Keeping up with your workout

So...you're working out, and you realize, "when was I here last?"

It's a common problem. Time slips away from us all, and you have no idea when you were last breaking a sweat. You wrack your brain for answers, but you can't come up with a valid date.

You need to track your workouts more often! I'm not talking about calories burned or minutes spent at working out...but I am talking about knowing when you were last at the gym!

What Works for Me

I find that I am most motivated by having a calendar on my bedroom door. I check off each day I workout with a red crayon. I can then see, at the end of the week or month, the last time I worked out. 

This calendar method works best for me, but I also use dailymile.com. Dailymile is a website where you can track your workouts. You can track everything from you running route, to gym routine, to calories burned. You can even log past workouts--so it's great if you go on vacation. You can still easily log your miles and workouts. 

For some reason, I stay more motivated when I discuss and post about working out. I think that's the main reason I love this blog as well as working out in general. I feel like I have to "practice what I preach" and that motivates me. 

What might work for you

• Making calendar appointments in your planner, phone or computer. The reminder can help motivate you and keep you going!
• Talk it up! The more you talk about being fit, healthy and living a healthy lifestyle, the more you will want to do it.

I hope that these ideas work well for you and your lifestyle. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them! Everyone has different methods. Let me know what works for you and how you track your workouts. 

Happy tracking,

Katie

Motivation Station: Workout with a Buddy

(source)

Have trouble getting to the gym? Have you thought about finding a friend, co-worker, or someone from an exercise class to workout with? Working out with another person may seem burdensome, but if you can find someone who motivates you and has a similar schedule as you, it's a win-win situation.

Qualities in a compatible workout partner:

1. Find someone with similar goals. Do you know someone who has similar goals to you? Do you both want to run a 10k? Do they have a similar workout time in mind? If so, you might want to get together and hit the gym, pavement or track together! 
2. Make a no-excuses policy. Don't allow yourself to cancel for silly things like rainy days and sleepy mornings. Make your routine and stick to it. Knowing there is someone else there waiting on you should give you a decent dose of motivation. And don't let your workout buddy's cancellation keep you from working out!
3. Find someone who supports you. You can't make progress if your workout partner is sabotaging you. Make sure you have someone who helps you stick to your goals and supports you.
4. Don't have someone "out of your league." You don't want to be chasing after someone who pushes an 7 minute mile when you're at a 10 minute mile! At the same time, you don't want to be the ring leader, either. If you do get along great with your workout partner and you are different fitness levels, try sticking to the gym instead of going on outdoor runs where you may become separated.
5. Find someone you want to spend time with! If you don't value this person, you won't want to work out with them. You want a workout buddy who you enjoy. Also, hanging out with your buddy outside the fitness realm is always healthy!

As long as you keep these simple qualifications in mind and your eye on the fitness prize, you should have no trouble working out with a partner! Some people may not need to workout with a buddy, but if you need that extra push, meeting a friend might be the push you need. 

Your fit friend, 

Katie

Accomplishments & Hug a Runner!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that I ran a very long distance (for myself) that was 6.4 miles! I ended up running to the bank to deposit a check and then I took a detour on the way back, ended up doing another 1.6 miles than I originally planned.

I did not set out to run this pace, since I'm running the Gobble Wobble in less than two days. I figured, hey what the hell! I'll give it a go. I'm so glad I pushed myself through. I proved to myself that I'm really getting back into running and it's for good! I made sure to go to yoga tonight to help soothe my muscles, even though I stretched and foam rolled a TON after I initially got home post-run.

So yes, that's how I began with the run. The first 1.5-2 miles are always the mentally and physically most difficult. I find it easier to run once I hit the 2 mile mark. I don't really track my time or pace, but I went slow. I made it in about an 1:10 (one hour, ten minutes) but I didn't want to overexert myself. either.

Also...

Happy Hug a Runner Day, all you runners get huge hugs from me!

No matter how slow you are going, you are still lapping everyone on the couch!

Stay fit, healthy and motivated!

Katie 

Cool Down and Stretch

You're done your workout. You're covered in sweat, thinking about how you just want to leave the gym and go home and shower.

Don't.

Stay and stretch for ten minutes. Your muscles will be less sore and less prone to injury.

