STRENGTH TRAINING FOR SENIORS

A Simple and Effective Beginner Friendly Home Workout Program and Meal Plans for Over 50s.

Feel Healthier, Grow Stronger and Look Younger in Just 1 Month!

By Camilla Clarke

© Copyright 2021 - All rights reserved.

It is not legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One:  Why Strength Training?

Chapter Two:  Motivation

Chapter Three: Getting Started

Chapter Four:  The Body & The Equipment

Chapter Five: Knowledge Drop

Chapter Six:  The Exercises

Chapter Seven:  The Routine

Chapter Eight:  Nutrition and Diet

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snacks

Chapter Nine: Affirmations to Help You Stay Focused

Chapter Ten: Workout Terminologies

Final Words

Introduction

“Take care of your body. It is the only place you have to live.” Jim Rohn

Jack and Ed were both turning 59 in the spring and decided to make New Year’s resolutions to get in shape. Jack followed through with his resolution, Ed‚— not so much.

Jack worked out at home three times a week while Ed considered walking around the house during commercials but never did. Jack followed a structured exercise program while Ed kept meaning to do what he could remember from football workouts in high school but never got around to it. Jack and his wife walked the neighborhood daily, while Ed and his wife walked from the sofa to their kitchen and back.

Jim and Ed both turned 59 in the spring, but only one of them made it to 65. And it wasn’t Ed.

What was the difference? One word—exercise.

Per a 2015 statistic, there are about “...417,000 individuals living at or above the age of 100 worldwide.” When interviewed, it was discovered that in addition to a positive attitude, another common trait shared with those centenarians is that every single one of them lives an active lifestyle.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that serious health problems were far less likely to occur in people who are physically active than those who are not. Specifically, in 2018, the CDC reported that “...people who frequently exercise or are physically active have a lower risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers...” People who exercised regularly also had lower rates of arthritis, obesity and erectile dysfunction.

The truth is, far too many of us sit around and dream about our dream body and do not take the steps needed to make that dream a reality. Would you believe that less than 3 percent of Americans live a healthy lifestyle? Three percent! That means the majority of us are living an inactive lifestyle, and usually that lifestyle includes unhealthy eating habits. Combined, they are the leading catalysts for deaths among seniors in America. Keeping your butt glued to the couch can dramatically add to one's ability to become a statistic to any number of health ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity—as well as Cancer.

Here are a few interesting statistics from Policy Advice 2021. “Statistics show that less than 23% of average American adults meet Physical Activity requirements. 82.1 million US residents aged six and above don’t exercise at all. Lack of proper exercise incurs $117 billion in health costs per annum for the US government. More than 97 million US adults are overweight. 15,000 military applicants can’t qualify due to weight problems.”

How do we combat these unfortunate statistics? With a change in mentality.

“You have more control over your body than you think—you can control, manage, or completely avoid 60-70% of known chronic conditions with physical fitness, healthy nutrition, and mental balance.” – Samir Becic

In other words, exercise and healthy eating should become habitual. Why? Because it is essential, and this book has been designed to help you regain control of and build healthier habits that will transform your life.

Exercise and healthy eating not only adds to one's lifespan, but it helps maintain the temple which is your body. Routine exercise increases brain activity, helps lower stress, and aids in proper sexual function as well as cultivates a more youthful appearance. A healthy diet helps provide antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, vital to the body’s healthy daily functioning.

You see, the body loses 3-5% of our muscle mass every ten years after the age of 30. As we get older, a loss of muscle can increase falls and fractures along with weakness and less flexibility and mobility. This loss of muscle mass is a natural occurrence known as Sarcopenia, but just because it's natural doesn’t mean we have to accept it! In fact, inside the pages of this book are the keys to not only stop it, but the ability to reverse it.

How, you may ask? Through routine and properly executed strength training using movement resistance. By routinely performing the exercises, your muscles will become stronger, larger and have greater cardiovascular endurance. “Resistance training is based on the principle that muscles of the body will work to overcome a resistance force when they are required to do so. When you do resistance training repeatedly and consistently, your muscles become stronger.”

This book will show you how to follow a program designed for your success and long-term health benefits, but you must be willing to change your habits. You have to commit to the program as a whole and that commitment needs to incorporate the body and the mind. You have to want this change in order for it to take fruition. You must want to adopt and then follow the program laid out that will lead to a better diet, a stronger body, and greater cardiovascular development.

“Your desire to change must be greater than your comfort.” Rod Khleif

This book is a simple yet thorough guide for building your body and creating a solid pre and post workout diet to enable you to live your best life. As is the case with any new habit, remaining on track with your new lifestyle goals is key and there are over 50 affirmations included in this book to help you remain committed to living your best life.

This book is designed to provide you with a detailed 30-day comprehensive full body workout. For each exercise there are detailed instructions with clear illustrations to ensure you maintain the right posture, do not injure yourself and achieve maximum results. In addition, illustrations are provided to show you each muscle group being worked to allow you greater understanding of the health benefits of each exercise.

So, stop focusing on what your body could be and make that into a reality. No excuses either. This particular workout program concentrates on exercises that you can do yourself at home without the need of fancy equipment or an expensive gym membership. The guess work on what needs to be done and when has been taken out of the equation, leaving you to confidently execute each exercise for its maximum health benefits.

In addition, the workout can be completed in a manageable 30 min. time frame and is adjustable depending on your personal fitness level. In other words, you can increase the intensity based on your body’s strength and flexibility.

Now why should you read my book? Well, simply put, because I understand. I understand why you may be hesitant on embarking on an exercise journey and why all of this may seem too overwhelming. This too was my reality a few years ago; and now that I know better, I want to get the message out there that anyone can do this and a failure to do so may be detrimental to your health.

As a former Corporate Executive turned Health and Fitness Coach, I am surrounded professionally and personally by people who do not live healthy lifestyles in terms of both exercise and diet. I constantly hear them say they want to change their diet and workout more often. Yet no matter how many hours they commit to their job and to loving their families, they don’t have that same commitment to bettering themselves physically. Having had first-hand experience over the benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle, I am passionate about sharing the message that this is achievable and just requires a change in mindset.

Not to mention, my wonderful Mom and Dad are in their roaring 70’s, so I am particularly concerned with ways of increasing the longevity of life through adopting and incorporating a healthy lifestyle.

Over the years I have received invaluable guidance from various personal trainers and implemented a successful program that will bring you results. I have written this book to debunk the intimidating myths that exercise is hard, and it will make you look too muscle bound. Don’t believe the hype which says you can’t workout unless you buy tons of equipment or enroll at an overpriced gym. Those lies are perpetuated by those unwilling to change and jealous of those of us who do. I can tell you one absolute truth; anyone can change their ways and adopt a healthy lifestyle. You just have to decide to start.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu

So, what are you waiting for? You have already taken the first step. Now turn the page for your journey to a better you to continue.

Chapter One:  Why Strength Training?

“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort...” Napoleon Hill

Vicki and Joan have been neighbors for ten years. They are both in their mid-fifties and mildly overweight. Vicki wants to start exercising but is afraid to use weights, because she heard from a friend that it would make her look muscle bound and could hurt her arthritic joints. Meanwhile, Joan runs three miles a day because she believes aerobic activity alone is better than working out with weights.

While Vicki is torn, Joan took action and is exercising, which is important. Taking action is paramount. However, the beliefs both ladies have chosen to trust are wrong. There is no fact to either one, yet these two wonderful ladies are not alone when it comes to harboring these erroneous beliefs.

Fact vs. Fiction

The myths about resistance training are often what stops people from getting the exercise their bodies want and need. Here are some falsehoods which stop people from following their true physical potential:

1. Strength training makes you less flexible . Actually, it’s quite the contrary. Applying resistance training to your exercise regimen can improve your joint and muscle flexibility.

2. In order to begin a strength training regiment, you have to belong to a gym or buy expensive equipment . This particular falsehood was most likely started by a gym manager or an equipment salesperson. You can work out effectively by just doing exercises which require you to move your body weight.

3. Strength training is bad for your joints . See number one above.

4. Cardio burns more fat than strength training . This is a half-truth. Cardio does burn more fat than strength training. However, your metabolism will stay elevated longer after a workout incorporating weights as well as cardio than it will with either alone. The best, most ideal workout incorporates strength training followed by cardio exercise 51 .

5. Strength training can make a woman look bulky and muscle bound . One question.: Does Jane Fonda look muscle bound or bulky to you? Didn’t think so. It's all about the exercises you choose. Short workouts with heavy weight and low repetition of motion will build large muscles, while lighter weights and more repetition is the key behind resistance training.

6. Strength training takes too much time . An effective workout can take only 20 minutes.

7. Strength training is only for the young . Nothing is exclusively for the young.

8. I am too weak for strength training . That’s why you need to strength train. No seriously—this is silly. The right routine will improve your strength in weeks.

9. Muscle turns to fat if you ever stop working out . Not exactly. Muscle cells and fat cells are not the same, and therefore not interchangeable. Cosmetically, the body will change due to a lack of tone. But you aren’t reading this book to stop working out. You want to start.

10. Strength training is too difficult to learn . Everything is “difficult” at the beginning, but with the right training—i.e. this book—you will do just fine.

I’m sure I didn’t have to tell you that all the above notions are false, because if you believed them, you wouldn’t be reading this book.

It is a proven fact that as we grow older it becomes vital to incorporate weightlifting into our exercise pattern. If you are in your 50’s you can expect your muscle mass to deteriorate by 1-2% while your muscle strength dips by 1.5% annually. This syndrome is called sarcopenia, which is an ailment in which the body loses muscle mass and strength. So, what can be done to combat this ailment which is often caused by poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle?

Two words—strength training.

From building muscle mass and strength, to alleviating joint pain, to helping you overcome anxiety and depression; strength training has a multitude of benefits. So, if you are still wondering if working out with weights is good for you, let's count the ways it can help add longevity to your life.

Strength Training to Reverse the Aging Process

Say what? That must be a typo. How in the world can working out with weights or resistance bands reverse the aging process? Well, have you seen Jane Fonda (83), Vince McMahon (75), and Tina Turner (81)? If so, I’m sure you will agree that none of them “look their age.” How? Plastic surgery? Nah. All of those aforementioned celebrities and countless others over 50 in and out of Hollywood are battling the ravages of age through exercise.

But how can this be true?

Well, this discovery was made during a 2007 study involving 25 active senior citizens with an average age of 68 versus 26 younger people with an average age of 24 who did very little exercise. Each group was thoroughly screened and given a muscle biopsy (this is a procedure used to discover muscle related ailments in the body) before and after the six-month testing period. In addition, they received a workout program and exercised at least twice a week on nonconsecutive days. After 26 weeks, the biopsy was tested, and it was discovered that “…179 genes associated with age and exercise showed a remarkable reversal in their expression profile after six months of resistance training” 2 .

Strength Training for Flexibility and Arthritis

Contrary to some beliefs, resistance training does not create inflexibility. If done properly, using the correct posture and following the correct and full range of motion, after roughly 12 weeks of resistance training you will see an improvement in flexibility. We all know flexible joints can lead to better daily living/quality of life by improving one’s ability to do simple tasks such as climb stairs, stand, and sit.

Now, suppose you have arthritis, should you work out? The answer, simply, is yes—but carefully. Whenever joints are inflamed exercise should be done carefully and at a time of day when your ailment is the least likely to cause stiffness and pain. Proper posture and range of motion is key to exercising without further exacerbating your condition 15 .

Strength Training for Improved Muscle Strength and Endurance

Common sense tells us the more a person performs resistance training, the stronger their muscles will become. However, were you aware that exercise will also increase muscle endurance? The more one works out the greater likelihood that “weightlifting improves the endurance of the muscles themselves, along with aerobic conditioning, and walking speed.” 3

In addition, exercising with weights along with aerobic activity 2-3 x’s a week will increase fat loss and improve lung capacity and endurance.

Strength Training for Improved Metabolic Rate

The fact is, strength training can and will help you increase your metabolism. It does so in three ways: during exercise, after exercise, and continuously.

During exercise, the body burns calories to fuel the process. This process increases your caloric burn/metabolism. After a workout, for the next 24–48 hours, your body will have to work harder than normal in order to repair the muscle tissues that have had stress imposed on them. As your body is recovering from your most recent strength training workout, you are burning more calories. Finally, performing resistance training will help increase your metabolism because it promotes an increase in lean body mass or muscle tissue. Muscle is highly metabolically active which means that it requires more calories than fat to be maintained. 4

Strength Training for Fighting Disease

For those of us battling ailments both physical and/or mental, the right strength training regimen can do wonders. Take for instance, heart disease.

Did you know that just one hour a week of weight training—that’s right just one hour— can cut your chances of a heart attack by 40-70% 5 . I don’t know about you, but that alone makes me want to work out! However, we have only scratched the surface of the ways weight training can aid in the overall well-being of the body.

For example, those of us who are diabetic (a condition in which the body can’t properly process blood sugar), strength training helps burn more insulin while exercising 6 . In addition, it helps the body use blood sugar more effectively and fights against heart disease. 7

When it comes to lower back pain, when performed under a physician's care, and following the proper range of motion, as well as the incorporation of pre and post workout stretching, strength training can help relieve chronic back pain 8.

Another area in which strength training can help is in the reduction of the risk of osteoporosis, a condition in which the body can’t create enough new bone tissue to replace the old ones. This condition can be combated against through strength training. By utilizing your own body weight, resistance bands, or weights, you will “stress” the bones which increases bone density ("Weightlifting is good for your heart and it doesn't take much" 2021).

For victims of strokes, strength training can aid in recovery. Most stroke (brain damage due to interrupted blood supply) victims have only about 50% capacity of the normal strength of their non-stroke counterparts. However, using a process known as progressive strength training which is strength training involving lifting a load 8 to 15 times to the point of muscle fatigue and then progressively increasing the intensity of the exercise over the course of an intervention, a stroke victim can receive that 50% back. 10

Mental health symptoms can also be suppressed via strength training. In the June 2018 issue of JAMA Psychiatry , a study of 33 randomized clinical trials involving more than 1,800 people found that people with mild to moderate depression who performed resistance training two or more days a week saw "significant" reductions in their symptoms, compared with people who did not. The findings also suggested that resistance exercises may be even more beneficial for those with more severe depressive symptoms. 14

Strength Training for Balance & Stability

Every day we move through our day taking certain things like balance and stability for granted, but did you know you need good balance to do just about everything, including walking, getting out of a chair, and leaning over to tie your shoes? Of course, strength training can help. Not only can it improve your posture, but by using weight exercises that strengthen the muscles in the legs and core, you will improve your overall stability and help prevent falls. 56

"Having a good muscle base is important for all movement, balance, coordination and injury prevention," explains Dr. Adam Rivadeneyra, a sports medicine physician with Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, California. "If a muscle is too weak, it puts more stress on its connecting tendon and can result in tendonitis."

Strength Training for Weight and Appearance

“Vanity is an old and venerable habit.” Catherynne M.Valente

Well, let's use that habit to our advantage and let vanity, or our need to look good, be the fuel behind getting out to exercise.

Consistent exercise is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy body weight, and one of the best ways to exercise the body is strength training. "When people incorporate strength training into their exercise routine, they not only burn calories, but increase lean muscle mass, which stimulates the metabolism," says Michael Rebold, director of integrative exercise sciences at Hiram College in Ohio.

In addition, strength training helps with heart health, blood pressure and even cholesterol. A 2013 research in the Journal of Applied Physiology demonstrates that young men who regularly strength train have better-functioning HDL, or good cholesterol, compared with those who never pump iron. 13

So internally exercise does wonders for the human body, but what about the outside?

Research, including a 2015 Journal of Extension study of middle-aged and older women, shows that consistent strength training improves body image and perceived physical appearance—no matter what the actual aesthetic results are. 13 Just the concept of ‘I am looking’ better can help fuel a workout.

So, in other words, as you look good, you begin to feel good, and vice versa. But the upside to strength training does not end here.

More Advantages of Strength Training

The gains one can have from strength training are numerous.

