This post is so out of my comfort zone since there is so much about the topic of fitness that I don't know, but trying to live a healthier lifestyle has been a big part of my life recently. I wanted to share my fitness routine/what I have learned through this process.
At the start of quarantine, I along with everyone else searched for things to do at home to keep me busy. My parents started working out together, so I decided to start working out too. At this point, it was just out of pure boredom. I didn't really change how I was eating at first or even really think about the workouts I was doing. It was just an activity. Simple as that.
The truth is, I hadn't had a consistent workout routine since starting college. In high school, I stayed active through sports and working out with my dad's basketball team, but without that set schedule, working out just wasn't a priority in college. My roommate Skyler and I go to the gym together occasionally, but there has never been a routine to it. It was just when we felt like it.
As my workouts in quarantine progressed, I also started changing my diet not to lose weight but rather to just feel better and take care of my body. Another positive aspect of changing my diet has been clearer skin. Toward the end of my senior year of high school, I started getting breakouts on my forehead, and until recently, nothing really cleared it up. My forehead has cleared up a lot and looks so much healthier since I started eating better.
Here is what my meals currently typically look like:
Breakfast: grapes and a protein bar
Lunch: Two fried eggs and strawberries or two slices of wheat toast with peanut butter and strawberries
Dinner: Beef stew (beef, carrots, and potatoes) or grilled chicken with green beans and a baked potato or vegetable soup or even a cheeseburger with lettuce as a bun and fruit as a side
I also try to drink around 96 fl oz of water a day.
To preface, I am not restricting my diet in anyway. If I want Chick-fil-A, I eat it and enjoy it. If I want to go get Cruze Farm ice cream with my roommate Keerthana, I do and enjoy every second. Just on a day to day basis, I am trying to make more mindful choices of what I put in my body. This is NOT to lose weight. I feel like I need to reiterate that.
My workout routine typically looks something like this:
Monday:
walk outside for 30 minutes with my mom
arm workout w/ dumbbells
core work
legs (squats, sumu squats, calf raises, etc)
Tuesday:
walk outside for 30 minutes with my mom
arm workout w/ dumbbells
core work
cardio [jumping jacks, butt kicks, knee to elbow (standing), high knees]
Wednesday:
same as Monday
Thursday:
same as Tuesday
Friday:
same as Monday and Wednesday
Saturday and Sunday:
rest
I usually do 2 sets of 20 each arm and leg exercise, 3 sets of each ab exercise, and 3 sets of 20 each cardio exercise. (3 sets of 30 for calf raises)
You're probably wondering where the "faith" part of this post comes in. Well, God has really used this time of learning about fitness to teach me a lot about thankfulness, self control (a fruit of the Spirit), and how what we take in matters. Not just physically but mentally and spiritually too.
Thankfulness. Every time I exercise, I make sure to pray and thank God for my health and the ability to workout. It changes my perspective to see how blessed I am to be able to exercise. It also shifts my focus to working out for the honor and glory of God not my own personal gain.
Self control. It can be so easy to skip a workout or order a pizza rather than frying an egg and getting fruit out of the fridge. God has taught me how to have self discipline and continue my fitness routine even on the days I really didn't want to. For example, if I have plans with Keerthana, I wake up earlier and workout and then shower and get ready. Even on a busy day, God gives me the motivation and discipline to get my workout in.
What we take in matters. During a workout, I usually listen to a podcast (typically Sadie Robertson Huff or Lauren Daigle). These are two Christian voices who point their listeners to Christ and His truth. As I take care of myself physically, I also feed my soul. This has helped a lot with anxiety surrounding the pandemic. It gives me something much more encouraging and beneficial to listen to than the news telling me how many more cases there are or how different campus will be in the fall.
I am no expert by any means. I just wanted to share where I am at in my fitness/health journey, and I encourage you all to try it too! It has improved my physical as well as mental health and most of all, has brought me closer to God in a way I had never considered before. Also, scroll to see my workout outfit and water bottle brands!
Sports bra: Victoria Secret Sport
Leggings: Lululemon
Shoes (that you cannot see): Nike Roshe
Water Bottle: VMINI 32 oz. I got mine on Amazon, and it is a great alternative to a HydroFlask.
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