The best way I can force myself to stay and stretch is to have a stretching playlist on my iPod. That way, it's ready for me when I'm done with a grueling workout. I make a mix of heart-rate slowing songs that I love!

Here's a few songs from my stretching playlist (I keep it on shuffle, great way to keep it unpredictable):

• Last Kiss - Taylor Swift
• The Goldfish Song - Kina Grannis
• Colors - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
• Your Song - Ellie Goulding
• Safe and Sound - Taylor Swift (feat. The Civil Wars)
• Stars - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• Bluebird - Sara Bareilles

I'll also update my playlist about once every other week, to alleviate boredom. I also keep many different songs (up to 30 songs) so I always have an option. 

Another option for music is if your music device has Wifi capabilities. I'll go on Pandora and put the Singer/Songwriter or Yoga station on and just zen out.

I allow my mind to wander while I'm lying on the mat stretching. It's so euphoric and relaxing and it's pure "me" time.

If you are looking for a great stretching routine, here are some great options:

and here is a link to another stretching routine

I'm a huge fan of Cassey's stretch routine from Blogilates. It has helped increase my flexibility so much!

Love your body back and reward those muscles every day! They truly do so much for you. Remember not to push your muscles too far, or else you may strain or tear a muscle. 

Katie

Exercising my fitness commitment

Excuses

• You don't have time to workout. 
• You are busy. 
• You are stressed. 
• You have classes. 
• You have assignments to do for your classes.
• You have work.  
• You just don't have time for anything else in your schedule.

So, how will you find time to workout?

I solved this dilemma for myself. I have two jobs, an internship and I go to school full time. I make time to workout. No, I don't magically have 26 hours in a day, but some days it sure feels like it.

Starting a workout regimen is complicated and hectic. It doesn't have to be! That's why I'm here, to hold your hand and motivate you to put one foot in front of the other until you're breaking a sweat.

What works for me

I have a little secret tidbit of information to help you better understand time management.

There are individuals out there who are busier than you and they are carving out time to exercise.

If you can't make your workout fit into your schedule, then you need to make your workout more accessible.

My dilemma and how I solved it:

I want to work out at the gym where I work, but the hours just do not fit my routine.

Question: Now, you may simply ask me, why don't you just work out at home?

My answer: Working out at home is not a real possibility for me. My house is old, creaky and tiny and there's not much room do do a full-on cardio session in my living room. It's impossible. So, I suggest you, my fellow space-limited friends, to join a gym with better hours for you.

I just joined a 24-hour gym. I can go whenever and it's really great! Especially when I close at my mall job (the mall closes at 9, out of there by 9:30 and the gym wouldn't happen until 10 which, by that point, my old gym closed at 10). Yeah, so a workout would NOT happen.

If you can't make a gym work for you, it's time to start searching!

Commit to fit!
Katie

About Hit the Mat Running

Things to expect from Hit the Mat Running

            Hit the Mat Running is my fitness and active living blog. I hope to inspire others who come from all walks (or runs) of fitness.

 Posts will include:

• Workout tips and photos
•  Information about yoga and my yoga experience
•  Information about running and my running experience
• Recipes
• Photos
• Playlist information
• Motivation!
• Personal fitness posts 

About me and my passion for fitness

            I love keeping in shape and healthy. I find that I think more clearly and my mind and body are in-sync when I am more active. I learned the hard way that recovering from nerve damage is a difficult process that requires a lot of patience (just like any injury). It forced me to slow down, and I will do a lot of injury prevention posts.

Why Hit the Mat Running?

            I chose the title, Hit the Mat Running, because I run and participate in yoga. There’s something about Hit the Mat Running that resonates with me as a yogi and a runner, it shows that from the moment I start working out that I give it my all.

How often will you hear from me?

            My blog will most likely update either every other day to once a week. Maybe some weeks I’ll post every single day. It all depends!

 I will try my best to stay dedicated and maybe, if I get a small community started, I’ll post different challenges and giveaways.

            I hope to inspire others who may have difficulty staying motivated in the world of fitness. It takes a lot of  motivation to walk into a gym, go for a run outside or even put those workout clothes on. I’m here to show you what’s worked for me so far. This blog will help me stay motivated and will hopefully help motivate you all!

Stay healthy and active!

Katie