A 2014 study published in the research journal Obesity , Harvard researchers followed 10,500 men over the course of 12 years and found that strength training is more effective at preventing increases in abdominal fat than cardiovascular exercise alone. 13

Strength training can improve brain health too. In one 2016 study in the Journal of American Geriatrics, when men and women ages 55 through 86 with mild impairment performed twice-weekly weight training for six months, they significantly improved their scores on cognitive tests. 13

Now do you need any more reasons to start exercising today? Not only did we debunk a ton of myths about strength training, we have shown numerous ways strength training can benefit the body physically and mentally.

So now all we have to do is begin...and in order to begin, we must have a reason, and that reason must overshadow any excuse we may come up with not to exercise. Next, we explore the why behind our new strength training adventure and what we can do to stay motivated throughout our journey.

Chapter Summary

In chapter one, we:

●       Took our first step in understanding strength training

●       Discovered several benefits of strength training

●       Debunked several myths about strength training

In the next chapter you will learn different forms of motivation, and the importance of having a why behind your desire to exercise via strength training.

Chapter Two:  Motivation

“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream, a vision.” Muhammad Ali

Why?

If there is anyone who knows the importance of why it's Ali.

The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of boxing once said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” His why (reason) was the heavyweight championship of the world. He endured the rigors of a daily routine workout to become one of the most recognized and successful athletes in the world.

Why? Why is the reason behind our daily life decisions. Why did I stop at the store? Why do I go to work? Why did I skip working out today?

What's your why ?

Before we go any further, you need to have a why . Tony Robbins says “In life you need either inspiration or desperation.” So, I ask you, why are you working out? Is your why inspired by a desire to play with your grandkids? Is your why cultivated from the desperation to live a longer life? Perhaps your why is to overcome some abhorrent disease? Or maybe your why is simply, you just want to look good. For a three-letter word, the word why can be a lot bigger than it looks.

Why is your why important? You must understand your why because we need a strong reason that drives us relentlessly toward our goals. Our why is the fuel behind our vision, and the reason why we go to the spare bedroom, to the garage, or to the living room even on our laziest day. That why has to include a clear vision with a clear set of short- and long-term goals.

Now what do I mean by understanding your why ?

Most of the time, when we begin to assess solving a problem, we begin by looking at how . How can I fix this, and how can I do that? How is a good place to begin, but asking why is an even better starting point. You see, knowing why you’re doing something serves two fundamentally important purposes: It motivates you and it orients you. 49 Motivation comes from knowing that there is a purpose to all the madness and the end result is your stopping point. Knowing why orients you by grounding you to your goal and giving you a concrete reason to achieve each and every day.

Why will keep you from skipping out on a workout, and why will make you want to squeeze in one more rep when your body says no. Maybe your why is the smile your grandchildren bring to your face when they call your name, or maybe your why will carry you when all the naysayers around you say quit.

Simply put, our why is our motivation, our driving factor, the reason and purpose behind what we do. That purpose can be driven by internal or external motivating factors.

Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any external rewards or pressure. 40 We are intrinsically motivated by the need to satiate our hunger and quench our thirst. In addition to our biological needs come the psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. 40

Then there are external motivating factors. Extrinsic motivation comes from the need to achieve a goal due to causes beyond the body. Money, fame, power and even the avoidance of consequences are all motivating factors which can drive you to or even from success. 40

Extrinsic factors such as the fear of failure, or looking silly the first time you work out can stop a person from fulfilling their desire to improve their body. These fears are rooted in anxiety and can be overcome with positive thinking.

Then there are positive external forces such as an outfit you saw in the store, or the actor/actress whose body you wish to emulate; or maybe a bet you have with a coworker to see who can lose the most weight in 60 days.

Ideally, we should all be driven by the desire to work out because we simply love it, but sometimes that love is not enough. Sometimes that intrinsic motivating factor needs to partner with an extrinsic one to help motivate you to work out on those lazy days we all get sometimes.

Excuses can hurt our progress and negate our why, and there are several excuses folks come up with not to workout.

I’m too tired to exercise . This is a very common and real excuse. Firstly, make sure you are getting enough rest, and if the answer is no, then adjust your schedule to get enough sleep daily. This excuse can be managed by working out when your energy is at its peak or by having a partner to workout with. But the number one way to combat this excuse is to just work out. Walking daily will help you build endurance and energy levels.

I can’t afford a gym . Who needs a gym? You can workout at home using your own body weight, you can take walks in your neighborhood, you can follow an exercise routine on YouTube or invest in exercise DVDs.

I don’t have time . Okay, me neither, but we have to make time to make gains in our health. Start with 10 minutes a day one week, and the next week, shoot for 11 minutes, and the following week, 12 minutes (Hannah, 2018). Soon without even realizing it, you will have time to work out because it will become a part of your schedule.

I don’t like to exercise alone. Okay, then see if a friend will join you on a walk around the neighborhood, or at the gym, or in your garage. You can even use social media to find walking or exercise groups nearby.

I get bored easily. Exercise is no fun. Routines can become, well routine, and that routine can become boring and cause you to lose sight of a goal. The key here is to choose exercises and exercise routines which will not only push you, but ones you will enjoy. In addition, consider exercises you might be willing to try down the road. This will add variety and keep your workouts fresh and challenging.

I’m too _______ to exercise . Whatever the word and reason you choose to insert, just know it can be overcome. Painful joints? Working out in water will alleviate this issue. Weight an issue of concern or embarrassment? As previously stated, you do not need to workout at a gym, you can exercise in the comfort of your own home.

I’ve tried before . So what? You are not your past. You are your present and the future. You have time and the will to change, so this time around change your routine by hanging a log on the refrigerator to track daily, weekly, and monthly progress. 14

I don’t like to work out around the opposite sex. This is a very real issue. Not everyone is comfortable exercising around the opposite sex and this can be a source of embarrassment. Often, this can be fixed by working out at home, but what if you don’t like to work out alone? Then consider gender specific exercise sessions, areas, and even gyms.

So, after we understand our why , and block the excuses that thwart our why , we must also create clear short- and long-term goals for us to achieve as we walk our path to better health. For instance, a short-term goal may be to lose ten pounds for your daughter’s wedding, but a long-term goal may be to maintain a weight of ______ (put your desired number here). Another example of a short-term goal would be to exercise three times a week, and have a long-term goal of bench pressing your body weight within six months. You see, just like our why , our goals are specific and driven by our desire to succeed.

So, we have a purpose behind our madness (our why ) and clear-cut goals we can aim to achieve on a daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly basis. Yet, there's more to do before we begin.

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” Tony Robbins

In order to embark upon a new journey, we must first give up those old pesky habits/routines that have almost become an integral part of our lives. You know what I am talking about. That habit of coming home and propping your feet up as you watch TV. Or that habit you have of starting something with 100% commitment, but after a week or two that commitment fizzles out.

We must change any habit which stops us from achieving our new goal of strength training. It's okay that you love to come home and vegetate/unwind after a long, hard day at work, fine. Only now, put a time limit on how long you relax before getting up and exercising. Finally, when it comes to breaking habits, forget the notion of going cold turkey. You didn’t formulate the habit overnight, therefore, you won’t break it overnight. Take it one day at a time, and be aware of when you fall into those bad habits.

Now that we have identified the different types of motivation and the need to break old habits, we now must learn how to stay motivated.

“Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Michael Jordan

Do you want a better body? Do you want to live longer, feel healthier or play with your grandkids? If you said yes to any one or all of the preceding, you have started off on the right foot. Now all you have to do is to maintain the motivation necessary to make your goal a reality.

But how does one stay motivated?

First, choose where your focus will be. We all have busy lives, and a myriad of things to do, but if we simply tackle one goal at a time, we will see success. So, while at work, focus on work, but when your day at the office is done, focus on your personal goals and achieve them.

Goals also become more easily obtainable when you immerse yourself into a supportive environment. Be around like-minded people who are goal oriented, and eager to workout consistently. This is where the company you keep becomes critical. We must have people who can relate to us, see us, and support us to stay positive. Positive people can help you reframe, redirect, and refocus when the going gets tough. In fact, consider social media as an aide. A 2015 study in Science Direct found that the support, accountability, and even healthy competition in online groups can help you adhere to an exercise routine. 28

Think about hanging motivational signs around the house to inspire you to work out even when you don’t “feel” like it.

Also, split large goals into smaller, more manageable ones. Remember the short-term vs long term goals. Let your short-term goals be manageable and geared towards a larger long term one.

Consider an extrinsic motivator such as picking a cause or competition to strive for. Runs and walks for Cancer research, Alzheimers, and other worthy causes are a great way to externally motivate yourself to achieve a goal by a specific time.

Speaking of which, schedule your workouts—more importantly, write them down. Self-help expert Tony Robbins stated, "If you talk about it, it's a dream, if you envision it, it's possible, but if you schedule it, it's real."

Celebrate and be appreciative. This is key to establishing a new habit of working out. An attitude of gratitude can go a long way to helping you see what is important and staying motivated on your journey to better health. Being grateful for waking up, and/or for losing a pound of weight can make all the difference.

Last, but certainly not least, take care of yourself. Drink and eat before you become thirsty and hungry, and most of all get plenty of rest. Your journey to better health will provide you with more energy to tackle your day, but the body needs to recover daily and that means getting the rest your body needs.

Chapter Summary

●       The importance of knowing your “Why”

●       The various excuses for not working out and how to beat them

●       How to stay motivated throughout your exercise journey

In the next chapter we will get started exploring the ins and outs of starting a workout regimen.

Chapter Three: Getting Started

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –  Arthur Ashe

Maggie is 67 and other than her daily walks with her husband Tim and their dog Champ, she has not worked out in over ten years. In her humble opinion, she was in good shape, she just needed to tone up her body. After talking with friends, she decided to start a strength training regimen, but has no idea where to begin.

Sound familiar? That’s okay, because in this chapter we will explore how to successfully and safely start your strength training routine.

I emphasize successfully and safely because we want to be successful in achieving our goal of getting into better shape, but we want to exercise safely . We cannot begin to exercise until we know we are physically able to safely begin strength training. So, our first step is to ask ourselves questions about our health and physical wellbeing.

This fitness chart can help you begin:

Questions to ask yourself

Yes

No

Do you have a heart condition?

Do you have high blood pressure?

Do you suffer from chest pains?

Do you lose your balance because of dizziness?

Do you have type 1/ type 2 diabetes?

Do you have a kidney/lung disease?

Do you have a bone or joint problem?

Do you have asthma?

Have you had recent cancer treatment?

Do you know of any other reason you should first consult your doctor     before embarking on the programme?

It is highly recommended that you consult with a physician if you answered yes to any of the above questions or if you are like Maggie and have taken quite a long time off since your last serious workout. It is recommended that you check with your doctor if you have symptoms that may be related to heart, lung or other serious disease such as 31 :

a)      Pain or discomfort in your chest, neck, jaw or arms at rest or during physical activity

b)      Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting with exercise or exertion

c)      Shortness of breath with mild exertion, at rest, or when lying down or going to bed

d)      Ankle swelling, especially at night

e)      A rapid or pronounced heartbeat

f)        A heart murmur that your doctor has previously diagnosed

g)      Lower leg pain when you walk, which goes away with rest

Finally, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends you see your doctor before engaging in moderate or vigorous exercise if 31 :

a)      You have heart disease, kidney disease, or type 1 or 2 diabetes, but no symptoms, and you don't normally exercise

b)      You have any symptoms of heart disease, kidney disease, or type 1 or 2 diabetes

After you have conducted your self-assessment and if needed consulted with your doctor, we can now begin our next step by getting your supplies. Yes, just like the start of a new school year, we have a list of items we recommend to get/use before you start exercising.

To begin with, you want to wear comfortable, breathable, and loose-fitting clothes. Next, you will want a pair of flat shoes/sneaks with a sturdy heel. A pair of light weight dumbbells are next. Now if you can’t afford or don’t want to use dumbbells, you can substitute full water bottles for weights. In addition, you could get a resistance band to intensify your workout. Lastly, a sturdy chair for certain exercises as well as a mat or towel to put down on the floor beneath you for other movements.

Naturally, as seniors starting out or returning to a workout regimen after even a short layoff, we need to be wise about what exercises we will perform. You should avoid certain exercises in the beginning to refrain from quitting, or having a minor or even serious injury. The following is a list of exercises you should avoid if over the age of 50:

a)      Squats with weights - This can cause unwanted stress to knees. The best thing to do after 50 is to use a chair and squat your own body weight. Later in this book, we will go over the proper form to use when performing a chair squat.

b)      Touching your toes - Here is one stretch that is not good for you to perform. This particular movement can cause strain on the back, hamstrings and neck at any age. However, the older we get, the more likely this exercise is to injure us.

c)      Leg presses - If you are over 40, leg presses or leg extensions are definitely exercises to avoid. Overloading your legs can put unnecessary strain on your knees and can also hurt your back and even cause herniated discs. (Papadakis, 2019)

d)      Deadlifts - Deadlifts are known for strengthening the hamstrings, glutes, lower back, and upper back, but if you are over 40 this may be an exercise to avoid. "As you get older, your muscles and bones become weaker and you can injure yourself more easily," explains Nikola Djordjevic, a family physician. "Deadlifts are incredibly difficult even to younger athletes and require you to be in very good shape."

e)      Triceps Dips - If you are not performing this move correctly, you can bring about minor or even severe injury to your upper arms and shoulders and even cause damage to your rotator cuffs. If you are not sure how to execute the perfect triceps dip, don't do it or find a modification that won't strain your body. 35

Some other exercises to avoid as a senior include but are not limited to (seniorlifestyle.com, 2020):

1. Long distance running

2. Abdominal crunches

3. Upright row

4. Rock Climbing

5. High Intensity Interval Training

The key takeaway from both lists is that as we grow older, we have to be mindful of our bodies and the exercises we perform. Our bodies become less flexible with age, and the risk of injury rises. With injury comes setbacks and even the chance of quitting, so we want to avoid doing anything that will impede our goal. We want to successfully and safely perform exercises using the proper form safely, properly and slowly. We must start off gradually and perform each exercise using the correct form, and as we build strength and comfort performing the initial exercises, only then can we move on to adding weights and making the workout more challenging.

But what about our friend Maggie? She was just starting out like the rest of us. Well, she followed our lead and went to her doctor for a check-up, and got the all clear to exercise. After buying a new outfit to exercise in—even though she had some clothes in her closet—she started off using her own body weight to work out. After two months she safely and successfully worked her way up to using a pair of five-pound dumbbells.

So now it is your turn to safely and successfully begin your strength training regimen.

Please take a few minutes to ask and answer the questions in the chart at the beginning of this chapter and if it has been a while since you worked out, or you answer yes to any of the questions provided, please consult with your physician before embarking upon this workout routine. Remember, injury and quitting are not part of our plans.

Chapter Summary

In chapter three we learned

●       the importance of safely and successfully starting a workout regimen

●       questions to ask yourself before starting a workout regimen

●       getting a doctor’s okay if needed

●       exercises to avoid as we age

In chapter four we will learn about our body and the equipment we can use.

Chapter Four:  The Body & The Equipment

“If I can see it and believe it, then I can achieve it.” Arnold Schwarzenegger

Congratulations, you have been to your doctor and gotten the ‘okay’ to workout. You also have on your breathable and loose-fitting clothing, along with your workout equipment, even if it's just a chair and a towel. Oh, and don’t forget a positive mental attitude.

If you checked off all three, you are ready to begin.

Our routine will consist of a total body workout and incorporate every major muscle group in the body two to three times a week. The major muscle groups in the body are as follows:

As can be seen from the image above, the body is made up of a wide range of intricate muscles.  In this book we will keep it simple and explain what major muscles we are working out when we perform the various exercises.

➢ Upper body muscle groups:

○ Shoulders - Strong shoulders are one way to indicate health and strength. Strong shoulders can also limit upper body injury. 51

○ Chest - A strong chest will improve back strength and posture.

○ Back - A strong back will not only improve posture, but will leave the spine unrestricted and cut back on possible back injury and pain.

