Write It Down

I never realized how important writing my goals down was. 

A great motivator for me has been Chalene Johnson (TurboFire, ChaLEAN Extreme). 

Something she talks about is writing down goals & also making sure to write down your progress as well.  I have a calendar book that I keep by my workout DVD's & equipment & I log every workout & what weight I use.  What color band I use.  All of it.  How many miles I may have run, etc. 

I write down if something hurt or if I wasn't feeling right about something.  If I did reps too fast, if the weight wasn't enough or was too much.  I also put if I do pushups on my knees or toes and how many that way.  This really helps me see my progress.  I even have my own little shorthand system now.

I have also started putting my weight & measurements before I start a new program.  As you learn about me if you are new to my blog, I don't like the numbers but I do try to have them keep me on target with my goals.

I also PLAN MY WORKOUTS.  I usually do a week ahead of time but I am also usually working through a program so honestly it's already planned out for me unless I'm hybridding (is that a word?) it.  The only day I usually have a rest is Sunday.  I am gone all morning with my family at church & try to keep my focus on them during the day. 

I am a cardio JUNKIE.  I love weight work for sure but my heart soars when I'm jumping, kicking, running.  When I am doing a workout with lots of weight work I usually add in my favorite Turbofire workouts to balance my days with cardio & weight work.  Ah, just thinking about it makes me look forward to tomorrow morning :)

I hope I have helped you think about writing down your goals & workouts.  Keeping track is really important.  In the beginning it might be hard to do but once you get used to it you won't know how you went without writing things down.

How do you keep yourself accountable with your workouts?  Do you prefer weight work or cardio?  How do you keep that balance?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!

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Logging Your Workouts & Calories

I have mentioned this before. 

Every workout -  you should write down.  Every bite you take - you should write down. 

Something as simple as a notebook where you keep your workout equipment & another in the kitchen.  I use MyFitnessPal online.  I really like the site.  I have used a couple others & this one is my favorite.  The workout & food database is really extensive.  The only thing I don't like some times is that the workouts & calorie intake just doesn't seem to match up for me.  Um, that isn't the site's problem though (haha). 

I think a lot of frustrations for people that would like to lose a few pounds or just stay on target with what they have already lost is the fact we aren't thinking about all the calories we are taking in.  I already know my problem area of the day.  I see it in black & white every day I post in my food diary on MFP.  Now I know what I have to do. 

I like logging my workouts in most of all.  I am able to look back & see what I did the week before.  When I'm working on a specific program I log in the weights & use & the reps I do.  SO important.  That way I can make notes if I need to change the next time around.  I just can't remember those things.  Life really gets in the way.  It's great to see the changes.  When I started working out years ago 5lbs was enough for bicep curls.  Now I'm doing much more & looking for heavier weights to add to my collection!! 

Check out MyFitnessPal.  They have an app too you can use so it is so much easier to use.  If you join, look for me at Imperfectly Pamela. 

Have you ever kept track of your calorie intake and/or workouts?  What were the pros & cons for you?

Be Blessed & Healthy!!!