Music and Workouts

I’ll admit it.

I’m that person. The girl that’s on the treadmill bobbing along (and occasionally grabbing the rails because my dancing has caused me to stumble). I’m the girl slightly twerking between sets of squats, much to the annoyance of my gym mates. And if my headphones aren’t in the car, screw the gas I wasted driving to the gym….I’m going home.

I’ve done it all. Cheapie corded headphones. Over the ear wireless monstrosities. Bluetooth doo-hickies that fall out of my already odd ears every five seconds. I’ve had the big sleeve phone pockets.  I’ve settled on a pair of Apple Airpods. The lack of cord makes mobility better and I can do things like ask Siri about exercises without grabbing my phone. I keep my phone in my cubby at my gym now because it’s small and the range of the Airpods crosses the whole thing. In combination with my wearable (which will be another post!) I think I’ve finally found what works for me.

What do you guys use when you work out? And what kind of playlists do you have? Respond in the comments and I’ll do a fun follow up post on this!

Fitness Planners

This post is about fitness trackers and planners. The best way to know if what you’re doing is working is to track it. That way you’ll have baselines and know what to tweak when. It’ll make your weight loss journey so much easier. Below are a few I’ve used:

MyFitnessPal:
While this one is electronic (they have a website and mobile platforms), it’s a great tool. It contains lots of nutrition information for most restaurants and food products. If you pay for a premium subscription, you can have it break down you macros, set more specific goals, and more. It’s lacking in one area though: adequate tracking of resistance training. They don’t give enough options for exercises!

Erin Condren Planner:
Available on her website (with a myriad of other planners for every purpose you can think of) it’s a fairly fun way to track your nutrition intake and workouts. Very colorful and goal based. Again, lacking on the strength training side. They start at $30.

TrainRite Planners:
BY FAR my favorite planner. TrainRite give the perfect format for those who want to track not just their nutrition but their cardio and wait for it….strength training as well! They are so affordable, starting at $15, and they have great sales. Plus, they have neat covers that have snarky gym quotes on them!

Etsy:
Just do a search and the results are endless. From printables that you can download and customize to ready-made planners, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs.

 

HAPPY TRACKING!

Allow me to reintro…oh.

This can’t be a reintroduction because there’s never been an INTRODUCTION! The name’s Renee. I live in America’s new unhealthiest state (although we rank the happiest….probably because we are all food high. That and drive thru daiquiri shacks but I digress). And I’m trying to get fit.

It’s ironic. I’ve been an athlete since I was a wee little brown girl. Dance, track, you name it. I was always the girl everyone said was too skinny. Then womanhood and college happened and I suddenly wasn’t so waif-like. I’m overweight by many definitions although I have an athletic body. Think Serena Williams minus a few inches and million of dollars. I’ve done all the fad workouts. But my favorite is weight lifting. Nothing like clinking iron and pushing beyond what you think you can lift.  And right now my work schedule (3 jobs and school) are keeping me from it. So I’m chronicling my journey back on the wagon and hoping you guys join me! Be back soon!