○ Arms - (biceps & triceps) - A pair of strong arms will not only improve how much weight you can lift, but will also lead to an improved posture.

➢ Lower body muscle groups:

○ Hips - Strong hips will provide a stronger foundation and power when running.

○ Glutes - Strong backside or glute muscles will help prevent pain in the lower back and in the knees.

○ Legs - (Quadriceps (quads), hamstring, and calves) Strong legs will improve your endurance and allow you to run and walk farther for longer. Strong legs will also lessen the risk of falls.

➢ Core - (aka abdominal muscles) A strong core will improve overall body strength since all muscles connect in your core.

Now, you may have heard that it is better to work out one body part per day. In fact, when you were younger you may have worked out one major muscle group per day with some success. However, working one major muscle group per day is not necessarily the most effective workout routine for us at this point in our lives.

This book will show you how to do a total body workout. A total body workout is a workout that targets all your muscles, including the hips, glutes, thighs, chest, back, shoulders, and arms. (Waehner, 2019) The workout is full of tried-and-true classics, from squats and lunges to pushups and more. By incorporating a total body workout two to three times a week, you “...will engage more muscle groups at once.”  (Bach, 2016) A total body workout will burn more calories and even potentially provide you with greater gains in muscular growth and development. Some other benefits of a total body workout include:

1. Great for Beginners - Full body workouts are a fantastic option for beginners because they switch on and wake up all muscle groups, create a base of strength in all areas of the body and teach correct technique and movement patterns. 60

2. Burn More Calories in Less Time - If you only have 30 minutes to carve a workout into your schedule, a total body workout will allow you to work out your whole body in less time. In addition, major muscle groups working together in compound exercises, like squats (without weights initially) and lunges, require more energy to burn than single-joint exercises that only work one or two small muscles. 1

3. Build More Muscle - “Overzealous isolation work one day per week isn’t frequent enough for most people to see gains in muscular size,” says Tony Gentilcore, strength coach and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance. “With full-body training (assuming appropriate loads/weights and rest), you’re targeting any given muscle group two to three times per week for increased muscle growth.” 1

4. Increase Strength - Compound exercises, such as the squats, are full-body movements that require the most total-body effort to execute. By making these exercises the mainstay in your workout program, you’ll be challenging your body to continuously—and effectively—build strength. 1

5. Greater Availability - By training the whole body as one integrated unit you’re able to stimulate the same muscles in one workout that might take two or three isolation-based workouts. As a result, you can integrate total-body training around a busy schedule and not miss a beat. 1 In addition, a total body workout will allow you to add additional activities to your schedule including yoga, or even water aerobics. 25

6. Improved Cardiovascular Health - Because full body workouts work the entire body, you will improve your cardio health. Total body workouts consist of compound exercises that increase the heart rate more than isolated exercises. (Centre, 2020) Because of this, the body needs to oxygenate more muscles at one time, meaning the heart has to pump more blood around the body. 60

7. Increased Muscular Recovery Rates - Some people cannot handle back-to-back workouts even though they aren't working the same muscle, so for those individuals, full body workouts are perfect. You will get at least one day off between each full body workout, so they will give your muscles maximum recovery time. 25

8. Ideal for Fat Loss - Full body workouts make for the ideal fat loss workout set-up because they will get you working each muscle group at least twice a week, but won't ask too much from the body in terms of recovery. 25

Okay, so we have explored the various muscle groups we will exercise as well as some of the benefits of a total body workout. But how are we going to perform our total body workout? The answer is we will do it using resistance training.

Resistance training is any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance with the expectation of increases in strength, and/or endurance. 52 The external resistance can be your own body weight, dumbbells, exercise tubing, resistance bands, bricks, bottles of water, or any other object that causes the muscles to contract. 52 In fact, your own body weight is a perfect starting point for beginners. However, even a beginner may want a little extra weight to challenge themselves. Just know before you use any equipment, even your own body weight, stretching before and afterwards will help improve flexibility, while proper form will ensure safe results.

Here’s a quick education on what you can use to further enhance your strength training regimen.

1. Dumbbells

A dumbbell is a type of hand weight used in strength training. It consists of a short bar with weights on either end. Hand weights help form the foundation of basic strength training because they can be used in a variety of exercises. Traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks who used them to increase strength and stamina, the term “dumbbell” was officially coined in England during the sixteenth century. 53 In 1864, with the release of John Blundell's book, "The Muscles and Their Story," dumbbells became even more popular and commonplace among fitness enthusiasts. 53 There are two types of dumbbells; adjustable and fixed. An adjustable dumbbell is just as the name suggests. Their weight can be altered while a fixed dumbbell will remain the weight found on its label. Choosing or changing to the right weight is important. Some may feel that a heavier dumbbell will provide quicker, and more effective results, however lighter weights with higher repetitions can provide results and also reduce the risk of injury.

2. Kettlebell

A kettlebell is a piece of strength training equipment made of cast iron or steel with a handle attached to the top that first showed up on the weightlifting scene in 18th century Russia. They look similar to a cannonball with a handle, and just like a dumbbell it can be used to perform a variety of exercises. However, that is where the similarity ends. You see while, a dumbbell’s weight is evenly distributed, a kettlebell’s weight is not. This distinction causes us to counterbalance and stabilize our body during kettlebell exercises—which does amazing things for our core strength, balance, and coordination. 29 Since we want to keep things simple and inexpensive, our workout routine will not consist of any exercises using kettlebells.

3. Barbell

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a barbell is a piece of strength training equipment that consists of “a bar with adjustable weighted disks attached to each end that is used for exercise.” The first barbells could be found in 1860’s Europe. However, due to their risk of injury, and the fact they should be utilized by more experienced strength trainers, we will not utilize a workout routine that uses barbells.

4. Machine

A weight machine is any weight lifting device which uses gravity as the main source of resistance. Due to their price, complexity and our desire to keep things simple, our workout routine will not contain any exercises using weight machines.

5. Resistance Bands

Resistance Bands are stretchable strength training tools that add just what the name suggests to your workout. They are used quite frequently for rehabilitation patients due to their low injury risk and the fact they allow for a gradual growth in strength. In fact, they originated in the early 20th century, and were originally made from surgical tubing with the primary purpose of providing a means of exercises for muscle rehabilitation. (Wikipedia, 2021) While the colors vary among brands, resistance bands are color coded according to the level of resistance. There are six primary types of resistance bands:

1. Therapy Bands - usually do not have a handle and are used to rehab muscle tissue.

2. Compact Resistance Bands - these will most likely have a handle and can be used for upper and lower body exercises.

3. Fit Loop Bands - these will have a loop on one or both ends and are primarily used for lower body exercises.

4. Figure 8 Bands - these are shaped just as the name suggests and are great for upper body workouts.

5. Ring Resistance Bands - these are shaped like a circle with two handles and are a favorite for lower body exercises.

6. Lateral Resistance Bands - these allow for greater lateral movement which makes them perfect for lower body movements.

Resistance bands are a great tool to use because they provide the opportunity to perform the same exercises you would with a pair of dumbbells, a barbell or a machine with a lower risk of injury.

As you can probably guess, a lot of our routine will consist of exercises using our own body weight and resistance bands, because they exemplify our desire to work out safely and successfully. In fact, for the routine revealed in chapter six you will need; a sturdy chair, dumbbells, a mat/towel, and resistance bands. Alternatively, if you don't have a resistance band, you can always just use a robe tie or a bungee cord.

You can use the following as alternatives to dumbbells; canned goods, filled water bottles, books, one-gallon jugs of any liquid, paint cans or bags of sand.

We recommend light to medium tubular resistance bands.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter we learned:

●       The major muscle groups in the body and how strengthening each muscle group is beneficial

●       What makes a total body workout?

●       The equipment used to achieve our goal

In the next chapter we will address important terminology relevant to a workout.

Chapter Five: Knowledge Drop

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin

Betty and Florence are neighbors in their late fifties. These two grandmothers have decided individually to begin exercising, but neither one knows where to begin. Betty went to the bookstore and bought this book. Florence went to the bookstore and also bought this book. But that is where the similarities end.

You see, Betty read this book from cover to cover. She got a workout partner and together they scheduled their workouts each and every week and thoroughly followed the routine. Betty stretched before and after each workout and followed the routine and the diet for a solid month and saw results. She is in her third month and feels great. She has even incorporated weights into her workout.

Florence read the first chapter and some of the second before she quit reading. She figured she had enough background knowledge from her days in college as a cheerleader to guide her down her fitness path. She did not have much of a routine, and improvised her exercises as she performed them. Florence did enough stretches on her right arm to keep her bad elbow from hurting, but not enough to avoid pulling her hamstring one afternoon. After a lackluster week Florence quit her exercise regimen. She followed the diet for two weeks before giving up on that as well.

You see Betty had a plan, and she stuck to it. Florence had no plan and failed.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

This book is the plan you need to succeed in fulfilling your fitness goals, and we just have some additional knowledge we wish to bestow upon you.

First let’s explore some gym lingo—Reps and Sets. You may have heard these words before as they relate to exercise, and then again, perhaps you have never heard these terms before. How about we define them for you:

1. Repetitions (Reps) - According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a repetition “is any act of repeating an action.”.  In a workout programme this refers to the number of times you perform a specific exercise before resting.

2. Sets - Completing a series of reps of a specific exercise is called a set.

So, let's clarify, a set is made up of a series of reps and reps are how many times you can do a movement safely before you take a moment to rest. As beginners it is important to understand the distinction and the importance of starting both off at a low number. So, you will perform one set and 5 to 12 reps of each exercise as we start out (or less than this depending on your comfort level). This is a good starting point, and you can make it more challenging as you become more comfortable and familiar with performing each exercise.

It is important for you to know and pay attention to your body. If you can only do 5 reps in a single set to start, then do 5 reps, and celebrate those 5 reps. Do not push your body too far in the beginning. Remember, we are not trying to impress anyone but ourselves. Most of all, we want to be successful, and safe.

Now why are we making a big deal out of reps and sets? By setting a specific number of sets and reps you wish to achieve with each exercise, you can focus your workout and avoid injury by doing too much.

In addition, to further avoid injury, and overworking a muscle group, you should take a brief respite before starting another set or another exercise. This rest between sets and/or exercises can last as short as ten to as long as 60 seconds. This resting period is important because after a set of exercises, it can take the body up to a minute to recover. So, between sets take a moment to breathe and stretch before you make your way to the next movement.

Stretching keeps our aging bodies limber, but breathing is just as important. I am sure you are thinking that if you did not know how to breathe, you would not be reading this book. True, but there is a proper method of breathing during exercise.

Exhale as you work against resistance by lifting, pushing, or pulling; inhale as you release, each time you inhale, you take in oxygen, which your body needs to function. In other words, breathing in through your nose as you start a motion, and breathing out as you finish will allow for greater control during an exercise as well as provide more oxygen to slip into your muscles. Furthermore, proper breathing during exercise will strengthen the body from a cardiovascular standpoint. (Davis, 2020) Also, taking deep cleansing breaths as you rest between sets can help clear the mind and refocus your energy.

Speaking of rest, it is important to incorporate rest days into your routine. Rest days are essential to all workout enthusiasts, but especially for beginners looking to avoid injury. Now a rest day is not a day to slip into a new bad habit, or revisit an old one. Rest days are essential parts of your routine because they allow your body to recover and rejuvenate. On a rest day, any muscles worked will adapt to their new found growth and rejuvenate for the next workout.  In addition, the nervous system has a chance to regenerate. 17

By incorporating rest days into your routine, you will not only allow your body and mind to rest and recover, but you will also prevent overtraining which can lead to injury or a workout plateau. A workout plateau is a term which refers to a time when your body has successfully adapted to your workout routine. During a workout plateau, you may start to feel unmotivated, or even bored with your workouts. 17 To avoid this later on in your routine, you will have to challenge yourself by adding more weight and/or exercises to your current exercises. But that will come much later in our journey.

Another essential aspect to your workout routine is warming up to start off an exercise session as well as cooling off afterwards. Warming up the body before strenuous exercise helps to prevent injury, improves flexibility and focus as well as prepares the body for your workout.

Warm muscles both contract more forcefully and relax more quickly, thus improving muscle strength along with reducing the risk of overstretching a muscle and causing injury. (Quinn, 2020) Just performing a stretch is not enough. Your warm up should consist of a dynamic warm-up (also called dynamic stretching) and instead of holding still while stretching (also called static stretching), during a dynamic warm-up you move multiple muscles and joints. (Corbin and Henderson, 2015) You should warm up for 5 - 10 minutes prior to starting a workout using dynamic exercises. Ideally, your warm up should mimic the movements and exercises you are about to undertake in your workout. Here are some examples of safe dynamic warm up exercises you can use prior to your workout:

1. Hips - This exercise will help improve the flexibility of the hip muscle. Stand on one leg, using a countertop for support, and gently swing the opposite leg in circles out to the side. Perform 20 circles in each direction. Switch legs. Progressively increase the size of the circles as you become more flexible.

2. Arm Circles - This exercise will help keep arms and shoulders more flexible during exercise. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hold arms out to the sides, palms down, at shoulder height. Gently perform 20 circles in each direction. Progressively increase the size of the circles as you become more flexible.

3. Ankle Circles - This exercise will improve the ankle and foot’s range of motion. (Schrift 2020) Use a straight back, sturdy, and comfortable chair. Sit with your feet flat on the floor. Then either extend or cross your right leg. Now slowly rotate your ankle 10 times in both directions, then repeat the actions on the other leg.

4. Walking - a nice short walk around the neighborhood is a great way to work the entire body and get ready for a fun workout.

5. Squats - This exercise builds leg muscles and assists with balance. Stand with your feet at hip width apart with both feet pointed forward. Keeping your eyes forward, chest up, and heels planted, and arms outstretched for counterbalance, slowly push your hips out and lower into a squat and then slowly rise back into a standing position. (Lener, 2021)

Those are just five warm up exercises you can use.

There are plenty of other exercises you can utilize as you continue your fitness journey. They include;

1. Knee Bends - Knee Bends exercise helps with lower back flexibility. To perform this exercise, stand up and slowly bend one knee at a time and lower yourself as if you are sitting in an imaginary chair. (Lener, 2021)

2. Shoulder Rolls - This exercise gets the blood flowing to the shoulders before you start working them out with toning exercises. (Lener, 2021) You will stand up straight with your hands clasped behind your neck, elbows pointing out and shoulder blades pulled back for support. Using your upper back to support your neck, rotate your shoulders in one direction several times and then the other.

3. Side Bends - Side Bends help with side muscle development. To perform this exercise, stand up straight with your hands at your sides. Using your abdominals to tighten your core, move one side of your body towards the centerline of your body by bending to the side and sweeping that arm across in a semi-circle motion. (Lener, 2021)

4. Jump Rope - This exercise helps build the muscles of the lower back, hips and legs. Stand up and hold a jump rope with both hands, jumping from side to side with enough speed so that you are swinging your arms and body in unison while jumping. (Lener, 2021)

5. Torso Twists- This exercise will help with the core muscles that are used during most exercises. Stand up straight with your arms at your sides. Keeping the abdominals tight, rotate one shoulder in towards the other while twisting to the side and swinging your arms from side to side.

6. Yoga - (Thomson, 2020) Yoga helps to keep your muscles loose, and helps you remain healthy. You can get in a standing position with your feet hip-width apart. Placing both hands on your lower back, bend the knees as much as you can while keeping your eyes focused downward and backwards. You can even incorporate meditation into your warm-up. Visualizing is a great way to focus on goals.

Cooling down your body after a vigorous but fun workout is equally important. Cooling down allows your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure to return to normal at a slower pace while also paving the way for blood to return to your heart from your muscles. Furthermore, a cool-down helps your body remove lactic acid, a by-product of vigorous exercise. If you do not cool down, the lactic acid may pool in your muscles, causing increased soreness. (Corbin and Henderson, 2015) The cool thing about cool down exercises is the same movements we listed to warm up, can also cool us down.

