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Fitness Fitness and Health Weightloss Journey Workout Wednesday

Getting My Functional Exercise

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Functional Exercise

Functional exercises are performed every day in our workouts but have you considered doing a Functional Exercise workout to your weekly routine. As of recently this primary type of activity has not only caught my attention but is now I include it daily in my exercise.  It only takes me less than 20 minutes, and I am feeling the difference a month later.

What is Functional Exercise?

The point of the Functional exercise is to train your muscles to perform the everyday task safely and productively. Huh? Isn’t that the whole point of the exercise. Well yes, but functional training is more specific than that.  Functional exercises teach your muscles to work together and get them ready for your day to day tasks. The functional exercise simulates typical movements you may do at home, work or in sports. One of thing things I like about functional exercise is its emphasis on balance.  Usually, the exercises are performed while using various muscles in the upper and lower body at the same time this helps stabilize your core.

FunctionalExercise.

What are the benefits of Functional Exercise?

I have been on this weight loss journey for a year now. Recently, it has turned from a want to lose weight to new fitness goals. I decided that I want to be the fittest 70-year-old. Since yesterday was my birthday that means I have 36 years to obtain my long term goal, God willing. One of the benefits of Functional exercise and the advantage of all exercise is a lean, in shape physique. Another advantage of functional exercise is it helps make everyday life task easier. When functionally exercising you are using multiple joints and muscles at the same time. Training is liking this also reduces your risk of injury and helps improve your quality of life.

Functional exercises tend to be multi-joint, multi-muscle exercises. Instead of only moving the elbows, for example, a functional exercise might involve the elbows, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles. This type of training, properly applied, can make everyday activities easier, reduce your risk of injury and improve your quality of life.

SomaSole PlankHold

 

What does Functional Exercise look like?
There are a lot of exercises that are included that serve a functional purpose. Especially those moves that are various physical movements like in Tai Chi and Pilates.  The mix of resistance and flexibility is a great way to functionally exercise.  Some other common moves that you may recognize are; Multi-directional lunges, standing bicep curls, step-ups with weights these exercises help you with an everyday task such as vacuuming, mopping, yard work for example.  Proper form when performing these exercises is imperative.
How do I get started?
Most people would recommend functional exercise workouts for those over 40 (not there yet), but I feel that it is important for everyone.  It improves your balance, agility, muscle strengths and reduces the risk of falling.  If you have a trainer, I would ask them to include some functional exercises (they most likely already do).  There is always the University of YouTube and Pinterest.  Just be cautious that you are using proper form,  are cleared by a physician.  I gave you a little preview of the Functional Core Workout I have been doing the last month.  I feel stronger, can hold a plank longer and will be including this in my workout regime from here on out.
My Birthday Month Workout
Disclaimer This month I included a Functional Workout in my daily core routine.  I felt so much stronger and lost over an inch and a half on my waist which is a great benefit of exercise.  I also used my SomaSole Workout Bands.  They were a great easy way to add some resistance to my workout and one of my new favorite at home workout tools!!   They were a great easy way to add some resistance to my workout and one of my new favorite at home workout tools!!  Use Coupon Code DeBolton10 for 10% off of your own bands.
Do you do Functional exercise? How does it make you feel?

FunctionalCoreWorkout

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Fitness Fitness and Health Weightloss Journey Workout Wednesday

Get Brycked Up!

BryckedFitness

I must get B.R.Y.C.K.E.D again!

I got B.R.Y.C.K.E.D Up, and I want to do it again and again. Two weeks ago, I was able to participate in something so fun, intense and different.  It was an hour and 20 minutes of pure sweat, laughs, smiles and hardcore non-stop workout.  I got B.R.Y.C.K.E.D Up, and I am now hooked.  I was invited by a friend to try a new workout; Of course, I was gamed!  When I got there, it was instantly enticing.  It was like stepping into a club there were Black Light, Strobe, Disco Ball, Carribean, Latin, Hip Hop music and sensory overload!  After the 2 minute warm up I was drenched in sweat and Tru Adams, the creator of Brycked Fitness was like, “Now let’s get started.” It was on an popping from that point forward.

B.R.Y.C.K.E.D Class

What is B.R.Y.C.K.E.D Fitness?

In my opinion, B.R.Y.C.K.E.D Fitness will be the next fitness phenomenon. I was privileged to experience it from the Creator, Batrice “Tru” Adams.

B.R.Y.C.K.E.D stands for:

Bootcamp.

Resistance.

Yoga.

Cardio.

Kickboxing.

Endurance.

Dance.

B.R.Y.C.K.E.D withTru

Who thought of that?

