kickinitcook-blog

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Confession: I still get gym-timidated. It's such a completely normal thing. I get ready for my workout wondering if people will think I look insanely unathletic as I do my plyos. I question if people realize I'm only using the 5-lb dumbbells because I'm burning out. I hope no one notices as I set up to do a lift I've never done before. But then, I just get started. And all of a sudden, it's just me and the weights and the sweat to remind me that it just takes getting started. I know I'm working hard. I know I'm not perfect. Don't let yourself be intimidated by new or different things. We all start somewhere, and in a year you'll look back and realize that giving the best you can now won't even match the better that you'll become.

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I am obsessed with getting better. I am infatuated with taking things I suck at and making them my strong points. I am determined to push myself outside of my comfort zone so I can have things I've never had before (like big round glutes and killer hamstrings 😂😂). I love that weightlifting gives you the opportunity to literally have dozens of different goals. For the last few months, one of my top priorities was working on lifts that I felt weaker at or weren't as comfortable with. A year ago I hated conventional deadlifts. Would do just about anything to get out of doing them, even if it were as simple as doing another type of deadlift. The movement felt unnatural, and I could tell the soreness I was feeling for days after was not the soreness I should be feeling. I knew I was going to have to drop my weight, slow down, and really concentrate on the movement. Take time to do the hard things right, and pretty soon they will just be another thing you do without much thought at all.

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I used to be the "good enough" type. 13 reps was basically 15, right? Don't feel like doing that last set of step-ups? Don't, then. Hate the lift that's on the program? Swap it out for something you like. Soon I realized comfortable wasn't going to change a damn thing. And now, I don't leave the gym unless I know I gave at LEAST 100%. My 100% may be weaker some days than others, but I will never settle for "good enough".

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It's true, just ask my husband.

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How do you deal with insecurities? My legs used to be one of my favorite features, but because my main hobby requires me to focus a little more on aesthetics, I quickly notice all those little blemishes and "imperfections". The backs of my legs have always held the most fat and have been difficult to train. I could hide them at the gym, which I usually do (not necessarily consciously), or I can go in with it all out and work hard regardless. I don't train like this because I'm perfect, and I don't train like this because I hate my body. I train hard day in and day out because I accept the body I've been given to PERFORM in, and I will always welcome a challenge (like finally achieving that elusive glute-ham tie-in 😂🙈🍑) that will make me better.

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Soooo...? 🤔 #accurate

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SUCH a great post by @sassybrunettefitness. People ask me if I seriously weigh everything -- for the most part, YES! Especially such calorie dense foods such as peanut butter. After consistent weighing and tracking, many people find that they can "eyeball" proper portions; still, I always recommend weighing even for beginners! #Repost @sassybrunettefitness with @repostapp ・・・ When I first started tracking my macros I just used measuring cups and spoons to measure out my food. But unfortunately our eyes (and tummies) can be a lot greedier than our fitness goals allow for. The best way to ensure your eyes aren't playing tricks on you is to weigh out your food as opposed to just using standard measuring tools. You'll be surprised at the difference between the two. - For example, the picture on the left I measured out what my eyes, and most other people's eyes, wanted to be 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. On the right, I weighed out the exactly 16 grams of peanut butter which is equal to 1 tablespoon. As you can clearly see, my eyes added almost 10 extra grams to my serving, nearly doubling the amount. Instead of 8 grams of fat, the tablespoon on the left has 14 grams of fat! Those few extra grams can really add up throughout the day 😳 - Weighing food can definitely seem tedious and unnecessary, but if you're really trying to be consistent and hit your goals it is so, so important. Whether it's peanut butter, almonds or even veggies, the extra fats and carbs add up - You can find inexpensive scales at Target, Walmart or even online on Amazon. Taking a little extra time to weigh out your food will definitely pay off in the long run and will help set you up for successfully crushing your goals! - As always powered by @1stphorm

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🙌🏼👊🏼I quit settling for "okay" and "good enough" a LONG time ago. Have purpose in every move you make.

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Under an hour next week, I'm calling it now! 💪🏼⏱😅 Did any other #BB2Crew girls find the double slider mountain climbers, like, reeeeally hard?! 😱 I'll be ready for you next week, you sneaky sliders, believe dat.

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These pancakes are a weekend workout staple! Quick, simple, delicious, and completely modifiable! I typically use 1 scoop Level-1 Ice Cream Sandwich protein and a cup of Krusteaz pancake mix, but you can adjust either of these to match your macro needs! Add 1/2t of baking powder and water to consistency and you get this incredible stack of preworkout pancakes (77C/5F/31P)! Pro tip: don't cook them all the way through; it's sort of like eating cake batter 😋😂 If you want to know more about @1stphorm and Level-1's meal replacement protein powder, check out the link in my bio!

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no caption today, just feeling a certain type of way on leg day per usual ✌🏼🍑💃🏼

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Motivation versus discipline: doing what needs to be done regardless of how you're feeling. @andyfrisella nails it once again on this weeks #thursdaythunder. People think I'm "motivated". Not always. Determined? More likely. Disciplined? Absolutely. I don't consider it an option to take care of my body. It's a responsibility. I don't do this day in and day out for anyone but myself. Every day I go in, some days more motivated than others, and I do this for me.

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Yesterday, a complete stranger complimented my physique. And the best part? She said, "I'm sure you have been working so hard for a long time." YES! I have. THANK YOU! These two photos are exactly a year apart. I've considered myself a consistent "athlete" for a couple years now, but the last year is where I've seen the majority of my growth and change. And I don't doubt, in a year from now, that the "after" will continue to change. Don't get frustrated after a week. After a month. After a YEAR. Do the work and continue to learn along the way.

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4/16/17: 152.6 lbs, 21.9% BF || #BB2 starts tomorrow so measurements today! I am not at all disappointed with what I have accomplished since September on my "bulk" (insert air quotes because "bulk" wasn't necessary my original goal but life happens and things change 🤷🏼‍♀️). I was hoping to put on a little more muscle in my glutes and hammies, but the truth is that I also carry a lot of fat there, so maybe a little lean down will help reveal what's under there! I've had several people ask me if or when I plan to compete again, and the truth is I don't know! I have a show in mind in October, which means I would need to start prepping around the beginning of July. I figure I can wait until then to decide! For now, my goals for this program are to lean out enough that I find a "happy place", quit the chronic snacking 🙊, and do all the #deathbyplyos.

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Haven't done plyos in a hot minute. Left feeling like a hot mess.

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I needed to flip the script and, well, everybody's doing it 💁🏼 See ya Monday, @jesshilgenberg and @jessies_girls #BB2 💪🏼🍑👯

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May have just had the best leg day of my life which might not be saying much because I truly think I died out there today. 😅🍑💪🏼