However, one of the best ways to cool down is to stretch. Here is a list of stretch exercise that you can do:

1. Wobble - This exercise will help to cool off your lower back and hamstring muscles. To perform this exercise, lie on the floor on your back with both knees bent. Slowly move the legs to the side while keeping both feet close together and knees pointed at you. Then slowly rotate your upper body until you feel extra tired, but still moving with ease. (Melone 2020)

2. Leg Lifts - This exercise helps cool off your lower leg muscles. To perform this exercise, lie on the floor with one leg bent and the other straight up in the air. With both hands palms down on either side of your hips, lift and lower your leg multiple times. Repeat with your other leg.

3. Mermaid - This exercise helps cool down the thigh and hip muscles. Lie face down on the floor with your arms stretched out in front of you at shoulder height and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Keeping only your upper body and head on the floor, lift your legs about 2–4" off the floor with each exhalation. (Melone 2020)

4. Cat Stretch - This exercise will help to cool down the hips, hamstrings and lower back. Start on hands and knees with your back flat, eyes focused on the floor in front of you, and hands under shoulders. Slowly round your back in one direction while keeping your hips pointed forward. Then slowly arch your back in the other direction (with control). (Melone 2020)

Remember earlier when we said warm muscles contract easier. Well, stretching at the end of your workout can help increase your flexibility, reduce the risk of injury, and decrease muscle tension in your body and even help boost your performance the next time you work out.

Remember, whether you are cooling off or warming up, watch your breathing. Breathe in as you start the movement, and breathe out as you exert energy.

Another key concept for you to understand is the concept of mindfulness when it comes to your body. Now mindfulness is a state of awareness, and as you start your exercise journey, you need to be aware of your body. You know you, and you know what you can/cannot do. So be gentle in the beginning. It’s okay to challenge yourself, but for the first month of our journey together, follow the plan and allow for your body to get stronger and used to working out before you add weight, or exercises to your routine. Be sure to rest on your rest days. Finally, if you do experience any unusual pain or discomfort, see your doctor.

Chapter Summary

●       The difference between reps and sets

●       The importance of warming up and cooling down

●       The importance of knowing your body

In the next chapter you will learn the exercises you will be performing, what muscles they affect and how strengthening them helps you.

Chapter Six:  The Exercises

“Exercise is a blessing, not a chore. I workout because I’m grateful that I physically can.” Unknown

So, you have your equipment, knowledge base, and a very positive attitude. You have visualized your goal and are prepared to see it come to fruition. You are also prepared to be mindful when it comes to your body and how you feel as you start your fitness journey.

Now all you need is your routine.

I recommend you follow the routine as it is presented for at least a month. To avoid burnout, don’t add in any extra exercises to the program. Stick with it as it is for the first month. Keep in mind that during weeks 3 and 4, the exercise sets will increase as well as the weights in order to continue to challenge yourself. If you do not feel ready to move on to more sets and heavier weights then stick with what you are comfortable with until you feel strong enough to do so.

With this workout, you will be completing 3 full body workouts during the program with these workouts being built on in weeks 3 and 4. The workout will progress in difficulty to ensure you make good progress.

We will begin with the warm up portion of the routine. For this section, you will need a sturdy chair and a towel/mat.

Later for the rest of the routine, you will need the following:

1. A Sturdy Chair - not a chair with wheels or stable chair.

2. Dumbbells - For every exercise, select a dumbbell weight that is heavy enough to do 10 repetitions (reps) comfortably but not too comfortably—meaning that for doing the last 1 or 2 reps you should struggle a bit and your muscles should begin to feel tired. A good weight to start off as a beginner would be 1 to 3 pounds and steadily increase as your strength increases. It is therefore advised you purchase various weight sets to enable utilization of heavier weights over time to build strength. If you do not have dumbbells, you can use water bottles as a substitute.

3. Resistance Bands - Purchase your resistance bands in a set instead of a single band as over time more resistance will be added to build strength (e.g., buy light, medium and heavy bands, the bands will be color coded). As a beginner you can begin with the lightest resistance band and work your way to heavier resistance the stronger you get. With the resistance training incorporated in this program the recommended resistance band is a Tube Resistance Band with handles (we recommend that you start with a light or medium resistance band depending on your fitness level). If you do not have a resistance band the workout program has an alternative exercise that will yield similar results.

Warm-up Exercises

Exercise: Neck Extension

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Neck muscles

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 3

Equipment needed: Chair - optional

Technique:

Whilst sitting on a sturdy chair or standing, begin with your head straight looking forward. Gently lift your head as high up as you can, hold for 3 seconds then slowly return to the start position. Gently bring your chin to your chest whilst looking down, hold for 3 seconds then slowly return to the start position. Repeat.

Exercise: Neck Rotation

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Neck muscles

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 3

Equipment needed: Chair - optional

Technique:

Whilst sitting on a sturdy chair or standing begin with your head straight looking forward. Gently turn your head as far left as you can and hold for 5 seconds. Slowly return to the start position then turn your head as far right as you can and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat.

Exercise: Shoulder Roll

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Shoulder, Chest, Upper back

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 3

Equipment needed: No equipment

Technique:

Stand straight with your feet slightly apart and your arms by your side. Slowly rotate both shoulders forwards making big circles 3 times. Then slowly rotate both shoulders backwards making big circles 3 times. Repeat.

Exercise: Arm Circles

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Shoulder, Triceps, Back, Biceps

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 1

Equipment needed: No equipment

Technique:

Stand straight with your feet slightly apart and arms stretched out horizontally to the sides, without bending your elbows slowly rotate both arms forward in a circular motion 5 times. Then slowly rotate both arms backward in a circular motion 5 times.

Exercise: Arm Swing

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Shoulder, Arms, Back, Chest

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 3

Equipment needed: No equipment

Technique:

Stand straight with your feet slightly apart and your knees slightly bent and your arms stretched out horizontally to the sides. Cross your arms to the front then bring them back as far as you can. Repeat.

Exercise: Standing Hip Extension

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Hip Extensors: Hamstrings, Glutes (buttocks)

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 10

Equipment needed: Chair

Technique:

Stand with a sturdy chair in front of you, hold the top of the chair to balance yourself. With a straight back, keep your leg as straight as possible and move it backwards with a straight knee. Return to the start position and perform the same action on the other leg.

Exercise: Knee Extension

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Quadriceps (thighs)

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 3

Equipment needed: Chair

Technique:

Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Straighten out your knee and keep your leg horizontal to the floor, hold for 5 seconds. Return to the start position and perform the same action on the other leg. Repeat.

Exercise: Calf Raises

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Calf muscle (gastrocnemius)

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 5

Equipment needed: Chair

Technique:

Stand up straight with a sturdy chair in front of you, hold the top of the chair to balance yourself, raise your heels until you are standing on your toes, hold for 5 seconds then lower slowly back to the start. Repeat.

Exercise: Ankle Circles

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Ankle joint

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 1

Equipment needed: Chair

Technique:

Sit on a sturdy chair and extend one leg in front of you and slowly rotate your ankle 5 times in one direction and 5 times in the opposite direction. Put your leg down and perform the same action on the other ankle.

Exercise: March In Place

Primary Muscle/s exercised: Hips, Thighs, Legs, Arms, Core, Glutes

Repetitions (how many times to repeat the exercise): 20

Equipment needed: No equipment

Technique:

Stand straight with your elbows bent and your feet slightly apart. March by bringing your left elbow forward at the same time you bring your right knee up. Bring your elbow and knee back into position and repeat with the other elbow and knee. Keep alternating.

Good, now that you are limber, and ready to go, let us begin, but first just some last-minute reminders and recommendations.

First, pay attention to your breathing during your workouts. Exhale as you work against resistance by lifting, pushing, or pulling; inhale as you release, each time you inhale, you take in oxygen, which your body needs to function. The more that you move, the more oxygen you need. So, be sure to breathe slowly in and out.

Let’s now get to know the exercises we will perform. Here is a breakdown of each exercise and the muscle(s) they work, along with any equipment you will use, and the benefit of each movement. The next chapter will reflect the exercise routine utilizing these exercises.

Resistance Band Bicep Curl

Primary Muscle(s) Exercised

❖         This exercise works the biceps which can be found in the upper arm, as well as the brachialis, and brachioradialis which are both found in the lower (fore) arm.

Equipment Needed

❖         A set of resistance bands are what you need for this movement, and it is recommended that you use a light or medium resistance level.

Exercise Technique

❖         Place the end of each band in each hand, and then place the center of your shoe in the middle of the bands. Keep your head and chest upright, feet shoulder width apart, back straight and your stomach tight. Begin with your arms extended down and tight to your sides with palms facing up. Next, curl the bands all the way up towards your shoulders while keeping tension on the biceps.  Breathe in. Then slowly lower your hands back to the starting position and repeat the movement as you breathe out. Perform a single set with 10 repetitions. (RubberBanditz, 2021)

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         Biceps curls help make your arms stronger which helps you to lift heavier objects. Using resistance bands for a bicep curl provides a wider range of motion and resistance from different angles, maximizing the stress placed on your muscles resulting in muscle growth. Exercises with bands allow you to vary your movements and customize your workout with different amounts of resistance. (RubberBanditz, 2021)

Biceps Curls with Dumbbells

Primary Muscle Exercised

❖         This exercise also works the biceps which can be found in the upper arm, as well as the brachialis, and brachioradialis which are both found in the lower (fore) arm.

Equipment Needed

❖         A pair of dumbbells (start off with a manageable weight) or a pair of full water bottles.

Exercise Technique

❖         Once again, starting off in the correct form is key. In the case of a biceps curl you begin with feet hip/shoulder width apart. Hold one rung in each hand and allow your arms to relax down at the sides of your body with palms facing forward.  Keeping your upper arms stable, elbows tucked in close to your ribs and shoulders relaxed, bend at the elbow and lift the weights so that the bands go to your shoulders. (Rogers, 2020) Breathe in as you lift, and breathe out as you relax. Return to the starting position and repeat the motion nine more times for a total of a single set of ten reps.

Exercise Benefits

❖         This exercise strengthens the arms so you can lift more. In addition, this movement tones the arms for a better overall appearance.

Triceps Kickbacks with Dumbbells (lean over chair)

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This exercise works the tricep muscle which can be found on the back of the arm.

Equipment Needed

❖         A pair of dumbbells, or water bottles and a sturdy chair.

Exercise Technique

❖         Stand with a dumbbell in one hand with your knees bent and lean forward slightly with one hand braced on the back of a chair. Keeping your back straight and flat (not hunched), bend your dumbbell-holding arm 90 degrees at the elbow so your triceps are aligned with your back and your biceps are perpendicular to the floor. Engage your core and your triceps and hinge at the elbow, lifting the dumbbell up while you breathe in through your nose and back as you try and straighten your arm, but don’t lock it. Be sure to leave it slightly bent while you breathe out through your mouth. Your triceps should stay still; only your elbow moves. (Schultz, 2019)

Exercise Benefits

❖         Powerful triceps are required for every pushing movement and some pulling ones when the arms are close by your side (think: opening doors, rowing, helping someone up off the floor). Plus, they make your arms look downright incredible. (Schultz, 2019)

Shoulder Press with Resistance Bands

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The muscles worked in a shoulder press are the deltoids, triceps, trapezius and pectoral muscles.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need light to medium resistance bands.

Exercise Technique

❖         To do this exercise properly stand with your feet hip width apart with the resistance band under your foot/feet. Next, place the handles of your resistance bands above your shoulders with your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. Next while breathing in, slowly push arms straight up then breathe out as you return to the starting position.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         The benefits of this exercise are the decreased odds of injury during daily activities, better body stability, and a stronger upper body. (Pure Gym, 2021)

Shoulder Press with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The muscles worked in a shoulder press are the deltoids, triceps, trapezius and pectoral muscles.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a pair of dumbbells or a pair of full water bottles.

Exercise Technique

❖         To begin with, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the dumbbells at shoulder height with your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Then while breathing in, slowly lift the dumbbells above your head without fully straightening your arms. Pause at the top without locking your elbows and breathe out as you slowly return to the start position. (Pure Gym, 2021)

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         The benefits of this exercise are the decreased odds of injury during daily activities, better body stability, and a stronger upper body. (Pure Gym, 2021)

Sit and Stand

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This particular movement works the front muscles of the upper leg called the quadriceps.

Equipment needed

❖         A sturdy chair with no wheels is all you will need.

Exercise Technique

❖         Begin by sitting on the front half of your chair with both feet flat on the floor shoulder width apart. Cross your arms, breathe in and slowly rise to a standing position, ensuring that your knees never cross the frontal plane of your toes. Once standing, breathe out as you gradually sit back down. (Kaltenborn, 2021)

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         Improved balance and a stronger lower body are two benefits from this exercise.

Lying Single Leg Raises

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This exercise targets the iliopsoas (the anterior hip flexors). Because the abdominal muscles are used isometrically to stabilize the body during the motion, leg raises are also often used to strengthen the rectus abdominis muscle and the internal and external oblique muscles. (Wikipedia, 2021)

Equipment Needed

❖         All you will need is a towel or a mat to place underneath you.

Exercise Technique

❖         Place your mat or towel down on the floor, then lay on it flat on your back. Next, put your legs straight out in front of you with your hands flat and face down on the floor beneath your buttocks. Then, with your knees straight and ankles together, breathe in as you slowly raise your legs a quarter of the way off the floor, and then breathe out as you lower your legs down.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This exercise does a great job at strengthening, toning, and improving the flexibility of your lower abdominals, back and hip flexors.

Toe Raises (Standing while supporting yourself on the back of a chair)

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The calf muscles of the lower leg are the primary muscles worked.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a sturdy chair with no wheels for this particular exercise.

Exercise Technique

❖         Stand facing the back of your chair. Place your fingers on the back of the chair with your legs shoulder width apart. Inhale as you push up on the balls of your feet and hold for two seconds before you exhale and return to the starting position without allowing your feet to rest on the floor.

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Benefits of this exercise

❖         Stronger calf muscles help lessen the odds of an ankle or knee injury as well as better stability and agility.

Resistance Band Push Out (holding the handles will not provide enough tension so hold in the middle as appropriate)

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The shoulders, pectorals, upper back and biceps are muscles worked during this exercise.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a pair of resistance bands.

Exercise Technique

❖         Stand with your feet together, and your core engaged, and hold one end of the resistance band in each hand with the band stretching across your back. Bend at your elbows to make a 90-degree angle and allow the band to stretch across the midline of your back. From this position, engage your back muscles by keeping your shoulders pressed down and squeeze your shoulder blades as you push your arms away from your sides until your arms are fully extended. Return to your starting position with arms bent to 90 degrees. (Eisinger, 2021)

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         The major benefit of this exercise is an increase in upper body strength and flexibility. (Eisinger, 2021)

Wall Push Ups

Primary Muscles Exercised

         This exercise works your arms, abdominals, back and even your hips.

Equipment Needed

❖         For this exercise you will need a clear wall in your home.

Exercise Technique

         With your back straight, and elbows bent, lean towards the wall. Breathe out as you push away from the wall, and breathe in as you return to the starting position.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This exercise is a great way to strengthen and tone your upper body.

Seated Tricep Extension with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The primary muscles worked here are the tricep muscles which can be found on the back of your arm.

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Equipment Needed

❖         A pair of dumbbells or a pair of full water bottles and a sturdy chair with a back.

Exercise Technique

❖         Sit straight with your back against the chair with a dumbbell in each hand. Next raise your arms with the dumbbells over your head. Bending at the elbows, breathe in as you lower the dumbbells behind your head and back and breathe out as you press up.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This movement improves your arm strength and tones the arm.

Resistance Band Chest Pull

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         Also known as flys, this exercise works the pectorals, deltoids, biceps and upper abdominals.

Equipment Needed

❖         For this exercise, you will need a pair of light to medium resistance bands.

