Jen Jewell

Weekend Workout Fun!

8-habits-that-are-wrecking-your-fitness-facebook-box

 

 

Weekend Workout! My 5 Exercise Weekend Warrior Circuit!

 

I get it…it’s the weekend, you slept in and have a packed social calendar. You’ve been working your butt off all week and the last thing you feel like doing is revolving your Saturday around the weight room. My recommendation?  Instead of skipping your workout altogether, give this fun, effective WEEKEND WORKOUT a whirl! All you’ll need is your bodyweight and a bit of an open space (I’ve even done this workout in a small living room or hotel room with limited space), so throw on your workout clothes, put on a solid playlist and get that workout in…and then set out to enjoy the rest of your weekend!

 

The format is simple: perform 15 reps of each exercise, back to back to complete one full set of the 5 exercises below. Rest briefly (up to 1 min) and perform another 5 rounds for the full workout!

 

Here’s what you do:

 

Burpees (yeah yeah, I know what you’re thinking…no one loves these, but just suck it up and do them because they’re seriously effective and work your entire body while getting some cardio in, too)

Side plank hip dip and leg lift (15 reps on one side, then switch to the other)

Reverse lunge with a plyo skip at the top (15 reps on one side, then switch to the other)

Push-up with side plank rotation (alternating sides you do the plank on. For example, one push-up to right plank, push-up to left plank and repeat)

Jump squat to plank up/down combo: 10 jump squats, drop down to 10 plank up/downs and repeat 3 times, back to back.

 

Once you’ve completed 1 full set of each of the exercises above, back to back, rest briefly and then go for another 4-5 rounds.

 

Have fun with this one, and then get out to enjoy the rest of your weekend!


New Year, Your BEST YOU!

1, 2, 3, goals!
That's right, the New Year's Eve countdown is full of goals and wish lists of what we are all setting out to achieve in the New Year- so full of promise as after all, it’s a fresh start! I know you’re all probably just as excited as I am to tackle 2016 head on and have a list of

This past year I've embraced balance more than ever, applying the 80/20 principle to all aspects of my life, which in turn is helping me head to ringing in the new year at my happiest (and healthiest) I have in years! You may be thinking "Gee Jen, that's great, but I'm not quite there yet! How do I go into 2016 with this same type of approach towards my health & fitness?" Well it didn't happen for me overnight,  so I don't expect (or want) you to go into this next year with an "all or nothing" approach towards your fitness goals. We've all been there before...I know I most certainly have!
For years I would kick off the new year strong, adhering to a far from lax approach to my fitness goals, but inevitably would burn out a week, two weeks or within the first month in. I was so intent on one goal (fat loss) that I neglected to take into consideration a number of other components (essentials) that make us fit & healthy all around (body AND mind...not just a bikini booty) which also include approaching our goals in a more sustainable approach.

  • Attack your health & fitness goals with the understanding that consistency is key. Drastic (and sustainable) results don’t happen overnight, and unfortunately this is something that many people tend to forget when they dive headfirst into their fitness plan at the outset of the new year. I want everyone to set themselves up for success this year with the proper mindset in place, charting your results weekly and looking for progress in a multitude of aspects, not just on the scale or in the mirror.
  • Challenge yourself to adopt one new healthy habit each week, such as cutting out one soda a day (or even better- cutting out soda altogether) while focusing on staying hydrated with water or other lower calorie (or zero calorie) hydration sources. For your meals, focus on cutting back on processed foods, switching fried proteins to grilled options and also cutting back on refined sugar intake. Slight changes like this will add up to big time results and be far more sustainable for the long haul opposed to cutting out everything at once and being on a restrictive “diet” of some sort. 
  • Plan ahead! Preparation is key and has been vital to my success now (and in years past when I was switching from unhealthy habits to consistently working on my fitness) when it comes to making sure I hit the gym consistently and for my meals. For example, if you know going home after work to change into your workout clothes and then hitting the gym often leads to procrastination (and missed workouts) then plan ahead and pack your gym bag the night before, throw it in your trunk to have handy so you’ll go workout at the gym on the way home from work. Years back when I was making an attempt to be more consistent with my fitness, this simple change in habit seriously did the trick- I stopped missing workouts after work, hit the gym and achieved some serious results! 
  • Going out to lunch with co-workers during the week? When eating out, calories (and dollars) can add up quickly! If either of these are of concern and you’re not quite sure how to navigate a take-out menu the healthy way(more on that in a separate article) then just make a few easy swaps! Start out by bringing your own food for lunch every other day and then gradually make the change to packing healthier options for your meals and snacks during the work week.
  • Take a rest day! More often than not, people are so intent on achieving massive success right out of the gate after January 1st that they go full throttle, neglecting to take a rest day (or two) scattered throughout the week. Not only is this is quick way to burnout on your newfound gym life, you’re also doing your body (and mind) a disservice by constantly putting it through such serious work without properly allowing it to recovery. Take a day off from the gym and you’ll be ready to rock with even more strength the next day!-  Focus on having fun with your fitness! I know you've probably all seen me post about how I'm always having fun with my fitness, but what exactly does that mean to me? It means that whatever it is I’m doing to work on my health and fitness, I’m enjoying myself and having fun. That could be a workout at the gym, skipping the gym in favor of a workout down at the track, running to the park near my house and doing a total body workout outside to switch things up, a hot yoga class, etc., the point is…whatever I’m doing, I’m having fun, which helps keep me motivated year-round. I’m no longer stuck in a rut and going to the gym 5-6 days a week every single week, but instead of keeping my body (and mind) stimulated with a variety of physical activity while thoroughly enjoying myself.
  • Chart your progress in ways OTHER than stepping on the scale. The scale will never reflect the true results of your hard work in the gym. Unfortunately it’s controlled the mind-set and motivation for so many for so long that it can be a tricky habit to break, but in 2016, let’s break it! I want you all to see (and feel) the results and benefits of your hard work- you deserve it! I want to make sure you’re all charting your progress with progress pictures (I take them and they definitely help me hold myself accountable, plus it’s great to be able to put the shots side by side to really see the details of my hard work paying off), how you’re feeling in and out of the gym, how your strength is improving (I have all of my clients set performance based goals as well as the physique goals they initially have for themselves), the increase in your endurance, confidence, mindset, stress relief and MORE! There are so many other ways to chart your fitness success that I want to make sure you’re all embracing them from every angle.

