LOOK AT THIS PROGRESS! Day 1 (top) vs Day 27 (bottom). I'm still far from contest-ready, but I'm definitely improving.
Here's your daily reminder that practice makes perfect (well, better anyway). -Hannah :)
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When I was in my AP Microeconomics class this morning, we were talking about the basics of economics, and it reminded me of my fitness journey. Mainly that there’s always a tradeoff. There is no such thing as “free.” Something can be “zero price,” as in not worth money, but it can’t be “zero cost.” EVERYTHING has a cost. Often, that cost is just “time”. We have to give up a certain amount of our time in order to get what we want. But I’ve talked so much about setting priorities recently that I’m not going to do it again. Instead, I’m going to talk about a different tradeoff: future investment vs immediate gratification.
I’m not going to pretend that I enjoy working out or eating healthy. Sure, sometimes I find working out fun or I feel like eating clean foods. But honestly, most of the time it sucks. I put myself through it because I’m interested in the long term. By investing my time and energy now, I’m creating a happier, healthier, and probably longer future for myself. I’m willing to give up afternoon TV time for a difficult workout and a delicious pizza for chicken breast and broccoli. But that’s the tradeoff, and to me, it's worth it. You can choose to invest in your future, live entirely in the now, or do something in the middle. That’s up to you, but one thing to remember is that there is ALWAYS a cost. Nothing comes for free, so set your goals and figure out what you’re willing to do in order to get there. Then, you WILL be successful! -Hannah :) Here are my thoughts on the importance of REST DAYS:
I never used to take rest days. I would lift 5 days a week and do cardio on 3. I didn’t take a day off. Now, I lift 5 days a week and do cardio once. But, my workouts are much more intense and quite a bit longer. Now I’m realizing how much I need those rest days. I took my first for this week on Wednesday because I had been exhausted for the entire beginning of the week and I couldn’t keep going without a break. I’m taking my other today because once again, I’m worn out, and even yesterday’s workout could have been a lot better. My point is that sometimes our bodies need a break in which they can recover, so that when we go back, we’re hitting the gym with the intensity that we idealize: hard! 💪🏻 Don't be afraid of resting! Not only will it not be detrimental to your progress, but it also is often necessary to making the most of your workouts. -Hannah :) Hopefully the answer is pretty obvious: no, protein bars are NOT the key to success.
I commonly get asked by my friends about protein bars, and there’s always a big misconception: NO, you do NOT need protein bars. In fact, a lot of them are highly concentrated with calories. HOWEVER, they CAN be nice to have sometimes. For example, since I’m taking a zero hour (extra class before the school day starts) this year in school, I have to go 6-7 hours between meals. That’s REALLY hard for me, especially when I don’t get a lot of food. Sure, gum helps, but I need something with some more calories and substance. It’s convenient for me to bring a bar that I can snack on between classes. That’s what I did this morning, and it REALLY helped. So, no, protein bars are not necessary in any way, but they can be a convenient way to get calories in busy situations. My favorite protein bars for the calories (relatively low) and macros (decent amount of protein; not too many carbs/fat) are by Quest Nutrition. Check them out here! Sorry for the short post, but school started for me this morning and I can alread tell that this year will be BUSYYYY!! -Hannah :) |
AuthorMy name is Hannah Lehrfeld and I am a high school student with a strong passion for fitness. Archives
January 2019
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