Exercise Technique

❖         Stand straight with your feet flat on the floor hip width apart. Hold your band out in front of you at chest height with your arms straight out shoulder width apart. Pull the band with both hands until your arms are horizontal while keeping your shoulder blades tight. Return your arms to their original position in front of you extended from your chest then repeat pulling the bands until your arms are horizontal.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This is a great way to increase strength and tone your upper body.

Seated Chest Press with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The pectoral muscles along with the deltoids and triceps and upper back are worked during this movement.

Equipment Needed

❖         A pair of dumbbells or water bottles and a sturdy chair.

Exercise Technique

❖         With your feet flat on the floor, hip width apart, seated on a chair, hold the dumbbells at chest level, shoulder width apart. Breathe in deeply and slowly push straight out and exhale, without locking your elbows and breathe in as you return to the starting position.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This exercise will also increase upper body strength and tone.

Front Raise with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The shoulder muscles are the primary muscles worked during this exercise. To be more specific, the deltoids and trapezius.

Equipment Needed

❖         For this movement, you will need a pair of dumbbells or water bottles.

Exercise Technique

❖         Start off with the dumbbells in front of you against your thigh. Breathe in and slowly raise the dumbbells to shoulder height as you breathe out. Then breathe in as you return to the starting point.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         It provides greater upper body strength while adding mobility and stability to the shoulders.

Woodchops

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This full body exercise benefits multiple muscles with a focus on the abdominals, obliques, along with the lower back.

Equipment Needed

❖         A single dumbbell or water bottle.

Exercise Technique

❖         This movement is similar to the movement you would mimic if you were chopping wood. So, start off by standing straight with feet flat on the floor and shoulder width apart. Next, breathe in as you turn to your right while you raise the dumbbell up and over your right shoulder. Then breathe out while you squat as you bring the dumbbell down across your body in a chopping motion toward your left hip.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This exercise improves core strength and stability as well as upper body strength and the flexibility of the back.

Step Up with Dumbbells (low step and be next to the wall for balance if required)

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This exercise focuses on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes.

Equipment Needed

❖         You can use a step indoors or out, or something such as a box which is sturdy and safe to step up on. Start off with a low height and increase the height as you become more comfortable with this exercise.

Exercise Technique

❖         Hold dumbbells in your hands as you stand in front of a box or step. Now, step up with your right foot, then bring the left foot up to meet your right foot on top of the step. Next bend your right knee and step down with the left foot and finally bring the right foot down to meet the left foot on the ground. (Quinn, 2019)

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This low impact exercise is great for toning and developing strength in the lower body.

Resistance Bands Side Lateral Raises

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The primary muscles worked during this movement are the deltoids.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a set of light to medium resistance bands.

Exercise Technique

❖         Start by standing on your resistance band with a handle in each hand. Your arms should be shoulder width apart parallel to your thighs and breathe in. Now breathe out as you raise your arms up and out to your sides until you reach shoulder height.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This particular exercise tones, shapes and strengthens the shoulders.

Lateral Raise with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The primary muscles worked during this movement are the deltoids.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a pair of dumbbells or water bottles. .

Exercise Technique

❖         With a dumbbell in each hand by your sides, stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Breathe out as you raise the dumbbells to shoulder height, then breathe in as you return to the starting position.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This exercise will provide you with stronger, toner and more developed shoulders.

Cross Body Bicep Curl with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This exercise targets the muscles of the arm.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a pair of low weight dumbbells or a pair of water bottles.

Exercise Technique

❖         Start by standing with a dumbbell in each hand and your hands hanging by your side. Keep your back straight and breathe in as you slowly curl one arm towards the opposite shoulder. Breathe out as you return to the starting point and now repeat the same motion with the other hand.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         The benefits of this exercise are more toned, and strong arms.

Front Shoulder Raise with Resistance Bands

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The primary muscles worked in this exercise are the shoulders.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a pair of resistance bands for this movement.

Exercise Technique

❖         Begin with your resistance band under your feet and an end in each hand with your hands parallel to your thighs. Breathe in before raising your arms until they are shoulder height and breathe out as you return to the starting position.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         You will get stronger shoulders as a result of this exercise.

Front Raise with Dumbbells

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This exercise targets the shoulder muscles.

Equipment Needed

❖         You will need a pair of dumbbells or water bottles. Please select a pair of light weights to start off.

Exercise Technique

❖         Stand flat on the floor with your back straight, feet shoulder width apart and hands hanging in front of your thighs with a weight in each hand. With your palms facing in and a slight bend at the elbows, breathe in and raise the weight to shoulder height. Breathe out as you return to the starting position. Now you can do one arm at a time and alternate or do both arms at the same time.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         Stronger shoulders are the result of this exercise, which will aid in everyday living.

Seated Side Bend

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         The primary muscles worked here are the abdominals and pelvis.

Equipment Needed

❖         This exercise can be done effectively in a chair or on the floor with a towel or mat beneath you. For our purposes, we will use a chair.

Exercise Technique

❖         Begin by sitting with your legs in front of you or crossed and your arms relaxed at your sides. Breathe in deeply and raise your left arm over your head and lean to the right as you breathe out, bending your upper body slowly.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         This exercise will improve core strength and flexibility in the spine.

Back Leg Raises

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         This exercise will work the quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexors.

Equipment Needed

❖         For this particular exercise you will need a sturdy chair, preferably one with a high back.

Exercise Technique

❖         Start by facing the back of your chair. Rest your hands on the back of the chair, inhale and raise one leg. Then exhale and squeeze your glutes as your foot leaves the floor. Do not extend too far, and return to the starting position. You may repeat before moving to the next leg, or alternate legs.

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Benefits of this Exercise

❖         In addition to strengthening the legs, this exercise will also aid in improving balance and stability in your core.

Lunges

Primary Muscles Exercised

❖         Lunges help to sculpt, tone and strengthen your hamstrings, quadriceps, along with your glutes and calves.

Equipment Needed

❖         For this exercise you can use your own body weight or a pair of light weight dumbbells.

Exercise Technique

❖         Start by standing straight with your feet flat on the floor. Next, breathe in and step one foot forward until your leg reaches a 90-degree angle. Meanwhile, maintain your rear knee parallel to the ground while your front knee does not extend past your toes. Breathe out as you return to the starting point.

Benefits of this Exercise

❖         Lunges improve leg tone and strength, as well as improves individual posture and range of motion.

Injury Prevention and Recovery

You must do everything possible to avoid injury. That means proper technique first and foremost. It also means proper gear. It means increasing resistance and distance by slow and appropriate increments. Be certain you start every workout with a warm-up and end every workout with a cool down. If you consistently follow these rules, you should be able to avoid injury most of the time.

Unfortunately, injuries aren’t always avoidable. When the ill-fated does occur, do everything you can to recover as quickly as possible. But do not restart your workout routine until you are fully recovered. Pain is an indicator of injury. Let your body’s pain be your guide.

The most common types of injuries are:

❖         Sprains to ankle and wrist

❖         Muscle Strains

❖         Tendinitis

❖         Meniscus and ACL tears of the knee

❖         Rotator Cuff Tears

Injury Recovery

You want to avoid injury at all possible costs. Using the proper form in all that you do is the best way to do that. You don’t have time for an injury.

Take your downtime to examine how and why you were injured in the first place. Did you push yourself too far?  Lift too much weight before you were ready?  Was there social pressure moving you to do so?  Most importantly, were you using the proper technique? This is the most important injury prevention method available to you.

Your First response – R.I.C.E :  Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation. Your first response to an injury should be to immediately cease working out and give your injured area a rest. Ice the area of injury, although some injuries respond better to heat. Compress it if possible. Obviously, that’s not a good idea with a neck injury. Elevate your injury to get the blood to flow away from the injury that helps to decrease inflammation.

Use the above procedure for two or three days. Generally speaking, the swelling increases over the first 24 hours. Then you should see lessening with ice and compression. It’s important to apply RICE from the beginning to lessen the amount of swelling. Ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory pain medication can also help with both pain and inflammation.

When to see your doctor - If your pain is so intense that you cannot sit still, or you are moaning in pain, call an ambulance, or have someone immediately drive you to a hospital.

If pain and swelling haven’t seen some improvement in two days, see your doctor. X-rays or MRI may be needed depending on the extent of injury and location. If the injury is severe, therapy such as physical therapy may be needed. Follow your doctor’s advice.

When and How to resume your routine – Once your injury has healed to the point that your doctor has given you clearance, or you can put weight on it if you did not need to see a doctor, you can resume a gentle program. Do not dive right back into the weights you were lifting or the aerobic capacity you were doing at the time of the injury.

You took your downtime to examine why you were injured. Use that knowledge to adjust your needs to prevent injury. Did you push yourself too far?  Then you need to cut back on your routine. Increase your workout incrementally, and if you feel sore beyond one day's recovery, you have gone too far. Don’t do that same extension in your next workout. Add a smaller increment.

Was there social pressure pushing you to increase your weight or distance to the level that caused your injury?  Do not cave in to it. If the temptation is too great, choose different workout partners or workout alone. Your body is your temple. You cannot afford to lose it. It is more fragile after 50 and takes greater care and longer to recover. You cannot compete with men in their 30s. Do not attempt to do so. They will recover much more quickly than you. They also may cause permanent damage to their body with an injury that they will have to live with for 20 more years than you.

To prevent another injury, be certain that you use the correct technique. That applies to activities such as walking, hiking, and jogging as well. Start with a warm-up and end with a cool down.

You need to wear shoes that support your feet properly and give you good impact resistance so that you don’t develop shin splints and other related injuries. Consult with a shoe expert for appropriate footwear in stores which carry a wide variety of athletic shoes.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter we learned:

●       The various exercises associated with our workout routine

●       The body parts each exercise works

●       The benefits of each exercise

●       Injury prevention and recovery methods

In the next chapter you will be introduced to the routine.

Chapter Seven:  The Routine

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

Well, you have received a strong foundation to begin building your better body. You have the basic knowledge, the exercises you will perform and the desire to achieve your workout goals. Now it is time to receive and begin your new workout routine. But first, a few words of advice.

As you begin Week 1, keep in mind that if after performing the warm up you feel like you have exerted yourself, then carry on with the warm up as your initial workout program and only progress to the below workout program when you feel strong enough and ready to do so.

If you are not strong enough to use any equipment at the beginning of the programme then just use your own body weight. If the number of Reps is too high for you then start with 5 Reps or less. The main thing is to get your body moving, and understand that the more you work out, over time, you will get stronger.

Consistency is the key which will enable you to do more and more. If there is any part of the program that is uncomfortable for you, skip it and return to it when you are stronger. Depending on your fitness level you can start with a light/medium Resistance Band and 1-3 Pounds Dumbbells.

There are different exercises working on similar body parts during the week to ensure you do not get bored with the exercises. If there is any exercise you do not feel ready to do yet, skip it and go on to the next one.

Also, after each set, rest for 30 seconds before proceeding

Now here is the routine, don’t forget to warm up using the warm up exercises in the previous chapter. The exercise routine is divided into five columns: week, exercise, number of reps, followed by number of sets and finally any equipment you will need to perform the exercises.

Week 1

Exercise

Reps

Sets

Equipment

Monday

1. Resistance Band Bicep Curl/ Bicep Curl with Dumbbells

10

1

Resistance band/Dumbbells/Water bottle

Resistance Band Bicep Curl Technique:

Place the end of each band in each hand, and then place the center of your shoe in the middle of the bands. Keep your head and chest upright, feet shoulder width apart, back straight and your stomach tight. Begin with your arms extended down and tight to your sides with palms facing up. Next, curl the bands all the way up towards your shoulders while keeping tension on the biceps.  Breathe in. Then slowly lower your hands back to the starting position and repeat the movement as you breathe out. Perform a single set with 10 repetitions. (RubberBanditz, 2021)

Bicep Curl with Dumbbells Technique:

Once again, starting off in the correct form is key. In the case of a biceps curl you begin with feet hip/shoulder width apart. Hold one rung in each hand and allow your arms to relax down at the sides of your body with palms facing forward.  Keeping your upper arms stable, elbows tucked in close to your ribs and shoulders relaxed, bend at the elbow and lift the weights so that the bands go to your shoulders. (Rogers, 2020) Breathe in as you lift, and breathe out as you relax. Return to the starting position and repeat the motion nine more times for a total of a single set of ten reps.

2. Tricep Kickbacks with Dumbbells

10

1

Dumbbells/ Water Bottle

Sturdy chair

Tricep Kickbacks with Dumbbells Technique:

Stand with a dumbbell in one hand with your knees bent and lean forward slightly with one hand braced on the back of a chair. Keeping your back straight and flat (not hunched), bend your dumbbell-holding arm 90 degrees at the elbow so your triceps are aligned with your back and your biceps are perpendicular to the floor. Engage your core and your triceps and hinge at the elbow, lifting the dumbbell up while you breathe in through your nose and back as you try and straighten your arm, but don’t lock it. Be sure to leave it slightly bent while you breathe out through your mouth. Your triceps should stay still; only your elbow moves. (Schultz, 2019)

3. Resistance Band Shoulder Press/ Shoulder Press with Dumbbells

10

1

Resistance band/ Dumbbells/ Water bottle

Resistance Band Shoulder Press Technique:

To do this exercise properly stand with your feet hip width apart with the resistance band under your foot/feet. Next, place the handles of your resistance bands above your shoulders with your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. Next while breathing in, slowly push arms straight up then breathe out as you return to the starting position.

Shoulder Press with Dumbbells Technique:

To begin with, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the dumbbells at shoulder height with your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Then while breathing in, slowly lift the dumbbells above your head without fully straightening your arms. Pause at the top without locking your elbows and breathe out as you slowly return to the start position. (Pure Gym, 2021)

4. Sit & Stand

10

1

Sturdy chair

Sit & Stand Technique:

Begin by sitting on the front half of your chair with both feet flat on the floor shoulder width apart. Cross your arms, breathe in and slowly rise to a standing position, ensuring that your knees never cross the frontal plane of your toes. Once standing, breathe out as you gradually sit back down. (Kaltenborn, 2021)

5. Lying Single Leg Raises

10

1

Mat

Lying Single Leg Raises Technique:

Place your mat or towel down on the floor, then lay on it flat on your back. Next, put your legs straight out in front of you with your hands flat and face down on the floor beneath your buttocks. Then, with your knees straight and ankles together, breathe in as you slowly raise your legs a quarter of the way off the floor, and then breathe out as you lower your legs down.

6. Toe raises

10

1

Sturdy chair

Toe Raises Technique:

Stand facing the back of your chair. Place your fingers on the back of the chair with your legs shoulder width apart. Inhale as you push up on the balls of your feet and hold for two seconds before you exhale and return to the starting position without allowing your feet to rest on the floor.

Tuesday - Rest Day

Week 1

Exercise

Reps

Sets

Equipment

Wednesday

1. Resistance Band Push Out/ Wall Push Ups

10

1

Resistance Band (optional)

Wall

Resistance Band Push Out Technique:

Stand with your feet together, and your core engaged, and hold one end of the resistance band in each hand with the band stretching across your back. Bend at your elbows to make a 90-degree angle and allow the band to stretch across the midline of your back. From this position, engage your back muscles by keeping your shoulders pressed down and squeeze your shoulder blades as you push your arms away from your sides until your arms are fully extended. Return to your starting position with arms bent to 90 degrees. (Eisinger, 2021)

Wall Push Ups Technique:

With your back straight, and elbows bent, lean towards the wall. Breathe out as you push away from the wall, and breathe in as you return to the starting position.

2. Seated Tricep Extension with Dumbbells

10

1

Dumbbells/Water bottle

Sturdy chair

Seated Tricep Extension with Dumbbells Technique:

Sit straight with your back against the chair with a dumbbell in each hand. Next raise your arms with the dumbbells over your head. Bending at the elbows, breathe in as you lower the dumbbells behind your head and back and breathe out as you press up.

3. Resistance Band Chest Pull/ Seated Chest Press with Dumbbells

10

1

Resistance Band/Dumbbells/Water bottle

Sturdy chair

Resistance Band Chest Pull Technique:

Stand straight with your feet flat on the floor hip width apart. Hold your band out in front of you at chest height with your arms straight out shoulder width apart. Pull the band with both hands until your arms are horizontal while keeping your shoulder blades tight. Return your arms to their original position in front of you extended from your chest then repeat pulling the bands until your arms are horizontal.

