Getting the Most from My #BestBodyBootCamp Workouts

I have completed my first strength training workout for this week's Best Body Boot Camp and my legs are like jelly. Don't ya love that feeling when you have done a hard workout and you just know it has done you some good cause you feel weak, even after you have stretched a bit?

When Tina said that this phase of the Boot Camp would target muscular endurance, she wasn't kidding!

I love how she organizes all of the information that we will need for the next 2 weeks, and sends it out so that    we have a couple of days to look it over and get familiar with it all before we need to start working with it.  There is plenty of time to research and ask her questions.  I love Best Body Boot Camp.... did I say that yet?

Today's workout was a real challenge for me, not only because the exercises were effective but because I added an additional element to my workout today....  I am quite excited about it.

This book almost jumped off the shelf at me the last time I was in the library and I have been reading bits and pieces from it ever since I brought it home.

I don't have any illusions/delusions about becoming a body builder, or a fitness model, but I like to read about these things.  I am intrigued by the workouts, the preparation, the food, and the mental aspects of it all.  And let's face it, looking at pictures of women's beautiful muscles certainly inspires me to put more effort and time into my own workouts.

I thought this book might give me a little extra boost of motivation and go hand in hand with the workouts that Tina has prepared.  I want to learn how to use nutrition to enhance the results of my workouts, and I want to use my mind to increase the effectiveness of my workouts to get more out of them, as well.

So I used two tips from the book with my workout this morning... 

The first was to do the workout first thing in the morning, before breakfast.  The author says that if you work out on an empty stomach you will burn 300% more body fat this way.  Apparently, when you don't have any carbohydrates in your system, your body uses stored fat as fuel.  And at this time of day growth hormones are at their highest levels.    

So, after I got up and made the bed, I had a cup of coffee, drank some water, changed into my workout gear and got moving.  I drank a few more cups of water during my 60 second breaks, and although I was afraid I would be feeling lightheaded and hungry during the workout, it didn't happen.  I felt strong and mentally focused.

Which leads me right to the second tip I used today.  Mental  focus.  I made a point of concentrating on the muscle that I knew the exercise was intended to work.  Tina does such a great job in providing demos of the exercises she prescribes, (along with modifications) so you know what muscles are involved and where you should feel the work.

Before each exercise, I spent a few moments concentrating on the muscle I was going to work, then during the exercise I made sure to focus on that muscle, making sure it was creating the motion.   For example, during hip abduction, I made sure it was my hip that was starting and sustaining the movement.  And I made sure to hold it a split second at the peak of the movement. It made such a difference... this mindful action.

By the time I was done, I was really spent. And I felt great and I know that I did everything I could do today.

Now, I am off to read more about diet and food in this book, and decide what my day's cardio is going to be.

What time of day do you like to work out?

Do you practice mindfulness during your workouts?