Exercise, Make It Your OWN!
Monday March 1, 2010
When I think about exercise & all the rules out there, to me, it is all about reading the information, digesting it & then making it my own. It is not that I don't think I can learn from others because you all know I do. I have shared more articles from magazines & more stories from other sites than I care to count! I am not afraid to say I do NOT know it all & I know I can learn from others. That is what this is all about!
The one thing I do feel strongly about though is good form! I have not had a major injury in all the years I have been working out - knock on wood - my head!
I credit that to really paying attention to my form. I am not saying I am perfect because I have given a bit in the last couple reps of a heavy weight set when I wad trying to build BUT nothing crazy & 99.8% of the time, I keep that form good!
So saying all this, you are probably muttering to yourself, get to the point Jody! OK, I will! What I am saying is that even though a picture shows that you should do a move a certain way or maybe a friend shows you something, it does not mean you can't tweak it a bit. I base all my exercises on how it feels to me as I am doing it. I use that mind/muscle link at all times. SO, don't talk to me while I am doing a set! My form is good but I may move my arm or body or leg a bit to make sure I feel that move just the way I want to feel it. Sometimes I do a couple reps one way & then tweak it a bit for another couple reps to see which way feels best.
Same with cardio. I make up my own version of intervals (not HIIT) based on how I am feeling each day & this changes from workout to workout cause I may feel better one day than another. As we all know, ya can't do HIIT every day or you would crash & burn & probably get injured as well. BUT, I have learned to push myself based on how my body feels for that day without actually doing HIIT (which I do as well on a separate day). I call these my Jody interval days because they really push me out of the comfort zone but it is not steady state & it is not HIIT.
So, as you continue on this journey to get fit & healthy, listen to you! Play with the way you do your exercise a bit & see if a little tweak here or there might make it work better for you. For me, this is so AND honestly, I even change it over time as my body adjusts & tells me too. Also, if you use cables, change up those attachments. That is why they are all there.. they do feel different & work you different!
Make it your own & have fun!!!!!
When I think about exercise & all the rules out there, to me, it is all about reading the information, digesting it & then making it my own. It is not that I don't think I can learn from others because you all know I do. I have shared more articles from magazines & more stories from other sites than I care to count! I am not afraid to say I do NOT know it all & I know I can learn from others. That is what this is all about!
The one thing I do feel strongly about though is good form! I have not had a major injury in all the years I have been working out - knock on wood - my head!
I credit that to really paying attention to my form. I am not saying I am perfect because I have given a bit in the last couple reps of a heavy weight set when I wad trying to build BUT nothing crazy & 99.8% of the time, I keep that form good!So saying all this, you are probably muttering to yourself, get to the point Jody! OK, I will! What I am saying is that even though a picture shows that you should do a move a certain way or maybe a friend shows you something, it does not mean you can't tweak it a bit. I base all my exercises on how it feels to me as I am doing it. I use that mind/muscle link at all times. SO, don't talk to me while I am doing a set!
My form is good but I may move my arm or body or leg a bit to make sure I feel that move just the way I want to feel it. Sometimes I do a couple reps one way & then tweak it a bit for another couple reps to see which way feels best.Same with cardio. I make up my own version of intervals (not HIIT) based on how I am feeling each day & this changes from workout to workout cause I may feel better one day than another. As we all know, ya can't do HIIT every day or you would crash & burn & probably get injured as well. BUT, I have learned to push myself based on how my body feels for that day without actually doing HIIT (which I do as well on a separate day). I call these my Jody interval days because they really push me out of the comfort zone but it is not steady state & it is not HIIT.
So, as you continue on this journey to get fit & healthy, listen to you! Play with the way you do your exercise a bit & see if a little tweak here or there might make it work better for you. For me, this is so AND honestly, I even change it over time as my body adjusts & tells me too. Also, if you use cables, change up those attachments. That is why they are all there.. they do feel different & work you different!
