Calisthenics: My Quest For Functional Strength

This year I have vowed to give up my membership to the gym. More for the reason that I would like one less bill per month, but also because I would like to learn to use my body and my surroundings to create a workout.

Me, holding a handstand with good alignment!

My Fastest Mile Ever! 10:13 Pace

You may not know this about me, but my husband and I enjoy thinking about "survival". So, in my adventure of gym-less fitness, I thought to myself: "Wouldn't this be a wonderful way to train my body for survival?" I mean, how could I be expected to make it on my own in the wild if I can't run a few miles at a good pace, or pull myself up a tree, or hike with a weighted backpack for many miles?!  So, here starts my quest for what I call "functional strength".

I made a list of the things that I would like to work on. They include:
Push-ups, Pull-ups, Rope Climbing, One-Leg Squats (Pistol Squats), Rock Wall Climbing, Hurdles, 10 Minute Mile for an extended distance (maybe 13 miles?), Heavy Carries, Balances, Long hang times (actively hanging from a bar for an extended period of time), High Jumps... and the list could go on and on!

Now, this is a hefty list of skills that I would like to achieve. So, I will take it slowly. I have been working on this already for a few months and have already made some progress! (See attached photos, where I accomplished a nice formed handstand that exercises my balancing skills and stabilizer muscles. & the screenshot of my last mile, where I achieved my fastest pace ever! The running accomplishment just tickled me pink.)

Keto-Aid : An Electrolyte Drink For Keto Dieters

Have you ever heard of the Keto-flu? Well, I have. I had read and read about it before starting a Ketogenic Diet. For those who don't know what it is, here is a good definition:

Keto-flu: A flu-like feeling that some experience when adapting to the ketogenic process, can be a combination of symptoms. Headaches, nausea, brain fog, fatigue, muscle cramping.

A lot of things happen in your body simultaneously when changing from using glucose for energy to using fat. To avoid some of the negative side effects it is recommended that you supplement your nutrition plan with an electrolyte formula. I had read this, article after article. And somehow I STILL DIDN'T GET IT. It's like when people hear you, but don't comprehend what you're saying... until it's too late!

A few days into my diet change, and several workouts later, my muscles were burning! Like the day after a good workout. Just sore. Realllly sore and almost cramping. They didn't get better, they were getting worse. I didn't understand!

And then it clicked. I needed Electrolytes. They are essential to your body for it to function correctly. Also, they help you not feel like pure death while adjusting. After downing about 24oz of this in 30 minutes, my legs felt miraculously better! I continued drinking throughout the day and within 24 hours my calf cramps had vanished. See you later, Keto-flu.

So was born Keto-Aid!!! I am currently taking a pill form of Magnesium, which is one of the crucial supplements for Low-Carb High-Fat consumers. There are recipes that incorporate Magnesium into the drink mixture. This recipe will only provide you with Potassium and Sodium. I drink this daily to consume my recommended supplement intake.

Keto-Aid

Prep Time: 10 min
Servings: 2-3

Ingredients:
3 cups of Water
1 Drink Additive (I use Mio)
1 Tbs Stevia (or other approved sweetener)
1/4 tsp Salt-Lite (or more, for taste)
1 slice of Lemon

Directions:
1. Fill jar with water
2. Add your desired amount of flavor additive (I use about 3-4 squirts of Mio)
3. Add your Stevia
4. Squeeze your lemon slice into the container
5. Slowly add the Salt-Lite to your drink mixture. I taste-test as I go, to make sure I don't add too much!
6. Shake or stir until well combined. You may have a few pieces of lemon pulp, but that'll be okay!

Notes: I enjoy using Salt-Lite because it offers you both sodium and potassium. Two birds, one drink. Feel free to adjust the amount of salt used. Everyone's taste buds are different - I personally enjoy adding a larger amount! Have fun with recipes and adjust them to your liking. That's when the fun really starts :) I hope you enjoy this drink. Thank you.

Per 8 oz: 97g Sodium, 117g Potassium (if you use 1/4 tsp per 3 cups of Water, adjust accordingly)

The Good & Bad of Consistency

Keto & Running: My solution to a year-long plateau.

Summary: last posted workout was nice, I have been at a year-long weight loss plateau. I am trying a new way of eating. I am going to start running. Going to be positive that I will see results with this new routine!

Woah! Okay, I took too long to post again. That is the bad type of consistency. But, I feel assured that my (non-existent) readers will forgive me as I get used to this new routine.

Last time we spoke I was aiming to follow an at-home workout guide that was 1 week long. You could also put it on repeat and get multiple uses out of it. My review: I enjoyed it. It did get my heart rate up and really didn't take long at all. Most days it took somewhere between 17-20 minutes. That's not too bad considering 0 minutes would be better.

So for the last year, my weight has held steady. That sounds good, right? It is since I didn't' gain weight. But, it's not so good when your real goal is to LOSE weight. That's the worst kind of consistency. I had met my plateau. I have counted my calories and I have not. I have worked out 2 hours a day and I have not worked out. Nothing seems to get me through to that next level of fitness.

Experiment #1000: Keto & Running. After much research and talking with my husband (he's a fitness fanatic) I have decided to follow this way of eating. I'm highly intrigued and 2 days in. I know that running does really well for my body. The one time I was at my lowest weight I was running 3 miles a day.

Okay. So here it goes! I have to give it a few months before I say it doesn't work (here is where consistency is key!).