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My Strongwoman Workout #1

Workout

My Strongwoman Workout #1

My fitness goals are constantly changing.  Not because I’m extremely indecisive but once I achieve a goal or discover a different fitness need I tend to revaluate where I want to be in terms of my training.  This workout reflects my goal of building up my strength.

I love the idea of being strong.  Nothing gives me more of a buzz than being able to deadlift more than my own bodyweight or have the stamina to do 3 rounds of Sled Drags without completely keeling over!

It's good to mix up your workout; adding in different workouts can help boost your fitness and increase motivation! Click To Tweet

Below is a recent Strongwoman workout; I love this and was pleased with how much I pushed myself.  I’ve recently pulled one of my hip flexors so running has been off the cards so doing this workout gave me the post-workout buzz I needed.

workout
Disclaimer
I am not a qualified Personal Trainer or medical professional.
All the views expressed are my own.  I am an experienced runner and train regularly at the Gym.  All my fitness programmes and training have been designed to suit my own fitness capabilities and goals but happy to share if you are looking for inspiration and motivation.
Before embarking on any form of exercise or fitness programme or if you have any medical issues or injuries please ensure you seek professional medical advice.

8 Blogshare Twitter Accounts Infographic

Twitter Blogshare Infographic

8 Blogshare Twitter Accounts Infographic

I am a big fan of the Infographic and a big fan of Twitter!  Ok so I’m relatively new to the world of blogging but like many newbies it’s been a hard slog getting my head around the whole process and attracting readers to my blog.  Don’t get me wrong, I have loved the whole blogging process; it’s exercising my brain and imagination constantly!  I’m always looking at ways to get more readers to discover my humble little blog and Twitter has been one of the ways that I am slowly growing my readership.

There are many Twitter Blogshare Accounts that will share your blog if you follow them and tag them in your posts.  Below are my favourites.  To keep these organised I’ve created a list on Twitter specifically for them so when I post a tweet about a new blog I’ve written I work down the list of Blogshare Twitter accounts.

Twitter Blogshare Infographic

#Blogshare twitter accounts are a great why to grow your audience, share your posts and see what others are posting. Click To Tweet

Are there any Blogshare Twitter Accounts that are great for getting your blog posts out to a wider audience?

 

My Top Ten Gym Bag Essentials

Gym Bag

My Top Ten Gym Bag Essentials

In previous blogs I’ve advocated that it’s all about thinking ahead, being prepared and having a plan when it comes to incorporating training into your lifestyle. Along with always having my workout outfit always sorted the night before I may sure that my Gym bag is packed and has the essentials I need to make the most out of my Gym workout.

Not sure what to take? Have a look at my Top Ten Gym Bag Essentials

 

Water Bottle – Fill up at the gym or at home and leave in the fridge overnight. Plus after a workout you need to re-hydrate.water bottle

Deodorant – Quick squirt before and after. You don’t want to be referred to as the ‘One’ by others in the gym and let’s face it we can all get a bit pongy!

Hairbrush – Keep a spare one in your bag, I use a compact one that you can fold.Hairbrush

Hair ties/ Bobbles – nothing worse than when you forget to bring one? I tend to tie them around the handle of the spare hairbrush that I keep in my Gym Bag.

Make-up/face Wipes – I don’t always have time to shower at the gym and as I live close-by I tend to get back home and shower before going to work or after work! I use wipes for a quick freshen up post workout.  If I’ve dashed straight from work they are essential in taking off my mascara before it has the chance to stream down my face mid-workout!  Not a great look!

Gym Towel – You will need one to wipe down equipment so make sure it’s small, compact and lightweight.

Headphones – I also keep an mp3 player in my bag which I charge weekly and update the play lists (when I remember). But if you don’t have a spare mp3 player/iPod to keep in your gym bag having headphones means you can always plug them into your phone.headphones

Spare Clothes – knickers, socks, maybe a spare t-shirt. I don’t pack much as generally I dash home straight after.  But nothing worse than having a sweaty bum post work-out.  Yuk!

Combination Padlock/Key – Most Gyms will have lockers, I bought an inexpensive lock specifically for the lockers at my local gym so no need to take it out of my gym bag unless I’m actually there working out!

Healthy Post Workout Snack – for a post workout snack make sure its protein rich, healthy but with an element of carbs; you need to re-fuel and repair those muscles. My favourite snacks to pack in my gym bag include protein bars, tubs of mixed nuts and dried fruit, a protein shake or smoothie, humus and carrot sticks, apples and peanut butter.healthy post workout snack

Of course the list could go on, especially if you need to go straight to work after a gym session. I will put that in a separate blog post.

My gym bag essentials help ensure I'm prepared so there's no excuse for not working out! Click To Tweet

So what are your Gym bag essentials? The above are essentials that make my Gym visits a much better experience, what are yours?

My Conditioning Workout #1

Workout

My Conditioning Workout #1

Put together by one of the PT’s at my Gym, this workout is a firm favourite of mine.  I tend to do this Conditioning Session when I need a bit of a jolt fitness-wise as it gets the heart racing and I get a full-body workout during my workout session.

Workout

In terms of weight for the Deadlifts and the DB Shoulder press I tend not to go too heavy; making sure the rep’s are performed slowly and with good technique.  I’d been deadlifting for a while before my PT put this element into this workout for me so anyone following this workout should really only Deadlift if they know what they are doing.

Mix up your workout routine, it will give your fitness a jolt, shock your body and get your heart pumping Click To Tweet

As with any workout, I always make sure that I warm up properly and if am suffering from a particular injury keep away from exercises that could potentially aggravate it.  Dynamic stretches pre-session and Static stretches post-workout.  This session has also introduced me to the concept of Active Rest.

So what is Active Rest?

This is also referred to by some as Active Recovery.  Instead of resting completely, by adding the active rest element I’ve been able to maximise the benefits of this workout.  Basically, once I’ve completed a round of exercises instead of sitting down to recover I’m continuing to exercise but at a lower intensity; I tend to use the closest exercise bike to where I am working out at the Gym.  Whilst on the bike I make sure that I keep my speed between 60-70rpm so I’m keeping my heart rate from dipping and ensure that I have a good drink of what.  Basically this allows my body to recover during the session and I’m making the most out of my workout.  Some also incorporate stretching as part of their Active Rest , again this is maximising the time you have but also you are getting in extra stretches.  If you are not able to jump on an exercise bike then you could try Jumping Jacks, Mountain Climbers, jump on a treadmill or perform burpees.  Just keep moving!  Another way is to take that time to stretch the muscles that you have just exercised.

Feel free to take ideas from this workout, I’m not professionally qualified and this was put together by a PT who understands my abilities and knows my level of fitness.  I’ve shared this really to give other ideas as to what you can incorporate into achieve a full body workout.  The concept of Active Rest is something I recommend anyone having a go at least once, I am a fan of it especially as it keeps me focused on the time between each round of exercises and motivated to move to the next round!

Does any one else incorporate Active Rest in their Workouts?

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