Workout Playlist!

Every Monday I try to create a fun workout playlist that gets me motivated to start my workouts for the week! I usually like to mix up the genres, as well as throw in some old music. Remixes are great because they usually have a higher BPM which gets us working harder!

Here's my playlist for this week:

1. A Little Party Never Killed Nobody- Fergie Ft. Q-Tip and Goonrock
2. Bonfire- Knife Party
3. ET Feels Starry Eyed- Kap Slap
4. Spaceman I Used to Know- Kap Slap Bootleg
5. Here's to Never Growing Up- Avril Lavigne
6. Turn it Up- Ciara Ft. User
7. 4 am- Scooter
8. Angel with a Shotgun- The Cab
9. Cruise (Remix)- Florida Georgia Line Ft. Nelly
10. Sexin on the Dancefloor- Cash Cash
11. My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark- Fall Out Boy
12. Louder- DJ Fresh
13. Wings- Little Mix
14. Crank That- Zeds Dead and Omar
15. Cinema (Skrillex Remix)
16. Price Tag (Ft B.O.B)- Jessie J

Summer Goals

"Don't give up what you want most, for what you want right now."

As summer is just beginning, I found it appropriate to stress the importance of goals. The importance of not only short term goals, but perseverance for long term goals. Setting goals is what motivates me to not only continue my workouts, but to push myself to be faster and stronger. As important as getting in shape is, it's important for us to evaluate three things...

1. What exactly is it that we are trying to accomplish? 

2. What diet plan are you going to stick to, and why?

3. What is your workout routine, and why?

I've always found it best to write these things down, that way I am accountable. 

1. For myself specifically, I need to do much more high intensity and interval training this summer. With my marathon training I've gotten so use to tuning out on these 90 minute runs, that my body doesn't even have to work hard anymore to maintain a steady pace. Because of all my running I have strong legs, but want to build up my core as well as my arm strength. 

Panera: Always a healthy choice when eating out :)

2. I've experimented with different diets over the past few years to see the negative and positive affects of them as I find it interesting to see how different my body feels based on what I eat. I recently tried going Vegan for 3 weeks, and would suggest everyone tries it just because it does encourage you to eat out less. A negative I experienced was replacing the protein for carbs, therefore actually having a diet higher in carbohydrates than I am used to. My diet plan for the summer is to really kickstart my metabolism to get my body in the best shape possible, and I plan to do this by having a diet that consists mainly of fruits, vegetables and lean meats. I'll post more updates and recipes as it isn't any specific diet, just one that I believe will be cutting out the things my body doesn't actually need. 

3. And of course, the workout routine. 

I plan to do core/abs work 5 days a week, as that is what I am really focusing on. 

Arm workouts 3 days a week

Long runs only 2 days a week

and high intensity (sprint work) 5 days a week. 

I'll post some of my workouts soon, as it's important to mix things up and not overdo any kind of workout. Write these things down, and commit.

Here are some of my favorite workout tips to follow!

1. New playlists AT LEAST every 2 weeks. There is nothing better than allowing yourself to only listen to your new favorite song while working out. Ultimate motivator.

2. Make sure you are neither hungry nor full when you get to the gym, there's nothing like feeling sick your whole workout.

3. STRETCH, unless you'd rather not walk tomorrow.

4. Sweat is your new best friend. 

5. Have 2 or 3 ultimate pump up songs that you save for the time in your workout that you are most tired.

6. Challenge yourself. Pick one thing to "be better at" than your last workout. 

7. Stay motivated. Nothing worth having comes easy...remember that. No pain, no gain :)

First Post!!

You know, it's actually kinda funny. I was all excited about starting a blog, I create my profile, get this thing all set up, and now that it's time to actually begin writing, I don't even know where to start.... sound familiar??

Why is it that we get so jazzed up and excited about starting things, but once we are actually there...we don't always follow through? 

Ever bought a new workout DVD only to leave it still in the package? 

Ever bought a gym membership, used it twice and just haven't gotten around to going back?

Ever googled some new healthy diet with great sounding recipes only to decide ordering that pizza is much easier? And I mean it just tastes so good. 

I don't think lazy is the right word, I think we don't commit to these things because we are scared. Scared of failure. Scared it won't matter. Scared to try something new. I recently heard the quote, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?" A hell of a lot...that's for sure.

Well this blog is here to help you with that, it's here to help you realize that you WILL NOT fail, and that not only is a healthier you going to come, but a BANGING  body to go with it. 

3 years ago I started creating my own healthy diet as well as an exercise routine, and although there have been struggles along the way, my life has transformed for the better in so many ways. I crave healthy foods, I exercise to reduce my stress, and most importantly, I believe in myself. 

As a senior in high school I couldn't even run a mile without feeling like I was GOING to DIE. And today I have now completed two half marathons as well as a full marathon, which was 26.2 miles of learning "impossible is nothing". 

Most recent half marathon I ran in under 2 hours

So join me on this ride, try some of my recipes, put yourself through a few of my workouts, and if anything, print out one of these quotes and realize whether you think you can or can't, you're right. So might as well realize you sure as hell can do anything you set your mind to. All I'm asking, is you don't quit. Don't let this blog be yet another thing you quit on because you were scared. 

Nothing worth having comes easy, but lucky for us fitness junkies (which will soon be you too) we can have fun while we do it.

Welp, this seems like a good way to finish a first post. Stay tuned for recipes, workouts and how you too can live; The Fit Life.