Just keep running...

I have continued with my goal to run at least three times a week, when I do not run, I find a challenging hike or swim laps, either way there is cardio in my schedule daily. Some research states that cardio is over rated and not the way to shape your body/achieve curves. I agree in the sense that cardio is a major fat burner so if we were to over-do cardio, there is a chance us ladies could loose the booty, or the boobies. But I also disagree, if you find the right balance between strength training and running, there is a way to keep the curves as well as continuing to slim down. With MY body, it is necessary for me to stay regular with cardio because since I also strength train and am trying to build muscle, I eat more. As I eat more, in order to keep the weight out of my stomach, I need to do cardio. I have days where I eat more and strength train the muscle groups that I want to grow, and days where I eat less and do fasted cardio sessions. This keeps my body balanced as well as keeps my body's shape moving in the direction of my choosing. If you want to shape your body the way YOU want it, it is important to try new exercises and stick with them for at least a month to notice whether it is working or not. These changes, as we know, do not happen over night. I learned the hard way that cardio is an important part of keeping my body in shape. I have gone through months of not doing much cardio and only focusing on strength training and for ME this didn't keep the shape I was looking for. Each person is going to need different routines to make it work for them. This is where people get anxiety and choose not to workout all together, because they don't know what to do to get the shape they want. All I can tell you is; you have to be willing to put the work in.

Just like I mentioned a few blog posts earlier about our eating habits, each person is going to have their own diet habits that work for them, this is the same for workouts. I have seen and followed many fitness gurus who do not do much for cardio and they still look amazing (wouldn't that be nice) but that is just not how it works for my body. And that is okay. The more I realize how much my body needs cardio, the more I grow to love it. I love the freedom of a long run, swim or hike. I love the way my body feels and looks after, and I will continue to make this part of my daily routine. The goal of staying active in life, is so that we can be active later in life too. The more you push your body, the easier it gets and the more you WANT this as a part of your routine. Trust me, go for a run today, the mind set prior is usually not so fun, but the reward after is worth it. Allow yourself time to figure out the best fitness routine for yourself, and once you find it, you will probably need to switch it up again to keep variation in life. It is never ending, but it can be fun if you let it be. Plus, you might get lucky and end up with a beautiful view along the way (: