The Top 10 Workout Songs for March 2016

Hey!  How are you today?

Since this blog is called Family, Food, Fitness, and Fun, I thought it was time to do another fitness post.

When I first started working out many years ago, my main reason for exercise was weight loss.  I’m pretty sure that’s how most people start their workout journey; trying to lose pounds and inches.

I used to workout every single day for about 45 minutes to an hour.  My main exercise of choice?  The dreadmill treadmill.  I would run, and run, and run on that sucker until I couldn’t breathe anymore.  And I hated every second of it.

But the worst part…I didn’t lose any weight.  The most I did was maintain the weight I was at.  I thought to myself, all this work and I don’t lose a pound?  WTF.

Then came the excuses:

It must be me, I must have a slow metabolism I’m not running long enough I’m not running fast enough The incline isn’t high enough Blah, blah, blah.

One day, a friend of mine hired a personal trainer to introduce her to the weights.  Those dreaded weights.  They looked and felt pretty scary, I didn’t even know how to being using them.  But, thanks to my friend and her desire to learn more about the gym and what it had to offer, I began to learn about weight training too.

And guess what?

I fell in love.

But I was a little scared.  I’ve seen women who look so…bulky after lifting weights.

Oh wait…that’s not a woman?

However, I learned that one of the biggest misconceptions women have about weight lifting is that you are going to bulk up.

NOT. TRUE.

Very few women bulk up from lifting weights.  (Yes, there are those women who compete in body building, but they have very specific programs and diets)  So if you are the average woman and want to lift weights, don’t worry about looking like The Hulk.

Now that we’ve debunked that myth, it’s time to talk about HOW to weight train.

There are 2 weight training concepts: low reps with heavy weights, or high reps with light weights.

Which one is better?

Neither.

They can both produce similar muscular responses as long as you are fatiguing the muscles.  And in fatiguing the muscles, I mean that you start to curse during the last few reps!

I have been doing heavy weight training for the past 4 years.  I love it.  It’s kept me strong but lean.  It’s revved my metabolism like no treadmill can.

But recently, I’ve been trying a new program that involves high reps (I’m talkin’ 100’s!) and lighter weight.  I thought that the program might be a little easier.  HAHA.  Nope.  It’s hard.  Trust me, I curse.  You would too after 99 reps of squats…and lunges…and chest press…and…

So after doing the “high rep, light weight” program for 6 weeks, I went back to my “low rep, heavy weight” program.

The result?

I’ve definitely gained a little more strength since I last used that method.  But it’s still freakin’ hard.  I curse.  A lot.  And honestly, I find the “low rep, heavy weight” program boosts my metabolism more.  On those days, I’m starving.  I can eat all day and never feel full.  Love that!

In conclusion, my experience with these 2 types of programs have produced similar results strength wise, but the “low rep, heavy weight” program absolutely effects my metabolism more.

So which program am I going to do?

Both.

I love mixing up my workouts.  It keeps me motivated and I don’t get bored.  But the best part (besides being able to eat more!) my body stays lean, strong, and healthy.

Question: Do you weight train?  If so, do you prefer high reps, light weight or low reps, heavy weight?