Staying Fit
Staying Fit means eating right, a workout regiment and staying hydrated. A few weeks ago I participated in a 7-day challenge with a Team Beachbody coach. Since I started working out I have never worked out for 7 days. My workout regimen at best is a minimum of 3 days and maximum 4 days. All of my workouts are at home, which made trying out Beachbody ideal. My initial thoughts were whether I could maintain a schedule of consistency to workout for 7 days.
Eating Right
What does it mean to eat right? In 7 days, I eliminated junk food such no fast food, chips, refined flour products, sugary snacks, sugary beverages, and coffee creamer. I substituted healthier snacks such as natural almonds(100 calorie pack), mixed fresh fruit, LunaBars, whole wheat crackers, Greek yogurt, and cheese.
Meal Prep
The only way for me to maintain my eating habits was to meal prep. When I grocery shopped I mapped out which meals I wanted to have for 7 days. I committed to eating only chicken breast and fish with fresh veggies and brown rice. Also, I packed my lunch each day which helped me to stay on track during the work day. In order to keep the meals tasty, I purchased olive oil and Mrs. Dash to eliminate increasing the sodium content of my food.
What I Learned About Eating Right and Meal Planning
- My grocery bill was a lot higher than usual
- Meals plans found online are extremely time-consuming in terms of shopping for ingredients that are not on your shelf. This adds more time and more costs to grocery shopping.
- I stuck to proteins I like i.e. boneless chicken breast and cod. Adding fibrous vegetables(zucchini and squash) and a whole grain side dish (used brown rice).
- I must have food with flavor, in addition to using olive oil and Mrs. Dash, I realized the food was missing a bit of flavor. Next time, I will definitely add some fresh herbs, garlic, and other flavors to keep the flavorful.
- Fresh fruit is such a good snack and it keeps me full.
- Drinking 64 oz of water each day was not difficult as long as I finished one bottle as soon as I woke up. The remaining bottles consisted of 2 at work and the last bottle during my workout. Water also kept me with a full stomach and not craving sugar.
- Eliminating coffee and substituting with green tea and honey. I am used to drinking 120z of coffee with creamer every morning and I have to say it was not missed.
- The time to plan and prep has to become a weekly ritual.
Workout Regimen
I no longer have a gym membership and as much as I am saving money it is difficult to maintain consistency each week. The 7 day Shaun T Week was a free trial and one of the main reasons I wanted to try it. For 7 days I did a workout that ranged in time from 27 mins to 37 minutes. Each of the workouts was intense with nonstop cardio and the results felt great. In 7 days, my endurance was up and I could feel lost inches around my waist. I will admit carving out time to get the workout in at the end of my workday was a struggle. In addition, to the workout, I was in a group which helped with motivating me each day. For a newbie, each of the workouts had modifications.
What I Learned From a 7 Day Challenge
- Committing to working out for 7 days is tough
- Working out after work is doable, however, waking early is far better. I learned this on day 6, which was the weekend.
- Getting more rest so you have the energy to get the workout in every day
- Motivation from like-minded people helps tremendously
- Accountability is everything
- Participating in fitness challenges breaks my consistency
- The verdict is out on the expense of an online workout
Being Hydrated
During the challenge, my coach suggested 64ounces of water each day. I also read your water consumption should be 1/2 of your body weight in ounces. 64 ounces was in line with my body weight. The easiest way for me to get in 64 ounces each day was to wake and have a bottle. Next, I would finish 2 bottles at work and one remaining when I got home.
Where am I Now?
I am three weeks post Team Beachbody challenge and finding it extremely difficult to get back on board. Two weeks have passed since my last workout. My new summer schedule has me indulging in sweets and I know my trigger is stress. Whenever my schedule deviates I feel overwhelmed and the way to compensate is to eat something I enjoy that is loaded with sugar. I am going to order some resistance bands to switch up my workout regimen again.
My Stay Fit Wish List
- Weekly Trainer
- Chef to provide weekly meals
- Workout partner
- RESULTS!!!!!
If staying fit is a challenge for you, how do you maintain consistency? do you meal prep? do you workout at a gym or at home?
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