Swim Suit season is creeping up!

 

1rst cardio work out

 

We are weeks away from swim suit season…are you ready? I know I am not quiet there yet, or at least not in my mind therefore I have switched up my cardio to give me an extra fat burning boost! My husband suggested we start doing treadmill cardio Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, allowing weight training for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Last week was our first week to begin our new routine. I was completely shocked at how hard it was to walk on the treadmill with the incline at 15 degrees, so since I was just starting out, I took it down to 10 degrees. I hope to challenge myself more each week. I will be sure to post each work out I create in my head as I go with you all who are following along.

I can say that at the end of last week I did lose 2 lbs. I however was keeping an eye on my clean diet and drinking lots of water.

This cardio session is intense, you will sweat a lot! Make sure you are hydrating through out the day, and you might want to bring a change of dry clothes to change into afterwards! 😉

I don’t sweat I sparkle!!

photo (24)

What’s your favorite way to get your sweat on?

Disclaimer: I am not a personal trainer. My blog is a documentation of my life and the views I share are mine alone, based on my experiences, and should not be taken as medical advise EVER. Work outs I post may not be right for you so please seek medical professional help before making any changes to your current routine.

Get Your Sweat On!

Leigh Leigh

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Flex it Friday- before pics-new goal

 

 

progress

 

So I decided to take some “Flexing Selfies” so my readers would know that I do actually go to the Gym 4-5 times a week and lift weights with my oh so attractive Husband! :0)~

I have to admit…flexing selfies…make you feel funny when you share with the world!…..No? Not you?…okay just ME then!

I have no clue what is going on with the flash and my hand up there by the way!

I took this photo about 2 weeks ago. I remember because my kids saw me trying to get it to fit on to my instagram and made fun of me! Apparently to teenagers, I am lame! Ha They never made it to instagram though, for the record! ( I am pretty sure it was because they laughed out loud at me.. oh my …and I am actually going to post them here instead!!…gulp!)

These past two months I sort of ran into a little funk and stopped my cardio! GASP! I even got lazy and stopped paying close attention to the foods I was eating. I know, this is BAD, and I do not encourage it at all! But the truth is, I am a Mom, I have 4 children, and I work, even if it is only part time! AND ITS COLD OUTSIDE!!!!!! AND I LOVE Chocolate, PIZZA, and COOKIES!!

But it’s time to get off the Excuses train and back onto Self Control Express!

I took this picture because it is going to be considered my “before” picture. Even though I could care less about the scale..I am currently weighing in at 137lbs, I am 5 foot 6inches.

I have 14 weeks until my big 3 0 Birthday gets here! My goal is to turn 30 looking and feeling better then I did in my 20s.

I have created a little 14 weeks accountability chart to fill out at home. It is nothing fancy. I made it on a word processor on my notebook. I am logging my meals, my works outs, and my cardio. I am trying to stick to clean eating with the exception of a cheat not clean meal once a week, if I desire. I am looking to get a minimum of 5 (FAST) miles of running in each week, as well as hitting the weights 4-5 nights a week. My prayer is that I have enough strength to not give up, but give it my all for these 14 weeks! I think by making this an official blog post it gives me some accountability! We all need a little accountability in our lives!

I would like to finish this feeling healthier, stronger, faster (improve my mile time in the cardio department), and appear to look leaner-dropping body fat.

If you would like to journey along side of me, follow Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook. Click HERE! We can encourage each other!

xoxo

Leigh Leigh

 

Fasted Cardio Does Work

image found on werefit.com
*image found on werefit.com

Some how I stumbled across fasted cardio in August.

With the exception of an illness that took me down and out an entire week I have been faithful on fasted cardio 4-5 days a week since then!

It’s super simple but takes serious commitment and will power!

Fasted cardio is described as doing cardio before breakfast or 4 hours after a meal. When you do preform cardio on a fasted stomach you are burning your stored fat versus burning the fat you just ate after a meal.

I am no expert on nutrition so google “fasted cardio” to educate yourself on all the specifics and make sure you speak to your doctor before you start.

I can only speak for the results I have seen for myself! I choose to run as soon as my alarm clock goes off on an empty stomach. I change my runs up daily. Some morning I just run as hard as I can for a mile and call it quits. Some mornings I run hard for 1.5-2miles. Then there are morning when I will keep a good pace and just run for 20-30 minuets.

photo 1 (33)

I’m a busy Mom of 5 so unfortunately I have to be realistic with my cardio time I cut out for myself in the morning as I do weight train in the afternoons as well.

It does take time and consistency. I didn’t see weight fall off immediately. In fact, I am just now starting to see my legs look more toned and defined and my abs are actually coming through on my stomach! :0) On that note I would just not even get on a scale for a while because from what I have read some people actually weigh more after they start running. Remember muscle weighs more then fat, so if you are really curious get the tap measure out!!

Beside the changes my body is making I can say I absolutely love fasted cardio because I love how I feel after a 5am sweat! I feel more energized and alert during the day.

5amsweat

Of course I have to be honest it took me about 3 weeks until I started feeling this good. You will be extremely tired and worn out and maybe even a little cranky at first. You will also have to be committed to being in bed at a reasonable hour as well!

After my cardio session I crab a peanut butter crunch Cliff Bar and intake lots of water. Some morning I will treat myself to an egg mcmuffin or protein pancakes, but I am a creature of habit so I tend to find what is easy and convenient for my mourning routine and stick with it.

When you start running you will find yourself a lot hungrier during the day so make sure you are making healthy protein packed snack choices.

I’m seriously considering picking up some 5k work outs via Pinterest and possibly making it a goal to actually time myself and compete in the spring at a local 5k event.

Remember who cares if you are not the fastest runner, you are still lapping everyone sitting on the couch or catching extra Zzzzzzs in the morning!

Check out my SECRET FORMULA to a HEALTHIER you…here!!

dontgiveup

Check out my Work Out Transformation HERE!

What is your favorite Cardio work out? Comment bellow!

x0x0x0

LEIGH LEIGH

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