Bottom line, the new year is an awesome time to get refocused, write down your goals and get started on a new plan, there’s no doubt about that! If you adopt even a few of these fit tips I’ve shared, I have no doubt that you’ll be achieving those results in no time. Let’s make this your most fit and healthy year yet! Ready, set…work it!

 


Lower Body Blast Workout!

Workout alert!

Today was a lower body blast day at the gym...pretty sure it's going to be tricky getting up and down the stairs tomorrow!
Workout fueled by my @cellucor #c4ripped...so yes, definitely a sweaty workout monster mess! You guys know that I'm always finding a way to have fun with my workouts, switching things up and more...variety in my workouts has been key to preventing plateaus and earning those results! I want you to have fun with your fitness and get those results, too!
For the workout below, complete 3-4 sets of each super set (the two exercises that are paired with one another, back to back...no rest between these two exercises. Rest briefly between sets if needed. Please complete 12-15 reps per exercise unless otherwise noted)...have fun and work it!
- Hex bar Plie deadlifts
Jumping rope 30-60 seconds
- Step up with side kick out
Barbell Side lunges with resistance band around legs
- Cable kickbacks
Standing cable abduction
- Walking lunges with side squat (one lunge one aide squat)
Juno rope 30 seconds
- Barbell sumo deadlift
One legged Deadlift with DB
Always having fun and mixing things up! Try it out this week and let me know what you think!

Healthy Holidays!

Dieting during the holidays doesn’t have to be a bore…in fact, you can have your Christmas cookies and abs, too! One of the principles that I adhere to year round is balance. What exactly is that, you ask? Quite simply, this means that nothing is ever completely off limits. I make healthy choices the majority of the time with my meals so that when I do want to have a few cookies, go back for seconds at Thanksgiving or have an extra slice of holiday pie, I do so and I don’t worry about it derailing my fitness one bit.

 

The main rule that I abide by during the holidays (and advise my clients to do the same) is this: Understand and recognize that there are going to be “temptations” everywhere you look, that co-workers are going to be bringing in treats to the office, that the holiday parties are going to be full of egg nog and wine, every store is going to be filled with packaged sweet treats packaged in cartoon a cartoon Santa or reindeer. This is all inevitable, so just face the facts.  I think it’s safe to say we have all over indulged a ton when it comes to holiday eats (heck, I know I have)

  • If you’re going out, don’t skip the gym! Yes, we have social engagements to attend nearly each week during the holiday season, but a simple way to help keep you on track (while you get to have a few of your favorite treats) is to make a little deal with yourself. If you’re going to a holiday event tonight, make sure you get in a quick workout (I’m talking even squeezing in a 20 min at home workout if you’re really that pressed for time) and then eat a healthy meal before attending the event. While there, go ahead and try a few of your favorites, have that glass of wine.

 

  • Is there something that only comes around once a year (and no, I’m not talking about this Pumpkin Spice latte madness where it’s out for an entire season during each year) around the holidays that you really, truly enjoy? If so, skip the prepackaged goodies that you can get at the store any time of the year (for example, packaged cookies, chips, etc., that may be brought into the office, at a holiday party, etc.) and instead have your favorite Christmas cookie or enjoy that pie your aunt makes each Thanksgiving. Just don’t do it every day. By skipping the food items that we can get anywhere year-round and opting to have that chocolate cherry cake your Grandma makes on Christmas Eve or those cookies you bake with your kids for the holidays, etc., you’ll be able to enjoy some holiday treats without going over the top and derailing all of the hard work you’ve put in leading up to the holidays.

