Can Fitting in Fitness be Fun?

When people say "I'm really busy", I struggle with finding too much sympathy for the other person. I currently work five part-time jobs while commuting over an hour away for graduate school classes and still fit in time to work out and be a fitness coach. Is it time-consuming? Absolutely. Does it make me insanely busy and obsessive about keeping my day planner next to me at all times? Why yes, it does.

Is it fun?

yes!

I have found that when I make my health a priority, a lot of other things fall into line. For example, I worked out with my sister last Saturday morning. We wanted to do Focus T25 together. We figured out that, instead of killing 30 minutes watching television on a Saturday morning, we worked really hard and had an incredible amount of energy for our day! I showered and immediately went straight to work. Was I busy on Saturday? Yes. Did I work out? Yes. Did it make me feel better? Yes!!


How could fitting in fitness be fun, you ask?
1. Find your fitness soulmate. If you don't like running, don't run! If you don't like to lift weights so much, then don't lift weights. If you like to feel like you're dancing the whole time, then dance the weight off! Do whatever you will want to do almost every single day, and don't settle for anything less.

2. Find a way to commit. Do you like to work out with another person? Then make sure you have that person know your goals for accountability and support. Do you like to jump around in your living room alone? Then make sure you set a calendar alert on your cell phone and stick to it. Does your fitness program come with a schedule for a variety of workouts? Stick to that calendar 100%.

3. Don't quit on yourself. Just because you're out of shape doesn't mean it will always be this difficult. The hardest thing to do is to establish new habits that counteract habits you have subconsciously maintained for years. You must push play on that DVD player every single day and do not quit on the process!

4. Celebrate the victory! REAL healthy habits equal REAL RESULTS! This isn't rocket science! I'm not trying to sell you some get-skinny-quick program. This is a lifestyle change that will continue to reward you! Imagine not being concerned about how you will fit into your winter clothes. Imagine knowing already that your bathing suit will fit just as it did last year. Could you put a price tag on that feeling? Investing in a fitness program that works for 100% of you is like investing in your future. It really is. You are investing in your health, which will mean a healthier, happier, longer life with the people you love. Can you put a price tag on that?

5. Do it today. You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Just go run around the block. Buy that fitness program that you saw on a Sunday morning infomercial. Just start for yourself.


And on that note, I must go press play and jump around in my living room. :) Go out there and make this fun!

Day 28 of P90X: Recovering From Injury

Last week I somehow pulled my shoulder while doing P90X's "Chest and Back" routine. My shoulder was extremely sensitive and I was very concerned about hurting it more, so I took a few days off of working out. It was actually really difficult not to work out because I've grown to appreciate the time spent on myself daily as well as the endorphins that keep me smiling through all of the stresses of work!


The one thing I had to force myself to learn throughout this weekend of healing is to respect my pain and respect my injury, despite the fact that I wanted to continue to work out and ignore the pain. Halting my progress in my workouts was just as hard as halting my workouts when I become sick. But I had to remind myself that if I were to work out, I risk hurting my shoulder even more!


Here is the video I made from the weekend about this exact topic:

YouTube: Amanda Plazek's Channel


Have a great post-Memorial Day week, everyone!

Growth and Progress: May 10, Day 10

I am 10 days into my 90-day challenge of P90X! It makes me so proud to say that....

Today I pushed myself through arms and shoulder/back exercises as well as Ab Ripper X, that lovely 16-minute workout that I struggle with most. I like working on my arms the most because I see results- my puny little arms are no more! They reflect the strength I am developing and show the world my efforts. (Or at least I think they do.)

I will admit to you, I was frustrated at myself that I didn't finish Ab Ripper X. Yes, I'm confessing to it! I was spent. But I did succeed at finishing a leg-raise exercise in Ab Ripper X for all 25 reps, which I haven't been able to do before! So, do I consider the exercise a success because of my new accomplishment, or do I consider it a failure because I couldn't finish the remainder of the workout?

It was then that I realized how much progress I have been making. I think people get frustrated at not getting exponential results immediately that they give up entirely. Yes, I gave up on Ab Ripper X today. But I am doing P90X!!! One year ago I couldn't even fathom trying P90X, and here I am, giving up 7 minutes before Ab Ripper X was finished. I was spent after pushing myself, so I stopped. SO WHAT? I was spent after pushing myself. I stopped because I had pushed myself to my limit.

It was a new limit for me. I couldn't even have finished my arms and shoulder exercises six months ago. I almost threw away the gift of progress today until I became my own cheering section. I needed it to realize my growth. Everyone needs to pat themselves on the back along the way of their fitness journey.

You can watch my initial reactions on my YouTube channel video for the day:

My YouTube Channel: May 10, Day 10


Have a wonderful weekend! Kick it into high gear! :)

May 8, Day 8: Week 2 Begins!

Today was the beginning of week 2 already! I am encouraged by the fact that I already finished one week of P90X! I feel so much momentum from the fact alone that I am on week 2, despite the fact that today was quite challenging. But, then again, shouldn't it be? It is P90X, after all.

Today's workouts were the Chest and Back as well as the Ab Ripper X. I am proud of myself for using my newly-purchased pushup handlebars, thus minimizing stress on my wrists! Ab Ripper X was still difficult and I needed to take breaks, but I pushed through even when I didn't want to.

You can also check out my daily video blog here: Amanda Plazek's YouTube Channel

(From Yesterday) Day 5: This One's For My Team!

Yesterday I had a busy day at work but wanted to keep it up for my challenge group team, a group of people who all have similar goals in health and fitness. Do you have an accountability partner? Your odds at pushing through and succeeding are much higher if you do!

You can check my video out on my YouTube channel here: May 5, Day 5: Legs and Back and Ab Ripper X

Day 3: Shoulders, Arms and Lean Protein

Today is day three of my P90X challenge! I did the arms and shoulders routine as well as ab ripper X. Again, I am surprised at how well I do some of the routines...I was expecting to struggle more than I  am. So I am heading to the store tonight to buy 10-lb hand weights (an upgrade from the 8 lbs that I currently use)!

Ab ripper X is still a definite struggle. Why wouldn't it be? I am only on day 3...but I did more than I could on day one, and with that I am pleased.


I am trying very hard to adhere to very clean habits of eating, which is hard on days like yesterday when I had work until 9pm last night and was starving when I was done... But I am doing the best that I can and reducing my late-night snacking (which is definitely my weakness).

Today I am out in the city, in between events, and need to eat out. I am trying to eat an increased a amount of protein (which is recommended in the P90X nutrition guide) and so I am getting a steak salad with romaine lettuce. No French fries for this Pittsburgh Steak Salad! I could just get an order of spinach and artichoke dip but alas, I am going for protein+vegetables. :)

Tonight is grilled chicken for dinner- more healthy protein for me!
How are you starting this weekend off healthy?
Have a great Friday!