Category: Fitness

Posted on

Keeping Fitness Simple

I got frustrated in making things too complicated with my workouts over the past year. So I finally put together a simple sheet to track my daily workouts and I couldn’t be happier.

For those who know me well, fitness has been a huge part of my life–from gymnastics to fitness competitions, spending hours in the gym and working out each day used to be a regular thing for me. But as challenges kept coming over the years, I also learned to adapt. Whether it was a broken foot or Crohn’s Disease, I tried new workouts and made my fitness programs match where I was in life.

Lately, trying to find a good balance with my workouts and this fatigue that won’t go away has been frustrating. My at-home HIIT workouts, kettlebell workouts, and just driving to the gym require more energy than I have right now. I want to workout like I used to, but my body just can’t. But now, between my Cellercise rebounder and a couple basic bodyweight moves (lunges and push-ups), I’ve found a balance that’s keeping me in shape and happy with my workouts. Not too much, not too little, it’s my Goldilocks spot.

On this simple sheet of paper, I have boxes to check for sauna sessions (S), rebounding (R), and five sets of either pushups or walking lunges that I do throughout the day. It’s simple, but effective. I also like being able to quickly check off what I’ve done without having to open an app, enter sets and reps, etc. I don’t overcomplicate it anymore, so if I miss a day, I miss a day. Keeping it on one sheet though does keep me motivated, and I’m less stressed each day as I work to check off everything for the day! 

Side note: I’ve mentioned it before, but one of the things I love about the Cellercise rebounder is that if I’m having a good day with more energy than usual, I can really increase the intensity of my jump session. The Cellercise rebounder is able to meet me where I’m at–from gentle to intense, I’m in complete control of my workout.

Posted on

Choosing a rebounder

stephanie doing a jump on her Cellercise rebounder outside on the patio

I’m long overdue for writing the last post in my 3-part rebounding series. After covering why I love rebounding, some of the health benefits, and how it plays a role in my overall Crohn’s management, I now want to talk about how to choose the right rebounder for you. With so many choices on the market and the wide range of prices, it might be hard to pick one. Below are some of the factors that helped me make my decision and some tips and things to consider when shopping for your own. Continue reading “Choosing a rebounder”

Posted on

Rebounding and digestive health

rebounding

In my last post on rebounding, I shared some of the reasons why I love using a mini-trampoline as part of my daily workout and how it makes fitness fun. Today, I want to share why I love it for digestive health. Whether you have Crohn’s Disease or just suffer from occasional bloating, cramping, and other digestive issues, there are a few additional benefits that a rebounder can provide. It’s not an instant cure-all, but it is one more tool in the tool box! Continue reading “Rebounding and digestive health”

Posted on

Why I love rebounding

Cellercise Rebounder

I’ve mentioned rebounding quite often, both on my Instagram page and here on my blog, but I haven’t written a full article about why I love it so much. Today, I want to share a quick overview of why I’ve made rebounding a part of my life. From Crohn’s and fitness to well-being and fun, my day wouldn’t be complete without rebounding. This will be the first post in a short series where, after this bird’s-eye view of rebounding benefits, I’ll share how it has helped in managing some of my Crohn’s Disease symptoms and what to consider when purchasing a rebounder. Continue reading “Why I love rebounding”

Posted on

Part 2: Workout Motivation, Tips & Tricks

swisspushup

PART TWO: Home Workouts and Equipment

Home vs. Gym
There are things I love about both and reasons why I still do both. From privacy to commute, consider what obstacles are killing your motivation. If you dread a long drive to the gym, you’ll make more excuses not to go. If you’re embarrassed about working out in front of other people, you’ll probably cut your workout short and go home. So pick a time and place that you can feel comfortable and then choose your activities around that. Continue reading “Part 2: Workout Motivation, Tips & Tricks”

Posted on

Part 1: Workout Motivation, Tips, & Tricks

img_1108

NOTE: Once I start writing, the words just keep coming. I don’t usually talk much in person–I’m better at listening–so perhaps that’s why I have so many extra words swirling around in my head and ready to spill out onto the page (or keyboard). With that said, I’ve decided to break this post into four parts that will be easier to digest and keep you moving 😉

PART ONE: Getting Motivated (this post)
PART TWO: Home Workouts and Equipment
PART THREE: Reasons to Choose a Gym
PART FOUR: Get Moving

PART ONE: Getting Motivated

Up until a year ago, I’ve been dragging myself out of bed before the sun rises (somewhere between 4:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.) since 1999 to do an early-morning workout. You’d think that after that much time, getting up would be easy…it’s not; at least not for me. Actually, it’s gotten harder. Quite often you’ll hear people saying that it takes only 21 days to build a habit, well 19 years later, I’m still fighting this one. To the outside world, it may look like I have no trouble being motivated since I’ve been dedicated to fitness for so many years and have made it an important part of my life, but I still struggle. So, today I’m sharing some of the tips, tricks, and workouts that have helped me to stay fit and exercise consistently for almost 20 years. Continue reading “Part 1: Workout Motivation, Tips, & Tricks”