Seated Chest Press with Dumbbells Technique:

With your feet flat on the floor, hip width apart, seated on a chair, hold the dumbbells at chest level, shoulder width apart. Breathe in deeply and slowly push straight out and exhale, without locking your elbows and breathe in as you return to the starting position.

4. Front Raise with Dumbbells

10

1

Dumbbells/Water bottle

Front Raise with Dumbbells Technique:

Start off with the dumbbells in front of you against your thigh. Breathe in and slowly raise the dumbbells to shoulder height as you breathe out. Then breathe in as you return to the starting point.

5. Wood Chops with Dumbbells

2 reps of 5

1

Dumbbells/Water bottle

Wood Chops with Dumbbells Technique:

This movement is similar to the movement you would mimic if you were chopping wood. So, start off by standing straight with feet flat on the floor and shoulder width apart. Next, breathe in as you turn to your right while you raise the dumbbell up and over your right shoulder. Then breathe out while you squat as you bring the dumbbell down across your body in a chopping motion toward your left hip.

6. Step Up with Dumbbells

10

1

Step

Dumbbells/Water bottle

Step Up with Dumbbells Technique:

Hold dumbbells in your hands as you stand in front of a box or step. Now, step up with your right foot, then bring the left foot up to meet your right foot on top of the step. Next bend your right knee and step down with the left foot and finally bring the right foot down to meet the left foot on the ground. (Quinn, 2019)

Thursday - Rest Day

Week 1

Exercise

Reps

Sets

Equipment

Friday

1. Resistance Bands Side Lateral Raises/Lateral Raise with Dumbbells

10

1

Resistance Bands/Dumbbells/ Water bottle

Resistance Bands Side Lateral Raises Technique:

Start by standing on your resistance band with a handle in each hand. Your arms should be shoulder width apart parallel to your thighs and breathe in. Now breathe out as you raise your arms up and out to your sides until you reach shoulder height.

2. Cross Body Bicep Curl with Dumbbells

10

1

Dumbbells/ Water bottle

Cross Body Bicep Curl with Dumbbells Technique:

Start by standing with a dumbbell in each hand and your hands hanging by your side. Keep your back straight and breathe in as you slowly curl one arm towards the opposite shoulder. Breathe out as you return to the starting point and now repeat the same motion with the other hand.

3. Front Shoulder Raise with Resistance Band/ Front Raise with Dumbbells

10

1

Resistance Band/Dumbbells/ Water bottle

Front Shoulder Raise with Resistance Band Technique:

Begin with your resistance band under your feet and an end in each hand with your hands parallel to your thighs. Breathe in before raising your arms until they are shoulder height and breathe out as you return to the starting position.

Front Raise with Dumbbells Technique:

Stand flat on the floor with your back straight, feet shoulder width apart and hands hanging in front of your thighs with a weight in each hand. With your palms facing in and a slight bend at the elbows, breathe in and raise the weight to shoulder height. Breathe out as you return to the starting position. Now you can do one arm at a time and alternate or do both arms at the same time.

4. Seated Side Bend

5+5

1

Chair

Seated Side Bend Technique:

Begin by sitting with your legs in front of you or crossed and your arms relaxed at your sides. Breathe in deeply and raise your left arm over your head and lean to the right as you breathe out, bending your upper body slowly.

5. Back Leg Raises

10

1

Chair

Back Leg Raises Technique:

Start by facing the back of your chair. Rest your hands on the back of the chair, inhale and raise one leg. Then exhale and squeeze your glutes as your foot leaves the floor. Do not extend too far, and return to the starting position. You may repeat before moving to the next leg, or alternate legs.

6. Lunges

5+5

1

No equipment

Lunges Technique:

Start by standing straight with your feet flat on the floor. Next, breathe in and step one foot forward until your leg reaches a 90-degree angle. Meanwhile, maintain your rear knee parallel to the ground while your front knee does not extend past your toes. Breathe out as you return to the starting point.

Saturday - Rest Day

Sunday - Rest Day

Below is another 5-minute cooling down program you can utilize:

●    1 Minute of Easy Walking - This is good mild cardio that will help lower your heart rate.

●     Side Stretch - This is the first stretch of your cool down which will help keep your core flexible. You may begin with your arms at your sides or above your head. Then lean as far as you can without strain or pain to one side, and then to the other. This particular stretch can be done sitting or standing, and we recommend that you hold the pose for a count of 10 seconds per side while breathing deeply in and out.

●     Chest Stretch - This stretch focuses on the pectoral muscles. You can use a wall, and put one hand on the wall with your elbow slightly bent, turn your body away from the wall and face the opposite direction then hold for 10 seconds. Please breathe in and out deeply as you stretch.

●     Lower Back Stretch - This stretch helps add flexibility to your back and core. There are multiple ways to stretch the lower back, so you are not limited to the two examples we provide to you. The first example is the sitting version. Sit on the floor with a mat beneath you and your legs straight out in front of you. Next bend your right knee and put your foot on the outside of your left thigh. Now twist your body at the base of your spine and hold for 10 seconds, then turn in the opposite direction.

The other version also occurs on the floor, only this time, lay flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat. Now while your left leg stays straight pull up your right leg and clench your hands over your shin. Release all tension as you breathe deeply and hold the pose for at least ten seconds before alternating legs.

●   Quad Stretch - This particular stretch will help keep your legs flexible and help deter injuries. Begin by standing straight with your legs touching. Then take your right hand and hold your right foot and pull it towards your buttocks. Breathe deeply as you hold for 10 seconds before switching legs.

● Hamstring Stretch - Again, get down on the floor and lay on your back with your legs stretched out in front of you with your knees touching. Now slowly bring your right knee to your chest and then extend it out. Keep your knee slightly bent and hold for 10 seconds on each leg as you continue to breathe in deeply.

●     Calf Stretch - This movement begins with you facing a wall. Now brace your hands on a nearby wall with one foot in front of the other. Bend the knee of the front leg while keeping the back leg straight. Now lean forward as you breathe deeply and hold for 10 seconds on each leg.

Week 2 Recommendations

Repeat the exercises performed in week 1. If you feel comfortable you can increase your sets to 2 sets of the 10 reps for each exercise. If not, repeat week 1 as is.

Week 3 Recommendations

As you get accustomed to the exercises and build on your strength your body is going to adapt and needs to be pushed further to ensure continued results. In week 3 do 2 sets of the 10 Reps and increase your weights slightly (e.g., from no weights to a 1-pound Dumbbell or from 1 pound to 2 pounds etc./ increase your Resistance Band from light to medium).

Week 4 Recommendations

Perform the same exercises as week 1 but this time do 3 sets of the 10 Reps depending on what you feel comfortable with. If you are comfortable to do so you may also increase the weights slightly e.g., from 2 pounds to 3 pounds.

The time for the whole training program from the warm up, exercise then cool down stretches will range from 20 minutes (when you initially begin with 1 set) to 40 minutes (when you incorporate 3 to 4 sets into your program)

Congratulations on completing the program!

To improve your health and fitness you must continue exercising and keeping active must become part of your lifestyle.

What’s next? Well, after you have completed the 4-week program you can go through the program again by challenging yourself a little more. There are various ways you can achieve progressive results in the subsequent weeks as follows:

●     Use the same weight but increase the number of reps (e.g. increase to 12 reps)

●     Increasing the number of sets (e.g. increasing to 4 sets). You know you are ready for an increase in the number of sets when you can fly through the set/s and the last few reps feel easy.

●     Increase the weight (e.g. from 3 pounds to 4 pounds) Remember that the weights must be challenging but doable. You know you are ready for an increase in weight when you can perform the last 2 reps with ease.

●     Lengthen the time of tension. Keep the reps, sets and weights the same but slow down the exercises to increase the time your muscle fibers are under stress.

Finally, it is ideal to keep an exercise log which will reflect your progress.

Chapter Summary

●       You received a workout routine and a warm down.

In the next chapter you will learn the importance of diet and nutrition.

Chapter Eight:  Nutrition and Diet

“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.” Bethenny Frankel

So now you are ready to achieve your better body starting today. You are fueled with knowledge, you have a proper exercise routine, and the right attitude. Now all you need is the right diet.

Diet?

Yes. Diet. Any journey to a better body requires not only discipline, the right attitude, and the right workout routine, but it also requires the right diet. Your diet accounts for 70% of your physical fitness. That’s right, seventy percent! That is over half, which means your routine is just a small part of your body’s evolution towards total fitness.

A good diet is essential at any age, but as we grow older, diet becomes even more important. It turns out that the older we get, the harder it becomes for our body to absorb certain fats, nutrients, and minerals. Calcium and vitamin D are just two examples. If you want a healthier body, you must eat a healthier diet. Why? Because a healthy diet will add years to your life, boost immunity, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

To combat the nutritional deficiencies, we experience with age we should eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as healthy fatty acids found in fish and nuts. We also need to increase our calcium and protein intake. Finally, we need to avoid saturated fats and foods high in sodium.

Now that doesn’t mean you should run out and adapt to a fad diet to eat healthy. In fact, you should avoid certain diets that force you to cut out foods you need, and embrace eating plans which provide a system for healthy eating. One prime example is the DASH diet.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a program designed to help those with high blood pressure, as well as help others avoid getting it. Limit the amount of saturated fats you ingest as well as cutting back on sweetened drinks and food. This dietary plan asks that you eat more veggies, fruits and whole grains—as we alluded to earlier—but it also suggests eating low fat or even fat free versions of milk and butter/margarine. Also, it suggests eating fish, lean chicken, beans, and nuts and using vegetable-based oils for cooking.

In addition, when able, avoid processed foods. This is a difficult task because so many foods are considered processed. Cheese, cereal, and even granola bars are forms of processed foods. In addition, from cleaning, to canning, there are many kinds of food processing. Some forms, such as fruits portioned within their own juices can be healthy, however most processed food is drowned in additives that can be harmful to the body.

An additive is an ingredient added to food for flavor and to allow it to have a longer shelf life, which means it can last longer in a store. Additives include, but are not limited to, food coloring, sodium nitrate, and high fructose corn syrup. Watch out for terms such as dextrose, maltose, trans fats, and hydrogenated oil, because items loaded up with these ingredients can provide you with almost twice the daily recommended amount of sodium and sugar. (Carey, 2019) Once again, not all foods canned or packaged are bad for you, but you need to watch what you eat by reading the labels on your food.

So, what should you eat in lieu of processed foods? Whole and plant-based foods are a great substitute for the processed foods currently on your diet. For example, eat unflavored nuts instead of the flavored ones. Have at least one meal without meat and get your protein from a vegetable source. Use avocados to add to or even replace foods.

In addition, eat more frequently. Our metabolism slows as we age, which makes us more likely to experience obesity, frailty and chronic disease which can lead to falls, broken bones, long term disability, dementia and more. So, it is wise to eat five to six small, healthy meals a day. These smaller, healthy, more frequent meals will force your body to burn calories faster in preparation for the next meal. Finally, eating smaller, healthier and better portioned meals more frequently will also provide you with more energy to tackle your day, as well as burn off unwanted fat.

Speaking of portions, smaller meals are key. As we age, keeping a close eye on our caloric intake is wise. We need to only eat what we need. In other words, eat according to your current way of life. The more active you are, the more food you need to eat, and vice versa.

The more active you are, the more protein you will need. Proteins are complex macromolecules that are essential building blocks for the body. They help maintain a variety of bodily functions and can help fuel your workouts. In fact, taking in protein as we age is important because they can help combat high blood pressure and cholesterol. They can also help with concentration, learning, and provide energy. Protein is found in lean meats, beef, chicken, and seafood. It is also in milk, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese. You can also take protein supplements such as Ensure. Now how much protein you ingest is debatable, but it is suggested you take in about 0.36 grams of protein for each pound of body weight. For further clarification, or to ease any doubts, consult with your doctor. Protein is also important for exercise. Ingesting protein after a workout helps the muscles recover faster and helps to induce muscle growth and development.

In addition to taking in protein, as we get older, the need to stay hydrated also increases. Water intake should be at least 7-8 cups a day to avoid renal (kidney) issues, as well as boosting cognitive health.

Consequently, as we take in more water and protein, we need to take in less alcohol and stop smoking. While we all know the detrimental effects of smoking, we may not be as aware of the negative effects of drinking alcohol as we age. Drinking too much alcohol can affect our balance, which can lead to falls. It is recommended that we limit our alcoholic drinks to no more than 3 a day and no more than seven alcoholic drinks in a week.

So, what about eating to work out? A proper pre-workout meal and a good post workout meal can help increase energy, build muscle and reduce muscle fatigue. Keep in mind, you do not want to eat too much before a workout to avoid feeling full and sluggish which will make your workout much more difficult than needed. In addition, you want to avoid eating too little, because you may risk not having enough energy to have an effective workout.

A good workout meal could include whole grains, lean meat, or even Greek yogurt. Think about rice cakes and peanut butter, or nuts and bananas, along with an apple or other fresh fruit. These high protein foods can supply enough energy to power through a workout.

With most eating plans, you concentrate on a particular food group, a number of calories, or a ratio of protein consumption to fat consumption. Clean eating is a lot simpler. Clean eating can be summed up to eating as naturally as possible. The idea behind it is to do your best to eat foods in their natural state. This means opting for foods that are unprocessed or unrefined. You are not avoiding any foods in particular nor are you including any specific foods, unless you want them. There is no need to worry about calories, having specific proteins, or avoiding nightshade vegetables.

Below are examples of meals you can include in your eating plan.

Breakfast

PRE-WORKOUT

Green Eggs

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:

~       4 eggs

~       2 cups baby spinach leaves

~       1 stalk celery, diced

~       ½ zucchini, diced

~       ½ cup green bell pepper, diced

~       1 tablespoon almond milk

~       1 tablespoon olive oil

~       Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the celery, zucchini, green pepper and cook for 3 minutes.

2. Add the spinach and cook until it begins to wilt.

3. Beat the eggs with a fork or whisk, adding the almond milk. Pour into the skillet and scramble, combining all the vegetables.

4. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 229 Fat: 17.8 g Sat Fat: 5.4 g Carbohydrates: 6.3 g Fiber: 1.9 g Sugar: 3.5 g Protein: 13.1 g

Berry Blast Smoothie

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

~       ½ cup blueberries

~       ½ cup strawberries

~       ½ cup raspberries

~       ½ cup blackberries

~       ½ banana

~       1 cup almond milk

~       ½ cup ice

Directions:

1.      Combine everything in your blender and mix on high for 30 seconds.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 240 Fat: 3.9 g Sat Fat: 0.1 g Carbohydrates: 51.8 g Fiber: 12.5 g Sugar: 30.2 g Protein: 4.4 g Sodium: 147 mg

Coconut Macadamia Bars

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

~       ½ cup macadamia nuts

~       6 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut, shredded

~       ½ cup almond butter

~       20 drops of stevia drops, preferably Sweetleaf ®

~       ¼ cup coconut oil

Directions:

1. Crush the macadamia nuts using your hands or in a food processor.

2. Combine coconut oil with the shredded coconut and almond butter in a large-sized mixing bowl. Add the stevia drops and chopped macadamia nuts.

3. Thoroughly mix and pour the prepared batter into a 9x9” baking dish lined with parchment paper.

4. Refrigerate overnight; slice into desired pieces. Serve and enjoy.

Nutrition: Calories: 324, Total Fat: 32 g, Saturated Fat: 13 g, Protein: 5.6 g, Total Carbohydrates: 5 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 1.8 g

Chocolate Protein Pancakes

Servings: 12 pancakes

Ingredients:

~       1/2 cup Almond flour, blanched

~       1/2 cup Whey protein powder

~       1 tsp. Baking powder

~       1/8 tsp. Sea salt

~       3 Tbsp. Erythritol sweetener

~       1 tsp. Vanilla extract, unsweetened

~       3 Tbsp. Cocoa powder, organic, unsweetened

~       4 Eggs, pastured

~       2 Tbsp. Avocado oil

~       1/3 cup Almond milk, unsweetened

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, beat using an immersion blender until well combined, and then let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.

