Sunday, July 25, 2010

Goals

What is your goal?

Is it to start or maintain a workout/nutrition regimen?
Is it to increase endurance to participate in your first race?
Is it to lose weight?

Whatever it is, goal setting is paramount to beginning and achieving your personal goal. Writing down exactly what you want to achieve and how you will achieve will put you in a much better position to produce the results you are looking for. Goal setting involves setting specific, measurable and realistic objectives. It is also important to consistently check your progress by setting smaller measurable goals that you can check along the way.

Having someone to support you towards your goal is key. It keeps you accountable, provides motivation and will help you through days when you may be feeling your goal is unobtainable.

I have set numerous goals in my life, and only achieved them through the support of friends, family and (when the goal is athletics) my trainers and coaches. Specifically, throughout my high school basketball career I had set the goal that I wanted to play Basketball for a Canadian University. Things didn't workout in my favour in my first year and I was not a member of the team. I was unhappy and always thinking about how "things would be different" if only I could play. At the end of my second year of University I decided that I wanted it so badly I would tryout again in the upcoming September. I knew this would involve intense basketball-specific training as well as endurance and strength training. For the first few months I kept this goal to myself. If I didn't make it, at least no one would know I failed right? Wrong.

As people began to notice my increasing trips to the basketball court and the gym, I began to casually mention my goal. I immediately recieved overwhelming support from my family and friends - offering to play with me, rebound, workout and giving me tips. Over the summer I really cranked into high gear and gave it my all. If I missed a day of training, I knew someone would be on my case about it! Having others know about my goal made me want it more.

The result? September came, I made the team and it was the best experience of my University career.

So set a goal and take every step you can to put yourself in a position to reach it!

Fitness Tip: Make your workout into a circuit. Pair four exercises together and do one right after another. A circuit decreases your resting time in between sets, keeps your heart rate elevated and makes a workout more time efficient.

Nutrition Tip: Make your workout worth it. Eating complex carbs, lean protein and healthy fats is the best way to ensure proper nutrition whether you are looking for increased sport performance or weight loss.

Song: It's Alright - Pitbull



Look 'em in the eye: FREE Messenger video chat Chat Now!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

First Blog!

Hello!
Thanks for reading my blog :)
I am excited to begin ACAIN training in hopes to inspire, motivate and allow people to reach their fitness goals. 
My personal fitness goal right now is to compete in 2 or 3 upcoming fitness competitions at the end of October and Early November. Training for a fitness competition consists of being in the gym 5-6 times a week doing weight training and cardio everyday. The diet for it is very strict, so tonight I am making a ton of delicious food with my sister and friends!!

Setting a goal is important to me, I always try to have some challenge ahead of me .... whether it be half marathon training, varsity sports, fitness competitions of beginning my own business! There really is not anything like conquering something that months ago you had thoughts of it being impossible.

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and I will leave you with a fitness tip, a nutrition tip and a song to download!

Fitness Tip: If you find it tough to do an extended amount of cardio is one session, try breaking it up into 3 sessions of ten minutes, or fifteen minutes before weight training and fifteen minutes after


Nutrition Tip: Try to eat 5-6 small meals spaced throughout the day as  opposed to three large meals. Eating regularly keeps insulin levels stable, and reduces your body going into fat storage mode!


Song: Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi (Steve Aoki Remix)


ACAIN


Your Photo on Bing.ca: You Could WIN on Canada Day! Submit a Photo Now!