Sweat and Tears: 3 Different Workouts

The gym... *absolute tears*

The gym seems like a scary place before going. It's weird to me that I’m scared of the gym because I used to be super active growing up. I played volleyball starting in the 3rd grade and was on the varsity track team in high school and absolutely loved every second of it. I used to wake up before school to work out, then I’d go to school, go to track practice, go to volleyball practice, go home and do homework, and go to sleep before doing it all over again. I 100% overdid it and it took a toll on my body, but I loved being active and working out. I didn’t give myself enough time for my body to recover, which left me with a torn IT band, torn tendons in both of my quads, patellar tendinitis, and over 6 months of physical therapy. I fell out of love for working out after being unable to do any physical activity for a year. It was hard watching my siblings and friends go off to practice or games, while I had to go to physical therapy to help heal my body.

The Fear of the Gym:

After injuries, quarantine, and putting on some weight, I’ve grown a fear of the gym. The idea of not being as fit as I once was, is hard to cope with. I’m scared that avid gym goers will judge me, or I won’t be able to bench or squat what I used to be able to. In all honestly, nobody is looking at me, I shouldn’t be able to bench or squat what I used to when I was in high school after not working out for so long, and everyone has their own health journey they are going through.

Starting Somewhere: Everyone has to start somewhere. I’ve learned to not be so hard on myself when it comes to getting active and getting in the gym. It’s all about the little changes that will eventually pay off in the long run. For me personally, going to the gym every day isn’t ideal. After numerous attempts, I’ve found that the best way to start getting into a gym routine is starting little by little. I started off by committing two days out of the week, then started adding on more and more days. However, there are some days that I don’t even make it. I’ll do a short HIIT workout in my own apartment just so that I get my body moving. Even a short walk, run, or swim is better than nothing. Getting active doesn't necessarily mean being in the gym. The key is to be proud of the small accomplishments and not put yourself down if you’re trying to get into a routine.

With that being said, here are a few of my favorite workouts whether you’re just starting out or an avid gym goer...

Workout #1: Abs

• 60 mountain climbers

• 60 second plank

• 15 jackknives

• 20 raised leg sit-ups

• 15 spiderman planks

[Repeat the circuit 4x]

Workout #2: Arms

• 3x20 dumbbell jumping jacks

• 3x10 alternating lateral raises

• 3x10 shoulder taps

• 3x10 shoulder press

• 3x10 tricep kickbacks

• 3x10 hammer curls

Workout #3: Glutes and Quads

• 3x30 glute bridges

• 3x10 shuffle steps

• 3x20 squatted hip abductions

• 3x10 jump squats

• 3x20 seated hip abductions

• 3x10 clam shells

• 3x20 sumo squats

• 3x10 standing kick backs

Don’t let the gym scare you away from being active. Make today the day to work towards a healthier lifestyle. Let me know if you try one of my workouts or if you have a different workout you like!