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. If you do this consistently the other 10% of the time you can cheat a bit.  You will be able to step off the plan and eat what you want for that day or meal.

SAMPLE MENU FOR ONE DAY:

Breakfast – 2 eggs, ¾ cup cooked steel-cut oatmeal, 1 small apple or a cup of berries.

Snack – Shakeology Total Nutrition Shake

Lunch – 4-6 oz of Grilled chicken or salmon, 1- 2 cups of asparagus with 1 tsp of lemon olive oil

Snack – 1 cup of raw vegetables and 2 tbsps of hummus

Dinner – 4-6 oz grilled steak, chicken or fish, ½ of a sweet potato or ½ cup cooked lentils, 1 cup of your favorite vegetables, and 1 cup of fruit for dessert or a snack later.

If you can keep a schedule similar to this, 90% of the time with the slight variations in your food choices, you will be on the road to success.

If you struggle with portion control and/or developing a meal plan then take a look at the Portion Fix Program from Beachbody. This program gives you an amazing meal plan with color coded containers of different sizes by food group so you always know you are getting the right foods in the right amounts.

SUPPLEMENTING YOUR NUTRITION

Many people think supplementation means simply drinking a protein shake. That is actually farthest from the truth.  You could drink protein shakes until you are blue in the face and it will not benefit your body if you aren’t providing your body with total nutrition and if your body has nutrient deficiencies. Guess what? We all have nutrient deficiencies at times.

The most important factor to keep in mind when choosing a total nutrition shake is that the nutrients are provided by whole natural foods. Many shakes claim this, but it often is not the case. The cleanest and most nutrient dense shake that is highly recommended is Shakeology, with more than 70 healthy ingredients in one glass. Shakeology also helps build and repair muscles, reduces hunger and cravings, helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, supports brain function and improves alert thinking, reduces anxiety, and promotes healthy skin, nails, and hair. The list of benefits goes on and on.

PARTICIPATE IN 25-40 MINUTES OF FUNCTIONAL TRAINING/EXERCISE 5-6 DAYS PER WEEK.

Choose an exercise program that you enjoy. The best part is you can make this happen at home and you do not need any big equipment, so there is no need to take an hour to drive to and from the gym,. Depending on what program you choose, you may only need you body weight, a resistance band or two, or  maybe a few dumbbells. Think about it! Get results with workouts that are only 25-40 minutes a day, you don’t have to drive anywhere, and use little to no equipment. Sounds like a dream come true, but it is actually reality. The best programs that fit into this category are Beachbody Programs. Check out the Challenge Packs that are offered for all fitness levels.

Make sure when you purchase your challenge pack that you enter the Beachbody Challenge, take before and after pictures, measurements, and weigh-ins because you can win daily, monthly, and quarterly CASH Prizes, plus have a chance win $100,000.  Oh, and you get a FREE T-Shirt when you finish the program, and a FREE Coach that can help you obtain your goals.

SMART GOALS!

SMART Goals, are goals with a plan! Most of the time people just pick a goal, and then wonder why they failed.  Reason is…”A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish” – Larry Elder.  

You must sit down and write out a minimum of 3 goals using the SMART method and then make an action plan. SMART stands for S=Specific, M=Measurable, A=Attainable, R=Realistic, T=Time Accountable. If you are starting with a 21 day program or working on a program that you committed to for 90 days or more, you definitely can benefit from specific goals. Write down EXACTLY what you want to accomplish for the outcome goals (i.e. Outcome Goal = Lose 10 Pounds), and exactly what actions you have to take for the process goals (i.e. Process Goal = Exercise daily). To take it one step further you can make it into a contract with yourself as well.  Hang your written goals, process, and time destinations where you can read them every day as a reminder and motivator.

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Winging it or going alone rarely works. Your best chance for success is when you follow a professionally designed, structured and proven workout and nutrition program, whether created by an experienced personal trainer and nutritionist or through a premium at-home program.

Support and accountability are keys to your success, and can come from different sources. Typical support comes from one or more of the following:

• Nutrition buddy
• Workout partner
• Fat loss accountability buddies or group
• Personal Fitness Coach
• Personal Trainer
• Nutritionist

Research has shown that having someone review what you are doing and staying in contact on a daily basis increases your chance of success. Another study found that when people are in an online accountability group or forum they were more likely to reach their goals in a shorter amount of time.  

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

You have what it takes to reach your goals. All of us will have struggles and failures, that’s just part of the journey.  The thing you need to keep in mind is that little setbacks and failures don’t mean you are not going to reach your goal,rather that you simply need to learn from that moment, evaluate what you have learned, and apply it to a new action so you won’t repeat what didn’t work. Exercise, like life, is about learning and growing.

Remember when you create and implement your own plan for Weight Loss Success to challenge yourself, and have fun. The results will come.