Getting Serious About Weight Training

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pink bag

My weights and resistance bands stayed in my pink gym bag far too much this winter and I paid the price.

My exercise routine is pretty non-existent this winter. Between the bitter cold, high winds, snowstorms, and the rain (lots of frickin’ rain!!), I’ve chosen the comforts of a warm home over working up a winter sweat.

Snowzilla Uncovers My Weakness
During Winter Storm Jonas earlier this month, I discovered something that made me very unhappy. I’ve lost some strength and felt out of breath at times during the many rounds of snow shoveling. I can’t even begin to tell you how sore my legs, back, and arms were…but hey, shoveling more than 3 feet of snow does that to you.

Thankfully, we were smart enough to not wait for all of the snow to hit the ground before we broke out our shovel. Moving 3 feet of snow at one time just wasn’t appealing to either of us. Read More

Exercise Vs. Training – Do Trainers Know The Difference?

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Me in Oct. 2013 when I first started working with a trainer. Unfortunately, 3 trainers later, I still haven't graduated from the machines to free weights. So I'm leaving the trainer behind to build strength.

Me in Oct. 2013 when I started working with a trainer. Unfortunately, 3 trainers later, I still haven’t graduated from the machines to free weights. So I’m leaving the trainer behind to build strength.

I really love working out, but I’m finding it harder to get my groove going for the past several weeks. Oh, sure, I go walking and running. I do love those. And I love my spin classes, but it’s awfully hard biking inside when the sunshine calls to me. As for my muscle workouts…one word sums up how I feel about them:  Blah!

After nearly 2 years, 3 trainers (yes 3 trainers), I’m getting bored frustrated by the routine. It feels like I’m doing the same machines over and over. I love working with free weights. Unfortunately, my trainer seems to prefer the same 5 lbs. dumbbells, and doing 4 sets of 25 reps to tire out my shoulders every other session. Grrrr!!!!! Read More

Wanna Burn Fat? Try ‘Starting Strength: 4-Week Guide’

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I started weight training in Oct. 2013 and absolutely love it. The more muscle I add, the faster I burn fat. Plus the toning and shaping is awesome too!

I started weight training in Oct. 2013 and absolutely love it. The more muscle I add, the faster I burn fat. Plus the toning and shaping is awesome too!

Conventional wisdom favors cardio workouts over strength training to lose fat. But the truth is much more complex. With weight training, you not only drop clothing sizes quicker, but you burn extra calories thanks to an increase in your Basal Metabolic Rate with that added muscle.

If you are thinking of starting weight training, Muscle & Fitness features a 4-week guide by the country’s top strength coach, Mark Rippetoe. Coach Rippetoe’s book, Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, is the bible for coaches and fitness consumers alike.

I love the book, but it’s very detailed and isn’t a quick read. Part of me wishes I had this 4-week guide when I started lifting weights. It’s pretty simple to follow and features videos explaining proper form.

Time For Me To Redefine Fitness & Beauty

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I'm tired of seeing no one who is even remotely built like me on those blasted women's magazine.

I’m tired of seeing no one who is even remotely built like me on those blasted women’s magazine.

As you know, this month I’m working on my belly fat by strengthening my abs via my 30-Day Abs Challenge. A few months ago I noticed I could see some muscle definition around the sides of my belly. That got me really excited and I started wondering what my body will look like once all the weight is off.

Sadly, the only thing I could think of was the covers of all those women’s health magazines. You know, all the “perfectly” tanned and shaped women on the covers with the killer abs, no bat wings under the arms or cellulite on the legs.

Thankfully I didn’t get depressed — I mean, there is no way I’ll look like those freaks of nature on the covers of those magazines. I got angry. Read More

Muscle & Protein: Keys For Healthy Aging

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Want to age gracefully? Time to start lifting weights! Image courtesy of Feelart and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Want to age gracefully? Time to start lifting weights! Image courtesy of Feelart and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Want to be healthy as you age? Build muscle strength and eat more protein. Muscle helps your metabolism, burns fat and improves resiliency to the stressors of aging. As we age, the decline in muscles means we’ll become frail, have a greater chance of falling, hospitalization and some type of assisted living.

We tend to lose muscle as we age. Why? Mostly because we become less active as we get older. But it’s not just exercising we’re lacking as we age. Roughly 41% of women and 35% of men age 50+ eat less protein than the recommended daily allowance (RDA). And keep in mind the RDA is the bare minimum. How can you maintain muscle mass, much less build it if you don’t even eat your daily bare minimum? Read More