For the Gym

As many of y’all know, we lift weights for most of our workouts. We usually do a mix of cardio (usually the stair master) and weight training. We are not experts by any means, but weight training has given us the best results, by far, and it is the workout we have enjoyed the most. We have taken classes in the past, but are not really class-types-of-girls, haha. We do like an occasional class, but usually, we like to do our own thing in the gym. For us, the gym is a time for us to decompress and let go of some of our anxiety. Honestly, before we started lifting weights, we both struggled to find a workout that we could see ourselves doing for a long period of time. 
We started out like everyone else, not knowing A THING about lifting weights. It was about the time Instagram started becoming a “thing” that we first got into health and fitness. In case you missed this post, we shared how our thyroid condition got us into taking better care of our bodies. We saw some health influencers sharing weight training exercises on Instagram and Pinterest, and to be honest, we dreamed of having bodies like that. We would both look up our celebrity crush’s diet, or what their workouts were online, just to figure out what to eat and how to workout. After a lot of research and reading, we decided we both wanted to start lifting weights (and eat healthier). At the time, we lived in an apartment complex that had a gym, so since we were in college, we could workout at off-times, when nobody else was in the gym. We would look up workouts for different muscle groups, like arms, legs, etc., and then watch a lot of YouTube videos of how to perform the exercises properly. Luckily, only a few times somebody walked in while we were spending hours trying to figure out how to do a squat, haha;) After a couple of months of trial and error, we got to a point to where we felt comfortable lifting weights and proper form. Five years later, we are still lifting weights, and feel comfortable to walk into a gym, even if we are the only girls in the weight area.Our Tips For Beginners:

• Try to train a different group of muscles each time you workout (at least 4-5 days a week) like glutes, arms, back, shoulders, legs, etc.
• Perform 8-12 reps, and 3-4 sets of each exercise
• Take a short rest period, if needed, in between each set of exercises. 
• Make sure you drink enough water, and stay hydrated during your workout, and afterwards
• Eat enough protein (1g of protein per lb of bodyweight, so if you weigh 150 lbs, you should aim for 150 g of protein per day)

 Some Common Mistakes:

• Using too much weight for an exercise. You want to choose a weight that challenges you, but does not sacrifice good form. 
• Also, not using enough weight will not challenge yourself enough. Choose a weight that you can do 10-15 reps of with a slight burn, without sacrificing proper form. 
• Going too quickly through an exercise. We are both guilty of this, but it is important to slow down, and really focus on the movement. 

For example workouts, see our previous fitness posts, or check this post that has a great workout plan that is similar to how we train!

On a sidenote, this tank is a great workout top. It is so breathable, and it comes in stripes, too! These black crops are also a great pair, and they have the cutest laser cut detailing on them. Also, if you’re looking for a comfy pair of tennis shoes that are great for running and training, these flyknits are awesome!{ Black Laser Cut Crops  | Pink Tank |  Black Bra | Purple Tennis Shoes | Lip Color “Life Of The Party” | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here, here, and here  and Cartier Love Bangle| RINGS:  David Yurman Ring here and here | Lightening Bolt Necklace and Hamsa Necklace Similar Here and Statement Necklace | WATCH: Michele Deco Watch } 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for our weekly fitness post!