How I Exercise

Here it is ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited EXERCISING BLOG!!!

Okay, first things first [DISCLAIMER]: I am NOT a professional, personal trainer, or a physician- these are just things that I do. Consult a physician before starting any exercise program and all that jazz. 

Here's the basics of a work out: warm up, stretch, work out, cool down, and stretch.

It's important to warm up before stretching so that you don't hurt yourself, just like it's important to stretch before working out. 

HERE IS WHAT I DO

I like to do cardio first, then weights of some sort. I usually "run" (jog/walk) a mile and then walk for cardio and then either upper body or lower body. A lot of people do chest day, leg day, arm day, et cetera. I just do upper body and lower body because I'm cool like that. I try to work out all the muscles on the top/bottom each time. Except maybe those ones on the face in this pic:

I have made a weekly schedule for my wedding (pictured below)! I made it intentionally vague so that I don't push myself too hard each day, while still being active. I can be more active some days and less active others, depending on the day. I have also given myself the right to rest days if I REALLY need to (like today as I write this- my calves hurt too much to go run or do lower body day).

I track my work outs on a calendar using star stickers because I am immature. :D It's like getting a gold star back in elementary school. Each star color means something. Looking at the calendar makes me feel great- I keep it by my bed.

You can join a gym (I'm at Planet Fitness), join a class, work out outside, or work out at home. I'm sure that there's more than that. I collected work outs that I can do at home from Seventeen Magazine for years and categorized all of them. I work out either at home, at the gym, or at my apartment's fitness center.

I like to try to track my workouts so that I can see how many calories I burned. I like to use Calorie Count on my iPhone (they also have a website) to track how many calories I consume and burn. At the very least, it keeps me from completely overeating. I just started using Fitocracy to track my workouts in more depth. This app/website is super fun. You level up as you work out and can go on quests. It's nerdy, like me. :3

It can be kind of hard to do certain stretches or lift weights when you're bigger. My stomach can get in the way sometimes, that's for sure. There are plenty of resources online to help you figure out how to work out at any size, as well as personal trainers, coaches, and doctors. I have a tendency to really push myself, both physically, mentally, and emotionally, so I'm hesitant to give advice because it could possibly get you hurt. I come close to hurting myself sometimes, which is why I force myself to take rest days. Exercise is important, but you can't be active if you're injured.

The important part, to me, is to make it fun. If you make it work, you don't want to do it. I have Zumba Fitness Core for the Kinect and dance workout DVDs, as well as take dance classes. I like to run on the treadmill because I enjoy it, some people like to run outside (I don't). I like the weight machines at the gym because I'm too lazy for free weights and I like the gym because that's where I'm most motivated; in my own home, I don't want to do anything. To each their own. 

I hope that helped a little!

<3 - CFC