Hi all, I'm Caitlin Hudson, a full-time SAHM, nature lover, and health nut! I also have a strong passion for writing, and luckily for me, Sia has been wonderful enough to let me share my writing on her amazing blog. So today, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite healthy ways to help maximize your workouts efficiency! If you have any questions feel free to email me!
Healthy Habits to Make Your Workouts
Count
It happens to me, and it can happen to you. I’m in the middle of a workout,
and suddenly it feels like something just isn’t right. There are a variety of
causes, but a few stand out. I may have gone into the workout without a plan.
Perhaps I’m pushing myself too hard, or I’m not pushing hard enough. Maybe it’s
some other problem with my overall health. My body works best in a workout when
all parts of me are in sync. So it makes sense to be in charge of myself, to
have the most efficient and effective workout possible.
Planning
If I looked at my exercise intentions that never got off the ground, it
almost always came down to a failure to plan. Years ago, when I wanted to take
up running as an adult, I thought I’d just go out and run for a while. Big
mistake. I ran too far and ended up injuring my knee, which left me unable to
workout for some time. When I finally got into gear as far as exercising was
concerned, I had workout plans. Each time, I had a plan to do a certain number
of minutes of each type of exercise. If I was out somewhere and didn’t have
sensible access to an interval timer, I counted my exercises by repetitions. If
you are just getting started on a workout plan,
thisarticle should help you figure out your starting point. Keep in mind
though, everyone’s body reacts differently so you have to do what works best
for you.
Goal-Setting
When I exercise, I always have a basic benchmark, as well as a goal I’d like
to achieve. The basic benchmark gets me out the door when I’m not feeling 100
percent, or when the weather is bad and I don’t want to be outside for too
long. That way, I know I can just do the minimum. I will get a good workout,
not lose out on motivation or momentum, and be able to smash it out the next
day. This is how I stay realistic. If I always feel like I have a big goal that
I may not be able to achieve, I think that some days I might not go out at all,
out of fear of failure.
The goal, then, is to get me to challenge myself. Usually, once I get myself
out the door with the promise that I can stop at the benchmark, I will continue
to the goal. I like to use my
straplessheart rate monitor to track my progress. If I find that the goal has become
super easy to attain pretty much anytime, the old goal becomes the benchmark.
Then, I set a new goal that will keep me sweating and working hard.
Taking Care
It’s not all about workout plans and goals, though. I have to take care of
myself holistically. This comes through diet and rest. I try to eat as
naturally as I can, with whole foods that are full of nutrients. And I never,
ever, skimp on sleep. Adults need eight hours a day. In order for me to stay
active as a busy mom who wants to be in shape, I need my rest. Not just for
beauty, but for my
healthand sanity. The better rested I am, the better I can workout, take care of
my family, and enjoy my life in general.
I love a good workout. It is organized and thorough. When I’m done, I feel
as accomplished as I would be if I had cleaned the whole kitchen, or just made
a fantastic meal. If I take the time to plan my workouts to reasonably
challenge me, and take care of myself otherwise, I get a lot more out of all of
my time.
