Health and Fitness Update - April

Hello everyone! I got such a positive response from my last Health and Fitness Update that I thought I would do another one for you this month. I feel like things are still progressing well and getting a little more serious. Easter was a very trying time with so many treats in the house, but thankfully I got given a sugar-free dark chocolate and orange egg that was amazing! But I still hit the gym hard the next day and got in an extra run. April has been my month of stepping things up and channeling my inner-superhero to get better results.

Meal Prep

If you follow my blog, you might have seen that I have started a Meal Prep Ideas series where I have been sharing what recipes I've been using. I've finally jumped on the band-wagon and started prepping clean meals for the week and have been loving it. I feel so much better about what I'm eating and it's letting me have some fun in the kitchen. I'm a big foodie, so any chance to experiment with new recipes is time well-spent for me. 

My love-hate relationship with leg day 

I recently got an update on my leg program from my trainer and my main focus is with my squats. I've really bumped up the weights on the bar I use, so it's become a really tough challenge. Part of me really loves it and I'm always determined to get back try again. But man is it hard! And failing is not in my fitness vocabulary, so there is only one way through it: hard work. Bring on leg day!

Wearing shorts to the gym

As much as I love my legs because they let me run far, they're still the part of my body I am most self-conscious about. I do run in shorts most days since it's means I won't over-heat, but wearing them to the gym has been a test of my confidence lately. Maybe after another month of good leg days I will feel better about it. Something to work on, I think.

Pre-workout drink 

Now this makes me feel like I'm properly transitioning into a gym-junkie! So lately I have found myself getting annoyed at being fatigued so early in my workouts. I do eat really well, but I just felt like I needed that extra energy boost to really make my time at the gym the best I can. Since I had no clue what to go for, I opted for one designed especially for women called Ignite and it was on sale too! I can honestly tell you that it works wonders for your energy levels. I was bouncing up and down, ready for my work outs. Sometimes I just wish it never wore off!

Knowing my limits 

So after last month's mid-workout panic attack, I've learned the hard way how important it is to know when to take a breather. I find if I'm doing a HIIT workout, or anything with high intensity, I struggle with my breathing and it triggers panic mode in my anxious brain. I've successfully stopped myself from pushing too far a couple of times this month, and it feels like I've conquered a really important fitness lesson. Yes, it's great to push yourself and give it everything you have, but sometimes you have to rest for a bit, then get back to working hard.

Weight/Overall improvements 

So I'm still staying around the 60kg mark, which I'm really happy with. I'm still building muscle, so I know that it's not going to drop dramatically anytime soon. I've been working really hard on my arms this past month and I'm really happy with how they are looking now, as well as getting stronger. I have also noticed that my posture has improved a lot, which was something my trainer hounds me for! I still have a long way to go, but I'm really happy with my progress so far.

I'm still boxing once a week too, which is always my toughest day at the gym. I think my trainer enjoys being really mean to me, but I love the feeling at the end of it where I know I've made it through a tough session. I also recently watched Creed which has really inspired me to be tougher and to go that extra mile with my training. I'm also wanting to get better at my boxing technique, not that I need to punch anyone anytime soon, but it's a skill I want to learn to perfect. It is in my family after-all!

I found this quote on Pinterest the other day and I absolutely love it. Focusing on being healthy is the most important part of any fitness journey, not stressing about dropping dress sizes. That definitely comes in time. You'll be surprised by how quickly results can come by eating cleaner foods and adding more exercise in your week. 

Let me know how your health and fitness is going in the comments! 

Have you tried anything new lately? 

Steph x.