LIIFT4 Afterthougths
8 weeks. 32 workouts.
That is what LIIFT4 has consisted of: 4 little workouts a week, all 40 minutes or less, over an 8 week time period. These workouts have been a mix of lifting and HIIT (high intensity interval training) and let me be the first to say that this program has made a world of difference for me in a couple major ways!
First:
I feel stronger than ever! Growing up a dancer, my legs were always on the strong side, but my arms not so much. Over the 8 week program, I increased my weights from as little as 3 pounds, on exercises like full bicep curls (going from 5 pound weights to 8 pound weights), to as much as a 12 pound weight increase, on my overhead shoulder press (starting with 8 pound weights and finishing the program pressing 20 pound weights!)
Second:
I felt so confident in myself throughout this program! I feel like it only took a week or two for me to start seeing small changes in myself physically. Over the course 8 weeks I lost 2 inches in my waist, an inch in my hips, and a little more than an inch in my bust!
Actually seeing a physical change has been such a huge motivator for me to keep going! If you add the physical changes to the feeling of getting stronger every day, who wouldn't feel more confident!
*Photos in the blue bra are from today, the end of week 8. Photos in the gray bra are from day 1 of week 1.*
Now don't get me wrong, this program was by no means easy and it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows. The workouts were hard. I mean the kind of hard where you just spend a little time laying on the floor right after, but hey, you reap many of the best rewards from challenging yourself.
I'm also going to be super honest, while I did every work out in the program there were a few days I put little effort in and even a day that I just quit half way through. Why? Because not everyday is a great day and that's okay. Some days you battle with your head and your head wins. I've decided that I won't beat myself up over those days because at the end of the day I'm striving for progress not perfection. So, I let myself accept the couple workouts that I half assed and then showed up the next day and killed it!
Another super honest moment, my nutrition overall was sub par throughout the program. I had my super good days where I followed my meal plan to a T and I had days the I didn't even think about said meal plan. I'm learning though and I have become much more aware of what I am putting in my body. I have become much better about making sure my meals are balanced. I have started to pay more attention to when my body actually needs a snack versus when it really just needs water. I have become much better about not letting myself snack out of boredom. So no, nutrition was definitely not my strongest part of the program but I have made small steps towards better habits.
I know what you are thinking, why did she just talk about how big of a difference this program made to her and then talk about the areas she was lacking? Well, I want to be honest with myself. Like I said before, I'm not looking for perfection because that would be setting myself up for failure. I am looking for progress however, and I want to be able to acknowledge the areas I lacked in or the areas I felt were my weak points so that I know where I can improve on.
I am so proud of myself for deciding to do something and actually committing to it and finishing it. It is so rewarding when you complete a goal you set forth for yourself!
A huge shoutout to my Fit Life Tribe ladies for being a constant source of motivation!