Fall is here, my triathlon is in the rear view mirror and it’s time to focus on new health and fitness plans!
If you’re wondering why it has taken me an entire month to move onto new fitness goals, it is because I’ve had a crazy asthma issue since August. I am not sure whether this is a result of Charlotte allergies (which I’ve never had an issue with before) or something in my new office, but it coincidentally started almost immediately after I began my new job. I have asthma associated with a pretty severe cat allergy but it generally doesn’t give me issues otherwise. Anyway, I had a gap in health insurance coverage so didn’t go to the doctor until recently. I took a round of steroids and have a new inhaler and I’m feeling a little better. Back to the workouts for me!
Here are a few things I’ve learned about myself over the past few years with my physical activity:
> I tend to do too much cardio and not enough strength training
> I have a hard time fitting in lengthy workouts after a workday + long commute (sometimes it’s getting dark when I get home)
> I am prone to injury when I overdo it with running
> I love cycling!
> It’s easy for me to lose motivation with a workout plan
I did really well with triathlon training because it forced me to stick with a training plan, and it also included the right mix of cycling, running, swimming and strength training to keep me feeling healthy and strong.
BBG
When I think about what I see for myself next year, I would definitely like to do more triathlons. But in the meantime, I need something to keep me moving and to build endurance and strength.
Which is why I’ve decided to follow the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide for the next 12 weeks. Before I go on, this post is NOT sponsored in any way. I just know several people who have done the program and had a lot of success. And just to be clear, I am following this to do something different and keep my fitness level up, not because I want to lose weight or change my body, I completely HATE the name “Bikini Body”. Just wanted to get that out of the way!
Despite the name, this workout plan is great to me for several reasons:
– Workouts are less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for me right now.
– Workouts rotate between cardio, resistance and strength training. A lot of the strength and resistance exercises are similar to my PT exercises.
– Minimal equipment needed!
– There’s a large group of BBG ladies in Charlotte and I’m hoping to connect with some of them
– Plan is pretty structured < — less thinking for me.
– Kayla Itsines believes in a well-rounded diet that doesn’t promote restriction, and that really resonates with me as a dietitian 
I also like how Kayla emphasizes rest and recovery in her plan. She even incorporates 4 weeks of “pre-training” into the plan for beginnings to help avoid injury. I just think it’s a really well-rounded and smart exercise program and I’m looking forward to trying it out. I will report back with my thoughts!
What are your healthy and fitness goals this fall?
Any fun races/events coming up?
Have you ever tried BBG before? I heard about it when she was in a Yahoo! fitness article.
I’ve heard a lot about BBG from other blogs, and it sounds like a great plan. I, too, struggle to get in a workout after a long day of work, especially if it’s dark out. I know I do better with mornings, but sometimes it’s so hard to sacrifice the sleep to get up and do them!
Hi Lisa! I really wish I could workout in the mornings. I am actually up pretty early and doing something active on the weekends… But I already get up at 5am on the weekdays for work so I don’t think I can get up any earlier :(
That’s really cool that there is a group in Charlotte you can connect with. Motivational and social support is huge!
It is!
I will admit that I myself have considered BBG! But then, I consider a lot of things… and do few of them…
HAHA- story of my life!