Stay Fit

I am currently under construction.

Trying to stay in shape or even just maintaining the same weight is quite a challenge – even more so around Christmas and New Year’s. After the binge that is the holidays we often vow to do better. I’ve read that ‘losing weight’ is the top-ranked New Year’s resolution and ‘working out more’ is the ranked 7^th.

I didn’t actually make a resolution to lose weight. (At least that’s what I am thinking as I ashamedly enjoy a Mint Smoothie while typing this…) However, I did vow to work out more. My plan started when local fitness instructor and massage therapist Rachelle Hill started a facebook live workout prior to Christmas.

I take a Functionally Fit class from Rachelle once a week so know how hard she can work a poor old body.

The free facebook live workouts ended at Christmas so I dug out my old Joyce Vedral workout DVD and Rachelle’s Functionally Fit DVD so I could continue exercising.

Getting up before dawn is not my idea of a good time but it was high time to do something. I put on my favorite ancient oversized Spalding T-shirt and started to sweat – big time. 15 years ago I used to do a Joyce Vedral workout every day and then walk the dog for an hour. I wondered, where did that slim Brenda from yesteryear go? Could I find her again?

Joyce’s workouts involve the use of a mat, bench and barbells or dumbells. Weights are increased with each set. Rachelle works out with one set of weights, a resistance band, and a mat.

I take all this stuff to my once a week Functionally Fit class in my Yoga Fitness Bag. Here at home, I have a little bit of free floor space in the studio and that’s where I do my morning routines.

I’ve been sticking to this morning routine pretty faithfully. This week I had to change things up, temporarily put aside the weights, and do cardio workouts. Too many Arnold Schwarzenegger style shoulder presses had done damage to my left shoulder. I used too much weight at home and then made the same mistake in Rachelle’s class. I ought to know better, pain after exercise really is an indicator of a problem.

Staying functionally fit should be the goal of everyone no matter what your age. Nobody wants to be the gal who can’t get up off the floor when playing with the grandkids. There’s no chance of that happening to me with these routines. I hope that you are getting a bit of exercise in wherever you are. Stay fit!