2. Then, take a medium skillet pan, place it over medium-low heat, grease it with avocado oil and pour in prepared pancake batter in small circles of about 3-inches diameter.

3. Cover the skillet pan with a lid, let the pancakes cook for 3 minutes or until bubbles form on top, then flip them and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes or until nicely golden brown.

4. Cook remaining pancakes in the same manner, you will end up with 12 pancakes, and then let them cool at room temperature.

5. Place cooled pancakes in a freezer bag, with a parchment sheet between them, and freeze them for up to 3 months or store in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.

6. When ready to serve, microwave pancakes for 30 seconds to 1 minute or bake in the oven for 5 minutes until thoroughly heated.

Nutrition: Calories: 237; Fat: 20 g; Protein: 11 g; Net Carbs: 5 g; Fiber: 2 g

Frittata

Servings: 1 frittata

Ingredients:

~       5 oz. Bacon slices, pastured, diced

~       1/2 Medium red onion, peeled, diced

~       1/2 Red bell pepper, cored, diced

~       1/4 tsp. Salt

~       1 tsp. Ground black pepper

~       3 Tbsp. Avocado oil

~       1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp. Grated parmesan cheese, full-fat

~       6 Eggs, pastured

Directions:

1. Take an 8 inches skillet pan, grease with oil, and place it over medium heat.

2. Add onion, pepper, and bacon, cook for 5 minutes or until slightly golden, and then season with salt and black pepper.

3. Meanwhile, crack the eggs in a bowl, add ¼ cup cheese and whisk until combined.

4. When bacon is cooked, pour the egg mixture into the pan, spread evenly, and cook for 5 minutes or until frittata is set.

5. In the meantime, switch on the broiler/grill and let it preheat.

6. When the frittata is set, sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top, then place the pan under the broiler and cook for 4 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Let the frittata cool at room temperature, then cut it into four pieces, place each frittata piece in a heatproof glass meal prep container and store them in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.

8. When ready to serve, microwave frittata in their container for 1 to 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Nutrition: Calories: 494; Fat: 40 g; Protein: 32 g; Net Carbs: 2.9 g; Fiber: 0.1 g

POST-WORKOUT

Chicken, Bacon, Avocado Caesar Salad

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

~       1 chicken breast, pre-cooked or grilled, sliced into small bite-sized slices

~       1 avocado, ripe, sliced in half, twist and discard the pit, remove the shell, and slice into approximately 1" slices.

~       Creamy Caesar dressing (approximately 3 Tbsp. per salad)

~       1 cup bacon, pre-cooked, crumbled

Directions:

1. Combine the chicken breast with avocado slices and crumbled bacon between two large-sized bowls.

2. Top with a few spoonfuls of the Creamy Caesar dressing; lightly toss the ingredients.

3. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Nutrition: Calories: 322, Total Fat: 30 g, Saturated Fat: 8.6 g, Protein: 9.2 g, Total Carbohydrates: 5 g, Dietary Fiber: 3.4 g, Sugars: 0.9 g

Lunch

PRE-WORKOUT

Prawns Salad with Mixed Lettuce Greens

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

~       ½ pound prawns, peeled and deveined

~       Salt and chili pepper, to taste

~       1 tablespoon olive oil

~       2 cups mixed lettuce greens

Dressing:

~       ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

~       ¼ cup aioli

~       1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. In a bowl, add the prawns, salt, and chili pepper. Toss well.

2. Warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the seasoned prawns and fry for about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the prawns are opaque.

3. Remove from the heat and set the prawns aside on a platter.

4. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, mix together the mustard, aioli, and lemon juice until creamy and smooth.

5. Make the salad: In a separate bowl, add the mixed lettuce greens. Pour the dressing over the greens and toss to combine.

6. Divide the salad among four serving plates and serve it alongside the prawns.

The prawns can be done ahead, cooled completely, and covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator until you serve the salad.

Nutrition: Calories 226.9 | Fat 21.3 g | Protein 6.9 g | Net Carbs 1.9 g

Southwest Chicken Wrap

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

~       1 whole wheat tortilla

~       6 ounces cooked chicken, chopped

~       ¼ cup shredded carrots

~       ¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped

~       ¼ cup cooked black beans

~       2 slices avocado

~       1 teaspoon dried cilantro

~       1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

~       Juice of ½ lime

Directions:

1.      Lay the chicken pieces on the tortilla and cover with carrots, pepper, beans, and avocado.

2.      Sprinkle with cilantro and red pepper flakes, then squeeze the lime over the entire thing. Fold into a wrap.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 565 Fat: 15.9 g Sat Fat: 3.4 g Carbohydrates: 47.2 g Fiber: 13.6 g Sugar: 5.6 g Protein: 60 g Sodium: 260 mg

Cauliflower, Shrimp and Cucumber Salad

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

~       ¼ cup olive oil

~       1 pound medium shrimp

~       1 cauliflower head, florets only

~       2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped

Dressing:

~       1 tablespoon olive oil

~       ¼ cup lemon juice

~       2 tablespoons lemon zest

~       3 tablespoons dill, chopped

~       Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil until sizzling hot. Add the shrimp and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the flesh is totally pink and opaque.

2. Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, add the cauliflower florets and microwave for about 5 minutes until tender.

3. Remove the shrimp from the heat to a large bowl. Add the cauliflower and cucumber to the shrimp in the bowl. Set aside.

4. Make the dressing: Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, dill, salt, and pepper in a third bowl. Pour the dressing into the bowl of shrimp mixture. Toss well until the shrimp and vegetables are coated thoroughly.

5. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

The shrimp can be cooked ahead of time, cooled completely, and covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator until you make the salad.

Nutrition: Calories 236.9 | Fat 17.3 g | Protein 15.2 g | Net Carbs 5.1 g

Poached Egg Salad with Lettuce and Olives

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

~       4 eggs

~       ¼ stalk celery, minced

~       ¼ cup mayonnaise

~       ½ tablespoon mustard

~       ¼ teaspoon fresh lime juice

~       Salt and black pepper, to taste

~       ¼ cup chopped scallions, for garnish

~       ½ teaspoon low-carb sriracha sauce

~       1 head romaine lettuce, torn into pieces

~       10 sliced black olives, for garnish

Directions:

1. Put the eggs into a pot of salted water over medium heat, then bring to a boil for about 8 minutes.

2. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs one at a time from the hot water. Let them cool under running cold water in the sink. When cooled, peel the eggs and slice into bite-sized pieces, then transfer to a large bowl.

3. Make the salad: Add the romaine lettuce, stalk celery, mayo, mustard, sriracha sauce, lime juice, salt, and pepper to the bowl of egg pieces. Toss to combine well.

4. Evenly divide the salad among four serving plates. Serve garnished with scallions and sliced black olives.

You can store the salad in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. It is not recommended to freeze.

Nutrition: Calories 291.8 | Fat 21.8 g | Protein 17.7 g | Net Carbs 6.2 g

POST-WORKOUT

Chicken and Rice Bowl

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

~       ½ cup cooked brown rice

~       ½ cup cooked chicken

~       ¼ cup chopped tomatoes

~       ¼ cup cooked corn

~       ¼ cup cooked black beans

~       1 lime

~       Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.      Place the chicken, corn, and black beans on top of the brown rice and stir together.

2.      Top with the fresh tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cover with lime juice.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 299 Fat: 3.5 g Sat Fat: 0.8 g Carbohydrates: 42.3 g Fiber: 7.7 g Sugar: 3.6 g Protein: 27.7 g

Dinner

PRE-WORKOUT

Shrimp, Tomato and Avocado Salad

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

~       1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined

~       2 tomatoes, cubed

~       2 avocados, peeled and cubed

~       A handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

~       4 green onions, minced

~       Juice of 1 lime or lemon

~       1 tablespoon macadamia nut or avocado oil

~       Celtic sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine the shrimp, tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, and onions in a large bowl.

2. Squeeze the lemon juice over the vegetables in the large bowl, then drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle the salt and black pepper to season. Toss to combine well.

3. You can cover the salad, and refrigerate to chill for 45 minutes or serve immediately.

To make this a complete meal, you can top it with grilled rib eye steak or serve it with chicken soup and roasted turkey.

Nutrition: Calories 382 | Total Fat 27.2 g | Carbs 5.8 g | Protein 28.1 g

Chicken with Mustard Sauce

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

~       ¾ tablespoon olive oil

~       2 boneless chicken breasts, halved and skinned

~       ¼ teaspoon salt

~       Pinch of black pepper

~       ¼ cup chicken broth

~       1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

~       1 teaspoon butter

~       1 teaspoon chopped parsley

Directions:

1.      Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

2.      Season the chicken with the salt and pepper, and add the oil to it. Place in an ovenproof pan and cook in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is browned.

3.      Turn the chicken and cook until the other side is browned. Remove the chicken from the pan.

4.      Pour the chicken broth in the pan and cook over medium heat until it thickens. Add the mustard, butter, and parsley.

5.      Pour the mustard sauce over the chicken and serve hot.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 414 Fat: 21.4 g Sat Fat: 5.4 g Carbohydrates: 1.2 g Fiber: 0.6 g Sugar: 0.3 g Protein: 52.1 g Sodium: 1251 mg

Cinnamon Fruit Salad

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

~       2 bananas, sliced

~       1 cup blueberries

~       1 cup strawberries, sliced

~       1 cup red grapes

~       1 cup green grapes

~       2 cups watermelon, cubed

~       1 apple, cored, peeled, and chopped

~       2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

~       1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

1.      Combine all the fruits together in a large bowl and mix. Squeeze the lemon juice over all the fruits and mix again.

2.      Allow the fruits to chill for at least 30 minutes so all the flavors can combine.

3.      Sprinkle the cinnamon over the top and enjoy.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 186 Fat: 0.8 g Sat Fat: 0.2 g Carbohydrates: 47.5 g Fiber: 6.2 g Sugar: 33.1 g Protein: 2.3 g Sodium: 6 mg

Salmon and Lettuce Salad

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

~       1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

~       2 slices smoked salmon, chopped

~       3 tablespoons mayonnaise

~       1 tablespoon lime juice

~       Sea salt, to taste

~       1 cup romaine lettuce, shredded

~       1 teaspoon onion flakes

~       ½ avocado, sliced

Directions:

1. In a bowl, stir together the olive oil, salmon, mayo, lime juice, and salt. Stir well until the salmon is coated fully.

2. Divide evenly the romaine lettuce and onion flakes among four serving plates.

3. Spread the salmon mixture over the lettuce

4. Serve topped with avocado slices.

The taste of avocado slices will be much stronger if you refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition: Calories 227.1 | Fat 20.3 g | Protein 8.8 g | Net Carbs 2.3 g

POST-WORKOUT

Meatballs Curry

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

~       For Meatballs:

~       1 pound lean ground turkey

~       2 eggs, beaten

~       3 tablespoons red onion, minced

~       ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

~       ¼ teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped finely

~       4 garlic cloves, chopped finely

~       1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

~       1 tablespoon red curry paste

~       1 tablespoon fish sauce

~       2 tablespoons coconut oil

~       Salt to taste

For Curry:

~       1 red onion, chopped

~       4 garlic cloves, minced

~       ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

~       1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

~       2 tablespoons red curry paste

~       1 (14 oz.) can coconut milk

~       2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

~       Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.      For meatballs, in a large bowl, add all ingredients except oil, and mix until well combined. Make small balls from the mixture.

2.      In a large skillet, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook for 3–5 minutes or until golden brown on all sides. Transfer the meatballs into a bowl.

3.      In the same skillet, add onion and a pinch of salt, and sauté for 3 minutes.

4.      Add garlic, ginger, and jalapeño, and sauté for 1 minute.

5.      Add curry paste, and sauté for 1 minute.

6.      Add coconut milk and meatballs, and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for about 10 minutes.

7.      Serve with a drizzling of lime juice.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 370 Fat: 29.5 g Sat Fat: 20.8 g Carbohydrates: 9.8 g Fiber: 2.2 g Sugar: 3.7 g Protein: 19 g

Snacks

PRE-WORKOUT

The Gritty Coffee Shake

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

~       2 cups strongly brewed coffee, chilled

~       1-ounce Macadamia Nuts

~       1 tablespoon chia seeds

~       1 tablespoon MCT oil

~       1-2 packets Stevia, optional

Directions:

1. Add all the listed ingredients to a blender

2. Blend on high until smooth and creamy

3. Enjoy your smoothie!

Nutritional Contents: Calories: 395 Fat: 39g Carbohydrates: 11g Protein: 5.2g

Cherry Berry Smoothie

Serving: 2

Ingredients:

~       1 cup cherries

~       2 cups fresh kale

~       4 teaspoons honey

~       1 cup blueberries

~       2 cups almond milk

Directions:

1. Add all the listed ingredients to a blender

2. Blend until you have a smooth and creamy texture

3. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutritional Contents: Calories: 220 Fat: 2.8g Carbohydrates: 47.7g Protein: 3.7g

Raw Chocolate Smoothie

Serving: 2

Ingredients:

~       2 medium bananas

~       4 tablespoons peanut butter, raw

~       1 cup almond milk

~       3 tablespoons cocoa powder, raw

~       2 tablespoons honey, raw

Directions:

1. Add all the listed ingredients to a blender

2. Blend until you have a smooth and creamy texture

3. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutritional Contents: Calories: 217 Fat: 2.8g Carbohydrates: 52.7g Protein: 3.4g

The Ultimate Mocha MilkShake

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

~       1 cup brewed coffee, chilled

~       1 cup whole milk

~       2 tablespoons cocoa powder

~       1 tablespoon coconut oil

~       2 packs stevia

Directions:

1. Add listed ingredients to a blender

2. Blend until smooth

3. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutritional Contents: Calories: 293 Fat: 23g Carbohydrates: 19g Protein: 10g

POST-WORKOUT

Deviled Egg Whites

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients:

~       6 eggs, hard-boiled and peeled

~       ¼ cup capers, rinsed

~       ½ cup olives, chopped

~       ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced

~       1 tablespoon olive oil

~       Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.      Cut the eggs in half, lengthwise and discard the yolks.

2.      Sprinkle the egg whites with salt and pepper.

3.      In a small bowl, smash the capers with a fork and add the olives, red pepper, and olive oil. Stir together. Scoop into the holes on the egg whites.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 49 Fat: 4 g Sat Fat: 0.9 g Carbohydrates: 0.9 g Fiber: 0.3 g Sugar: 0.3 g Protein: 2.9 g

Chapter Nine: Affirmations to Help You Stay Focused

“What you stay focused on will gr ow.” Roy T. Bennett

So, you are now on a clean diet and exercising consistently. You are doing everything to reach your goals and to live a healthy lifestyle. To help you achieve your goals and stay focused you must develop a positive mindset. You must develop an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude is like a magnet that pulls positive thoughts towards us throughout the course of our day.

An attitude of gratitude will not only help you stay focused, but it also strengthens our spirit and helps us realize that we are truly blessed for all that we have been given. We are so lucky to live in a beautiful country and to be able to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. So, let’s make use of all that we have been given and let’s feel grateful for it.

The more gratitude we think about throughout the course of our day, the stronger our attitude becomes and the more time we will spend on living a healthy lifestyle.

We will also feel good about ourselves because we are doing the right thing and making the right decisions.

This will help us stay focused on our goal to be healthy and fit. So, let’s put a smile on our face, breathe a deep breath, and live our best life by thinking about what we are thankful for!

Coming up with a list of affirmations will also help you stay focused.

Affirmations?

Yes, affirmations!

Affirmations are positive statements that you say to yourself on a daily basis to help you stay focused. They are said throughout the day to keep you in a positive mindset and to keep your life on track.

Think of affirmations as a way of saying, “I am going to be successful”.