Make it your own & have fun!!!!!
Do you "make it your own" when you work out? What things do you do to personalize your workout? Do you trust yourself & your body enough to listen to it? I know this takes time so be patient. As you do it more, you will be able to feel the difference & you will be able to "listen" & respond to what your body is saying to you.
PS: Cammy over at The Tippy Toe Diet talked to a few of us about "our measure of success" HERE. Check it out!
PPS: My jog was spectacular! Beautiful sunrise & snow capped mountains! I have not gone to the bridal shower as I write this so can't tell you about that yet!
PS: Cammy over at The Tippy Toe Diet talked to a few of us about "our measure of success" HERE. Check it out!
PPS: My jog was spectacular! Beautiful sunrise & snow capped mountains! I have not gone to the bridal shower as I write this so can't tell you about that yet!
Posted by truth2beingfit at 3/1/2010 12:01 AM 
Categories: workout, Cardio workout, Tips, Exercise, Weight lifting, Resistance Training
Tags: resistance training fitness Exercise workouts weights weight lifting Tips cardio
Categories: workout, Cardio workout, Tips, Exercise, Weight lifting, Resistance Training
Tags: resistance training fitness Exercise workouts weights weight lifting Tips cardio
This is a great post Jody. I agree with you about learning from each other and also listening to our bodies. This year, my focus on exercise is making sure that I make strength training a priority - I am shooting for 3 times a week. I missed one week so far due to my back injury. I needed to listen to my body and wait until my back was back in balance. Thank you for this post and for all of your support. I appreciate you!
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Kat, you are doing great & yes, we all have to listen to our bod!
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My mantra has always been, "Challenging yet achievable, and always in good form!" In fact there is sign that one views when they enter my studio that says exactly that.
As a point of fact, if one executes perfect form within the scope of their strength exercises, and selects a weight which will allow for clean form, it is all but impossible to become injured in the weight room. In 35 years of regular strength training, I have never suffered an injury in the gym. Good exercise form should be the highest priority of a workout -- cardio included too; lead with the chin, weight on the heels, shoulders directly over the hips. I could go on and on -- or I already just did
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Roy... great stuff, that going on & on!
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Of course over the years of exercise I've developed my own routines. I continually mix it up, and add or delete stuff. I can't say I've never been injured in the gym, but I can say I've recovered from every injury, so far
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Dr. J, too funny!
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You are right Jody!! You have to listen to you and what feels right. We are all different and probably should have different workout routines!
Jen
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I really can feel the difference.. say like a tricep pressdown... I may move my arms just a bit differently & it feels better!
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We all can benefit from trying different things just to see what out bod "likes & dislikes". Although some of the dislikes may be good for us!
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Great reminder, Jody. Form and focus. Sometimes I daydream about what I have to do that day. If I stay focused, I'll get more out of the training.
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Focus is so crucial Gina! Sometimes I do not even hear the music on my iPod!
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i like to take bits and pieces of what i hear and incorporate it into what i already know/do. i find that works best for me, for now.
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There is great info everywhere! Making it your own is the fun part!
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Such good advice, Jody. A lot of time I find it difficult to get into a certain position to do an exercise and wonder if I'm doing it "right". I'm so clumsy and awkward, lol. I try to look at other people so I can see the proper form, but a lot of times I just can't get my body to do what they do.
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Josie, sounds like you have it down! Listen to you!
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Hell yeah I do! I always like to construct my workout to fit my needs and it keeps my muscles in shock
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I get bored really really fast. So I wing it as I go along. Sometimes I just turn on the tunes and do my own cardio thing. And I never know what my next move is gonna be until I do it!
Surprisingly, I've made up some really cook stuff.
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Josie, I have no doubt that you have made up some very great moves with all your imagination!
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I do try and make it my own, and I really agree with you that form is so important. You can avoid injuries and get the results you are looking for!
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Form is so important to keep injury free! YES and the results are much better!
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