B.R.Y.C.K.E.D is a crazy INTENSE workout. Endurance is required and dancing makes the workout tolerable. All the movement makes you forget that you just did 40 squat jumps or 50 lunges then jabbing and kicking all in a 2 and half minute song span.  It makes it okay that you are doing bicep curls with resistance bands and then jumping jacks because you’re sweating and having fun. Tru Adams created B.R.Y.C.K.E.D out of the desire to create her a workout program. Tru compiled everything she loved and inspired her into this jam packed fitness workout program. Tru has been working in the fitness industry for over ten years and wanted something efficient and with variety.  She couldn’t pick just one, so she added EVERYTHING. (My kind of girl)

What is B.R.Y.C.K.E.D Like?

B.R.Y.C.K.E.D. appealed to me by covering all of your basics, adding on to others skills, and having different movements from song to song.  This format allows so much variety in one workout. I tend to get bored quickly with the same ole workout routine, over and over again. I burned 1100 calories in the one class. When I left the workout I was famished, pumped and woke up sore; but in a right way.  I hate cardio, but if cardio looked like B.R.Y.C.K.E.D; I see myself taking three classes a week. B.R.Y.C.K.E.D. could replace my normal workout routine. It’s that good! I also loved the Yoga part I never thought to include balance in my cardio but Tru slides that in too. Imagine doing Tree pose after you just squatted it out. Performing the Warrior Stance in between some high-intensity moves; I loved the mix of skills.

B.r.y.c.k.e.d Class.

Where can I get B.R.Y.C.K.E.D. Up? 

I am fortunate enough that the creator of this fantastic workout is near me local in the Southern New Jersey area.  There are opportunities to become certified in B.R.Y.C.K.E.D and also participate in Live Classes.  Words cannot do this class justice. Once you experience it you will want more!  I plan on getting certified in B.R.Y.C.K.E.D in the Fall or Winter and putting a Faith-based flare on it.  If there is a B.R.Y.C.K.E.D instructor in your area, I highly suggest you try a class.  What do you think? Would you try B.R.Y.C.K.E.D if it was in your area?

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Fitness and Health Workout Wednesday

Yep, it’s Insanity?

Workout WednesdayInsanity

Recently I decided to try an Insanity Class. I am sure that you have seen the infomercials. A high-intensity cardio workout that is supposed to get you results. Also, the name alone is something to either be very cautious of or curious. I chose curiously; now I am not a BeachBody representative or distributor. They did not pay me nor do I get any commission from this post but I am exploring different forms of exercise on my weight loss journey and having a lot of fun trying new things. I was invited by a friend of mine to try this class. I went for three reasons:

1) I’ve been in another plateau for the last few months. (So annoying)

2) I was curious I wanted to see why some people just love to put their body through an insane amount of cardio for 45 minutes. I do not like cardio, but I need it to boost my metabolism and get this stubborn weight off. So, why not make it fun too and have some fun with my friend.

3) It was free. Yep, the first class, was free so what did I have to lose other than a few calories.

Before Insanity
So, I did it. I went, and it was, insane! (Yep pun intended) We started off with a warmup and instantly my body went into sweat mode. Not sure if the heat was up but those short 3-5 minutes which felt like 30-50 got me revved up. Then we would do five different moves that worked different areas for three sets. For example, one set would be five plyometric moves that we do for 30 seconds each; take a break for about 1 minute then another two lays down the same. At the end of the third set, we do something called a “power move,” which was some crazy hard (at least for me) move that we do for a minute. Take another break and then move onto something like Agility moves, or Strength, Core and Abs. These mini circuits lasted for about 45 minutes ending with a cool down and for me lots of praise thanking God that I didn’t throw up or pass out. Yes, you do the same thing repeatedly expecting different results. In this case, the result is a lot of huffing, puffing and sweat.

I’ve been working out for over ten months now, regularly and I’ve never felt so out of shape. It was challenging for me, and I burned 376 calories in my first class, which was a bummer because in my 20 minutes of strength training I usually burn about 355 calories. I felt like I put myself through a whole lot of work and even more sweat for nothing. Another thing about cardio is that it only burns calories while you’re doing it but Strength training continues for 24-48 hours after the 20-minute workout (at least for HIIT). Despite all of these downers, I would totally add this to my workout routine, why?

AfterInsanity

It was fun; I know that sounds sadistic, but it was. It was fun hanging out with other like-minded women and making crazy moves to some intense music and at the end being proud and thanking God that I made it through. Also, it switches things up for me. Strength training is great but despite what people say you need to do cardio to lean out and slim down. Why not, have fun while doing it. Working on plyometrics and agility is also a great well-rounded workout to add to strength training. Now, I don’t plan on becoming a cardio queen. I still prefer lifting heavy stuff, but I think I will continue to add some new cardio classes, moves to my weekly routine. Have you tried Insanity? Did you like it? Do you want to try?

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