Motivation

Sometimes, working out is a huge priority in my life and I will go to great lengths to ensure I get a workout in. ... And sometimes, it is totally the opposite as that.   Sometimes I don't feel like it for one reason or another and I will take any excuse not to work out, even though deep down, I know I *should* go.   These times, I try to remember that there has never ever been a time, where, after I work out, I think, "Man I should not have done that!!!"  Quite the opposite actually.  I always feel amazing after a workout... refreshed, energized, accomplished, healthy, cleansed, less stressed... so many great things!!

Furthermore, whenever I skip a work out, I am never ever glad I didn't go.  I regret it.  All day.  I feel like a bum.  Like a slacker, I have less energy and I crave (and usually eat) crappy food.   So again, I try to remind myself of this any time I am looking for a reason to skip a workout.  And when that doesn't work, I log in to Pintrest and read my Fitness board.   And for your viewing pleasure, I am putting them all here for you.  Enjoy.  :)

My Fav Workout Beats

This topic comes up fairly often on various online social networking venues, so I'm putting my picks here.  :)  This list will continue to grow as I add new/more songs that I find to be helpful when working out, so check back!

I mostly like rock music to help me get amped up while I work out, but techno works well too and I do have a few hip-hop type songs in my workout playlist and a smidgen of rap as well.

My top pics are (in no particular order):

Lose Yourself - Eminem
Devour - Shinedown
Hell Yeah - Rev Theory
The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
I gotta Feeling (that tonight's gonna be a good night) - Cardio Workout Crew (made famous by Black Eyed Peas)
Sex Type Thing - Stone Temple Pilots
New Tattoo - Saving Abel
Supernova - Powerman 5000
When Worlds Collide - Powerman 5000
Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
Breaking The Habit - Linkin Park
Headstrong - Linkin Park
Wait and Bleed - Slipnot

DJ Encore - Album: Intuition
Pretty much this whole album is awesome.  It's techno music with lyrics. (most techno I use to listen to was almost all beats and music with little to no lyrics, this is not like that, the songs have a story to the lyrics and are great)    I stupidly bought each song individually after I previewed them (one at a time) and ended up downloading all of them and paying like $5 more than I would have if I would've just bought the whole album.  But my favorite upbeat songs on it are: 

Open Your Eyes
Show Me
Chemistry
Another Day
You've Got A Way
High On Life
Talk To Me
I See Right Through To You
Stay

The "skinny" on meat and a little bit on organics

Some foods may appear whole but they are not.  Such as non-organic vegetables or meats.  Obviously, they do not list everything that they are treated with (pesticides, preservatives, wax on veggies etc)  And don't be fooled - meat contains pesticides too.  When factory farms raise livestock, the animals are kept in such tight quarters that they are barely able to move.  They literally live in their own excrement because they have no where to go and because of their living conditions, they are prone to insect infestation and disease, so they are treated heavily with pesticides and antibiotics.  (note - 80% of the antibiotics manufactured in the US are used on livestock [not humans!] as routine 'preventative measures'.... 80%!!)  So even though a package of chicken breast may seem like it's just chicken, it's also pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, preservatives and arsenic.  (There is arsenic in chicken feed, which you consume when you eat the chicken)

I once was about to buy some frozen fish and I looked at the ingredients.  At first, the label just read "salmon", but then I noticed that the "label" was a sticker label that was placed over the original... which I could read through.  What was underneath listed several "ingredients" that were completely unrecognizable to me.  A bunch of hard to pronounce chemicals were also included in the frozen fish. And they tried to cover it up.  Literally. 

Additionally, a green pepper or a cucumber may seem like just that, but it's also pesticides, preservatives and wax.   Now, of course conventional lean meats and vegetables are a better choice than a lot of other things you could be eating, don't get me wrong, but I want people to be aware what is in the food that we presume to be safe and healthy.   Go organic whenever possible.

And as for meat, you don't have to become a vegetarian in order to enjoy a meatless meal once or more per week.  Simply cutting down your meat consumption can improve your health, save you some money (the meat in your cart is by far the most expensive part of your trip at the grocery store!) as well as have a positive impact on the environment and reduce animal suffering.

What I like about being fit

There are several reasons that I prefer to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Every so often, one of them will occur to me, so I thought I might put them all in one spot.  Like here.

- I enjoy the fact that I can run up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath.  This is especially enjoyable when said stairs are in public - like at a mall or at my Park & Ride.  It would be embarrassing to have to take the stairs slowly and be left panting upon reaching the top.

- Similarly, I like being able to engage in a game of "chase" with my son, or to race him to the door of somewhere, ride bikes with him and do all the things that his energy beckons.

-  It is also very important for me to be a good example for him.  I want him to learn that physical fitness and eating well are a priority for a strong, healthy body and what better way to do so than walking the walk.  If I were to enjoy television and potato chips all the time, I would imagine that he would learn the same thing and I don't want that for him.

-Disease.  (Or, lack of)  By taking care of my body... by not smoking, by having good cardio vascular health, maintaining a healthy weight, by eating a diet rich in nutritious, clean foods, I am dramatically reducing my risk of heart attack, heart disease, cancer, stroke and many other diseases and doing what I can to ensure that I around for him as long as possible.

- Vanity.  I'll admit it, one reason for my drive to live a healthy lifestyle is my self image.  When I am carrying extra LB's, I am self conscious, I hate how I look in pictures (well, in general but these times I tend to avoid the mirror and really notice my weight in photos) and I never want to be obese, if there's anything I can do to prevent it.  And right now, I can.

My Workout Routine

One thing that helps me get bored of working out, is by CHANGING it up!  Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy running on the treadmill, doing the elliptical etc, but if I did that EVERY time I worked out, it would get old, real quick.  So, this is my typical schedule.  I LOVE FITNESS CLASSES.  :)

Monday - Body Pump (1 hour Strength Class, works 8 major muscle groups) midday/lunch break
Tuesday - Either Turbo Kick (cardio) at 5:45 AM/before work or a 45 minute Spin Class right after work.
Wednesday - Boot Camp (cardio and strength mix, it reminds me of gym class in school and it's something different every day.)   midday/lunch break
Thursday - OFF
Friday - Body Pump Express (45 minute condensed version of traditional Body Pump) midday/lunch break
Saturday - Either Boot Camp or just a cardio/strength mix independently 
Sunday - Either Spin Class or independent cardio (treadmill or elliptical on my own)  while reading a good book or watching a show on the tv screen  ;)

I have myself scheduled to work out 6 days a week, however, there is usually one day a week, that for one reason or another, I am not able to work out.  So, if I am able to workout 6 days a week, then great!  If not, 5 days a week is still really good and I am happy with that.