You make these statements throughout your days since the majority of your days are spent at work or school; so, you might as well make use of them! For example, on your way to work, you can say: “I am going to start out strong and be sure not to burn out my body.”

Throughout the day, you can repeat these affirmations to yourself as many times as it takes for them to sink in.

For you to stay committed to this Home Workout Program and Meal Plan, you also need to have a list of affirmations. These statements should be about your fitness goals. You should say them to yourself daily.

Strength training after fifty is not an easy task. It requires commitment and consistency. For your affirmations to work, you must say them at least three times a day.

Affirmations should be said out loud whenever possible. However, if you are afraid of being judged at work or at school by others for doing so, then just say them in your mind.

Exercise and Fitness Affirmations to Help You Stay Focused

These are the affirmations for the Strength Training section of the workout routine:

1.     I love exercising

Here is how you say it: "I am enjoying myself, and I love to work out! I am going to feel great!"

2.     This is going to be a great workout

"I am going to have a great time running tonight. I can't wait to do another set of exercises!"

3.     I choose to be stronger

"I am going to choose this workout program because I want to be healthier and stronger!"

4.     I will love myself enough to exercise

"I will love myself enough to do this workout program! I want to be healthier and stronger!"

5.     I can do anything I set my mind to

"I am going to push myself hard because I can do anything if I set my mind to it!"

6.     I can and I will

"I can and I will do this workout program! I am going to push myself hard because I want to be   healthier and stronger!"

7.     I will not quit

"I will not quit because I want to be healthier and stronger!"

8.     I am creating my ideal body

"I am not going to eat anything that will make me feel sick and unhealthy!"

9.     I am excited to exercise my body

“I am going to enjoy myself and love myself enough to keep doing this workout program!"

10.      I can do my exercises effortlessly and with passion

“I am going to push myself hard because I want to be stronger!"

11.      I have the willpower to get through my exercise program

“I am going to work hard and love every second of it!"

12.      I am becoming a better version of myself

“I will only eat food that will make me feel great about myself!"

13.      I am excited to reach my fitness goals

"I am so excited; I know I can do this and I will!"

14.      All I need is diet and exercise

"All I need is diet and exercise to become the best version of myself!"

15.      Every day I am getting stronger and healthier

“I will not stop getting stronger and healthier!"

16.      I take care of my body and it takes care of me

"My body is my temple and I treasure it!"

17.      I am confident, strong and motivated

“I will not stop; I will not quit!"

18.      I will not give up until I reach my goals

"Each day I get closer and closer to my goals!!"

19.      I am easily motivated to exercise

“I love the feeling exercising gives me and I look forward to it!"

20.      I am disciplined and will not take any shortcuts

“Step by step is all it takes!"

21.      I love how I feel after working out

“I look forward to working out!"

22.      The only bad workout is the one that didn’t happen

“I will keep going with my workout routine!"

23.      Pain today, strength tomorrow

“I know the goals I have set for myself and this motivates me to keep going!"

24.      My muscles are getting stronger everyday

“I am fitter than I was yesterday!"

25.      I will not quit, failure is NOT an option

“I will keep going, whatever it takes!"

26.      Hard work always pays off and I am fully committed

“I am seeing great results and this keeps me going!"

27.      By working out I relieve my stress and anxiety

“Working out has had a huge impact on my life!"

28.      I am motivated to live an active life

“Nothing can stop me from living my best life!"

29.      I can get into shape

“I enjoy getting into shape and the results are amazing!"

30.      Working out is fulfilling

“I enjoy each and every moment of working out!"

31.      Movement is my medicine

“I feel great after each workout session!"

32.      I will push myself because no one else will

“It's my body and I will do whatever it takes to look after it!"

33.      I will be consistent and patient, results take time

“I will not quit; I will not surrender!"

34.      I believe in myself and everything that I am

"I know what is best for me and this keeps me motivated!"

35.      I am ready to enjoy perfect health!

“Perfect health is my right and I’m going to achieve it!!"

These are the affirmations for the Nutrition section of the workout routine:

36.      My body and mind are strong

Here is how you say it: “I am not going to eat anything that will make me feel sick and unhealthy!"

37.      I love myself and my body

“Whatever I put into my mouth will serve my body well!"

38.      It's important to me that I have a strong body

“I am not going to eat anything that will detract me from having a strong body!"

39.      I am showing my body love and respect

“I will not put anything into my mouth that will make me feel sick and unhealthy!"

40.      I choose to be healthier

"I choose to eat healthy because I want to be stronger, lose weight, and feel better about myself!"

41.      I am in tune with my body

"I am in tune with my body and what it needs!"

42.      I am full of vitality

“I have more energy than I’ve ever had!"

43.      I believe in myself and everything that I am

“I can do anything I set my mind to doing!"

44.      I am closer than I was yesterday

“Being closer today than I was yesterday motivates me to keep going!"

45.      My body needs better from me

“I will serve my body well and it in turn will serve me well!"

46.      I will have a long healthy life

“Great nutrition will help me achieve a long healthy life!"

47.      Nothing is impossible, I will find a way to make it happen

“Failure is not an option!"

48.      Its ok if I failed yesterday, today is a new day

“I will dust myself off and keep going!"

49.      I am getting stronger and healthier every day

“I will keep at it and will not quit!"

50.      I deserve to be healthy and happy

“Every day I feel healthier and happier!!"

Chapter Summary

In this chapter we learned:

●       Affirmations to Help You Stay Focused and Motivated

●       Affirmations to Keep You Going When You Feel Like Giving Up

●       Affirmations to Help You Love Your Body and Yourself Today

●       Affirmations to Help you Feel Stronger After a Workout

●       Affirmations to Increase the Power of Your Positive Self Talk

●       Affirmations to Improve Your Fitness Results

In the next chapter we will address important terminology relevant to a workout.

Chapter Ten: Workout Terminologies

Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together and you’ve got a kingdom. - Jack Lalanne

So now you have the affirmations to get yourself moving and motivated to work out. But what are those words you're hearing all around you? Every subculture has its own terminology for exercise, and you'll find these words used by a variety of people. A few years ago, I was in the local gym doing heavy weight training and just as I was finishing one of my reps, this young guy stepped up to take my place. He asks me, "Hey, what does that machine down there do?" My face was like a deer caught in headlights. That sounds easy enough, but I've been using that equipment for so long I couldn't remember the name of it. Luckily, it wasn't a complicated term and he quickly finished his set and left. I have to admit, I also saw younger people there who were asking what those black machines down at the end of the room were called. It was embarrassing, but I'm glad that they were all too busy to take the time to ask.

Whether you are working out in a gym or at home, the terms you hear are often the same. There's a surprise in here for sure!

To keep things simple, let's consider a few of the fitness terms that are commonly used along with a brief explanation of the science behind each one;

Cardio

Cardio is short for cardiovascular or cardiorespiratory exercise and refers to exercise that increases your heartbeat like walking, running, or cycling. Cardiovascular activities are good for your heart and lungs as well as burning fat and providing you with a healthy way to lose weight. Due to the specific muscles they engage in, cardio exercises are also thought to keep people looking young well into their golden years because they keep your body lean and toned. If you're just beginning an exercise program, cardio is a great place to start because it's the type of exercise that will help your body improve its ability to burn fat even when you're not exercising.

Burning

This is a word you're going to hear a lot when anyone is talking about exercise. It's also one that you should know because it's the only way that your body will burn fat.

When you begin a workout or increase the intensity of your activity, your body increases its oxygen intake to provide fuel for all of the activity. This triggers your metabolism, which is basically how fast your body processes everything you've eaten in order to provide fuel for the energy requirements of the workout.

So, what happens after a workout?

When you exercise, your body also burns sugar, which is what it uses to provide the fuel that is necessary for exercising. When you finish exercising and stop moving, your body begins to return to its normal state. As it does, it begins burning fat for fuel instead of sugar.

When this process ends, it's important to refuel yourself with sugars and carbohydrates so that your metabolism can continue burning fat. If you don't refuel, your body will burn muscle tissue for fuel instead, which can actually slow down your metabolism. Some people like to begin a workout with a pre-workout snack or energy drink to help them get started and keep them going while burning that sugar.

Core Training

Core training or core exercises focuses primarily on abdominal muscles. The term "core" doesn't refer to the muscles in your back, but instead refers to the spaces between your abdominal muscles. These are your abs, and they're where a lot of other muscle groups connect to them.

To understand core training, you first need to understand how your body works. Most of the body is a series of connected tubes referred to as circulatory systems (blood supply, nervous system, etc.). Your circulatory system is almost like a series of tubes that carry everything around your body from one end to the other. As you can imagine, if you remove one tube from the machine, the rest need to maintain their systems as well. This is what happens to the muscles as well when you exercise; they become isolated and need to work in order for everything else to function properly.

Turns out, this is also the key reason why core training has a positive effect on every part of your body. By strengthening the various abdominal muscles, you're also strengthening your entire digestive system and nervous system.

Active Recovery

Active recovery focuses on light cardiovascular exercise that allows the body to rest while still moving. A common example of active recovery is when people walk for 15-20 minutes after a heavy workout. This is a great way to allow your muscles to rest and recover from the workout while still burning calories and getting some movement in.

Reps

This is an easy one because it refers to repetitions, which means anything that you do over and over again. In the fitness world, it's commonly used in sets of weight training or while exercising as a way to keep track of how many times you're doing something. In other words, if you're performing three sets of 8 reps, it means that you're doing 8 reps on the first set, repeating this 8 times until your set is complete (or until you can't do any more).

Reps and Sets

A rep is technically defined as one single motion in which an exercise is performed. For example, you might be doing three sets of 8 reps, which means you're lifting 8 kettlebells each time you complete a rep.

In the fitness world, reps and sets are used for exercises that are incorporated into a program. For example, an exercise might consist of five sets of 10 reps that you perform every other day and it's designed to take four weeks to complete. This is called a weekly set or cycle.

Active Rest

Active rest is when you choose to do a light workout instead of full recovery. For example, some people like to go for a walk after completing a heavy workout in order to help their muscles recover while staying active. This will get the blood flowing and help reduce soreness while also keeping your metabolism going.

Active Recovery Days

Active recovery days are days that you're choosing to do something low key instead of taking the day off completely. For example, you might choose to do a yoga class instead of sitting around the house.

Active recovery workouts

Active recovery workouts are exactly what you think they are; workouts that you can do on your days off because they're lighter and lower intensity than the usual exercise routine. This is a great way to get some movement in with little stress or pressure.

Aerobic Exercise

This is the kind of exercise that's done for a long period of time. In other words, it takes lots of energy to complete and can be quite tiring.

Anaerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercises are those in which you use oxygen and draw in air into your lungs. For example, running is considered an aerobic exercise because it allows the body to use oxygen and draw air in while moving at a steady pace. That's what makes it aerobic. On the other hand, anaerobic exercises are those in which the body doesn't rely on oxygen for energy. For example, if you're lifting weight, you're not going to be using oxygen in order to complete the task; instead, you're relying on your own body's stores of energy.

Cool-Down

The cool-down period is what comes right after a workout. Here, you should keep things light and easy. You should keep the heart rate down and try to let the body recover before increasing your activity again.

Cross Training

Cross training or "sport specific training" is essentially when you're trying to incorporate different types of exercise into your routine for variety; it might be training on an elliptical machine or weightlifting with a friend on a different day of the week. This will help you see the importance of exercise and how it impacts your body.

DOMS

"DOMS" stands for "delayed onset muscle soreness" and refers to the soreness you might feel in muscles that haven't been used. If you're concentrating on training certain muscle groups, you might find that training day after day will lead to some soreness.

Interval Training

Interval training is similar to cross training, except instead of doing two different types of exercise, there are different levels of intensity. While interval training is usually done during a running workout, you can also do it in the weight room with short bursts of power and energy.

Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is produced in the body and comes as a by-product when you work your muscles too hard. Lactic acid plays a key role in muscle soreness; when you stop working out, the lactic acid levels go down.

Resistance

Resistance training helps build your muscles. Resistance training is a difficult type of exercise that involves lifting weights. You must use more muscles than one normally uses in order to lift the weight.

Super Strength

Super strength refers to the amount of strength and/or muscle power a person has. Super strength is not possible unless you have performed resistance training, but it is more likely if you have healthy muscles due to it.

Calories Used

Calories burned from physical activity are called calories used, or just calories. Why not just have a good day and eat a good meal, drink lots of water and light exercise, and enjoy yourself?

Strength Training

Strength training is all about building muscles and can be done with your own body or free weights.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter we learned:

• Key terminologies that you'll come across in every fitness program, and what they mean

Final Words

I hope that you are feeling fabulous and reaping all the benefits of strength training. You may be sleeping better, eating better, feeling less pain in your body, and generally feeling more energetic and confident. You have a lot to be proud of.

It is important to now focus on why you want to maintain a strong, healthy body. The motivation may change over time, and some days you might not feel any motivation at all. That, my friends, is where discipline comes in.

What’s Next?

You’ve reached the end of four weeks of strength training. Congratulations! However, this is not the end. Rather, it is the beginning of a whole new way of living.

Remember, your body wants to move. Your body wants to be strong. No matter your shape, size, age, or gender, if you love your body by giving it the opportunity to be strong and functional, the rewards will be invaluable.

I encourage you to go back to the beginning and start again, but this time, increase the weight and resistance. You may also do your favorite workouts for up to four weeks before switching to another.

Now that you’ve completed the foundation, feel free to use the exercises within this book to design your own programs, but be sure to include all of the necessary body parts. For strength training, we generally want to include at least two exercises for the legs and glutes, at least two for the back (pull), one or two for the chest (push), and an exercise for the shoulders or arms (biceps and triceps).

Always keep in mind that in order to get stronger you must lift more weight and gradually add more volume, making your muscles work harder than what they’re used to. Listen to your body. It will tell you when to rest or to push a little harder.

Self-Study for A Strong Life

In the gym “No pain, no gain” is a popular mantra, while it can be misinterpreted as an excuse to ignore signs that your body needs rest. Consistent soreness or stiffness, as well as sharp or chronic, nagging pain, are some things to keep an eye out for. It's natural to feel a little sore for up to 48 hours after beginning a new workout. If you're tired every time you do a workout, though, it's time to pay attention. When you work out, you shouldn't feel any discomfort other than the burning sensation of muscle exhaustion. It's a good idea to see a doctor if you have discomfort that continues despite your best efforts to rest that joint or muscle. Excessive fatigue can mean that you’re overtraining. Give yourself an additional rest day, but again, if it persists you should check in with your physician.

Likewise, if you experience dizziness or fainting, be sure you are well-hydrated and not working out too hard. Exercising too hard can cause a drop in blood pressure and dehydration. You can feel lightheaded, dizzy, or faint as a result of this. None of this is acceptable.

Build A Support System

It’s my hope that you will be inspired to ask others to join you on this journey for a stronger body. There is someone just waiting for you to inspire them.

Seek out others who are on a similar path. Join a hiking group or invite a friend to go for a walk instead of sitting in a café. One of the great things about joining a gym is that those like-minded people are there for you.

Social media groups are also an awesome resource for inspiration. You’ll find tons of support there, if that’s something you enjoy. The point is to surround yourself with people who want you to succeed. Those people are your tribe.

Enjoy Your New Superpowers

I am often asked what my “secret” is, and without hesitation I answer, “Strength training!” I am positive I would not be the strong, capable woman I am today without it.

Just the other day I found myself in a situation where I had to climb over my seven-foot fence, clamber over my garden shed, and lower myself down using my upper body strength. I did it with such ease and felt like a giddy 12-year-old girl. I couldn’t have done that had I not been so devoted to my strength training. (Ok maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, or maybe a lot, but I know I would be able to do it if I had to).

You may never find yourself in that situation but you will find that you are so much more capable of doing things that you thought you’d never be able to do again, and you will be able to continue doing the things you love for a long time to come.

Taking care of ourselves, especially as we age, is the least selfish thing we can do. Not only will we be able to keep up with children and grandchildren, we will retain our independence for much longer, which are gifts to ourselves and the people we love.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

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