Fitness Friday Weekly Round-Up

I have yet to write a blog post that is all about me and my fitness journey. I have been trying to stay away from getting personal and just be informative....BUT I had such a great week that I wanted to share.

Why did I have a great week?

Well, this week I started a program called Charlie Mike on bodybuilding.com by Ashley Horner. I wasn't sure what to expect with this workout but I really needed something that would push me and give me motivation. I found it. This program is broken down into weeks. Each week is different and each day is a different focus area. The first week for me was so fun! I did things I had never done before.

What's the program like?

It is a 6 week program that each week you will be adding weight and working on endurance. The first week you want to see where you are at with max weight of the basics. Squat, deadlift, push-press and bench press. There is also a day to find your fastest mile time. There is also rowing, which is nice because I just got a rowing machine so now I have a reason to use it and not let it collect dust. You need to be keeping track of your numbers so you can see where you are making improvements and what needs work.

Why do I like this program?

I am the type of person that needs change, I know that you shouldn't be changing your workouts often but I can't help it, 2 weeks and I'm bored. Hoping that since it is a 6 week program it will help me stay focused on one thing. I have been adding my weight routine after because this week was just to find max weight of things and it didn't give me enough of a workout, but I'm sure that will change. This program has many things that I needed to work on also. 

What do I hope to accomplish?

My goals for this program is to drop a little bit of weight and add some muscle tone. Mostly I want to be able to do a pull-up and handstand. I want my bench press number to go up and my squats to be easier. That's not to much to ask I think! I haven't been able to do it on my own so I hope that sticking with this program I will see an improvement.

Is it something you can do?

I think that if you are already on the fitness journey and have some weight workouts under your belt then you should be able to do this workout. Just don't try to over do it. Start at a level that is comfortable for you and work up. If you start off to heavy than you could injure yourself. Of course you should push it just a little or you won't be doing any good. I haven't done some of the workouts on here but that is just part of the fun in working out, pushing your limits and learning what your made of.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, Yes I would. I think that for a free program that you can install an app for easy access it is a great choice to get you motivated. If you are like me and like to have someone to push you than Ashley would be the one. 


*what workouts did you enjoy this week? 

5 things to help your morning

I am a morning person!! Some people are not but they have busy lives that require them to get a lot done before some people are out of bed.

Are you one of those people that would rather hit the snooze as long as possible than get up before the sun and enjoy some alone time?

I have 5 things that I do to help make my morning go smoother and maybe one of them would help you too.

1. If you get your workouts in before the gym gets crowded and you have a gym bag full of stuff you have to take with you, then why not sleep in your workout clothes? I don't have to rush off to a gym because mine is in my basement but I know that the longer I can take to get the coffee going the better, so this really helps me. (I was told by my Dr. that since I have cysts in my breasts, sleeping in a sports bra actually helps with the pain...it does)


2. I know you have heard the whole "make your lunches the night before" but it really is a time saver, heck why stop there, you should prep your whole week on a Sunday and that takes away a lot of the stress from your week. You have better things to do than slave over the stove first thing in the morning, if you prep you'll have breakfasts too. I would go nuts without my prep day!


3. Make a to-do list. I like to do mine on a Sunday also but re-check it every night before bed so in case I need to add or subtract anything. I am a list person!! I make a list for EVERYTHING. It helps me feel calm when life gets out of control. It also gives you an idea of how busy your morning may end up being.


4. DELEGATE, you are just one person and you can not be expected to do everything. Unless you are a control freak like me, then make lists for other people and don't get to crazed if they don't handle it like you would just take a breath and let it go.


5. Now if you wanna feel like your getting one over by hitting that snooze button, then set the alarm a few minutes early but not a lot because you have a wonderful day ahead of you that you can get a lot done before your house is awake and ready for their day.



Well I hope that one of these ideas sounds like something that would help you. I use to not be a morning person but once I started working out and got that endorphin rush in it helped the rest of my day go so much better.


*What do you do to help your morning go smoother?