 

  • Always have a meal or snack handy with you. This comes back to being prepared, just as you are throughout the rest of the year. Keeping snack items with you at all times makes for a quick and easy solution when you’re pressed for time, are running from one holiday event to the next, etc., and if you have some snack items with you (protein powder to make a shake real quick, a protein bar, almonds, cashews, etc) it will help deter you from making a really unhealthy choice that’s likely to happen if you wait too long to eat. I do this whenever I travel and especially during the holidays- it’s saved me countless times.

 

  • Don’t forget all of the healthy habits you’ve developed over the years and everything you’ve practiced with your health and fitness leading up to the holidays. Remind yourself that simply because the holidays are here, that doesn’t give us a free pass to go on a sugar binge for the 4-6 weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. Maintain as many of those healthy habits that you’ve worked so hard for and you’ll be thanking yourself when January 1 rolls around.

 

  • Remind yourself that even if you don’t have time to get to the gym for your full length normal workout, every bit does count. Normally have 60 minutes of gym time after work during the week and during the holidays it’s cut in half? No big deal, just don’t give in to the “all or nothing” approach and skip out. Switch your workouts up to be higher in intensity, or switch your workout split up during the holidays for the number of days that it IS realistic for you to get to the gym. Arm yourself with a few at home workouts that you can do as well, so on the days where you’re really pressed for time you’re still able to get in something (even if it’s a bodyweight circuit workout) rather than skipping a workout altogether. I abide by this when I’m on the road traveling for work and gym access isn’t consistent. Instead of viewing this as an inconvenience I look at it as an opportunity to mix things up from my “usual” gym routine at home and to keep my body guessing.

 

  • As with anything, consistency is key. Make a promise to yourself that you won’t skip more than 2-3 days in a row of workouts during the holidays and hold yourself accountable to this. Meet a friend at the gym or a training class, and then go Christmas shopping together, multi-task and do a bodyweight workout at home while your Christmas cookies are baking in the oven. Have fun, get creative, and of course, enjoy your holidays!

Healthy Mexican food? You bet!

Mexicanonthego
I absolutely love Mexican food! So much, in fact, that it’s some of my favorite cuisine out there. The unfortunate thing is, it’s not always the healthiest choice (excessive amounts of sodium, cheese/saturated fats, etc., don’t exactly make this cuisine a fitness model’s dream come true). Sure, it’s one of the easier types of restaurants to go and make a few adjustments and get a healthier meal than what’s listed on the menu (skip the chips, skip all of the cheese, make sure you don’t get the deep fried options, pass on the sour cream, etc.), but what if I told you that there are really simple options that you can make right at home while still keeping everything on track with your fitness, physique and nutrition goals?
 
Here are a few ways that I make my favorite Mexican meals the healthy way (with minimal prep time, too- and you know that’s my favorite- the least amount of time spent in the kitchen the better!). Please note that the approximate serving sizes are based on what I would typically make for myself, when I’m at home on a regular schedule and eating 5-6 meals a day
 
Taco Meal: 2 small corn tortillas, 1 slice of pepperjack cheese (Trader Joe’s had a yogurt pepper jack cheese that’s good…or get a low fat cheese option), take 4-5 oz of whatever protein you want (ground turkey breast is super simple, but I also like to do a grilled lean steak as well ), melt half slice of cheese on each tortilla, top tortillas with the protein, lettuce/pico de gallo, 1 tablespoon of avocado plus 1/3 cup black beans on the side & whatever other veggies you want, use 1/3 cup of greek yogurt on the side instead of sour cream (mix with hot sauce or salsa if you want)
 
Healthier fajitas: cook up lean steak, onions/peppers/mushrooms, grab 2-3 of those small corn tortillas, have 1/3 cup rice of choice and 1/3 cup black beans on side, and add whatever other veggies you’d want plus avocado (I’ll use some of the healthy guac recipe that I included below at the bottom of these options)
 
Healthier burrito: Use a Flat Out Wrap or Whole grain tortilla (look for tortillas 150 calories or less and make sure there’s at least 5 grams of fiber per tortilla), and stuff that tortilla full of your fave type of protein (again, I love grilled steak, grilled chicken breast, or you can even do a lean cut of pork that you’ve slow roasted in the crock pot in order to make a healthier version of carnita), add in ¼ cup rice, ¼ cup beans, whatever veggies you want, avocado or guacamole (see below for healthy guac recipe; I typically use 1/3 cup per serving of my healthy guac recipe) ½-1 slice of cheese
 
Healthier version of guacamole: 1 avocado, mashed. Add in 1 cup of nonfat/plain Greek yogurt, ¼ cup of salsa (any kind), squeeze some lemon in the mix, add ½ teaspoon of both garlic salt and garlic powder. Mix everything together and BAM- you have a healthy version of guac! I typically still skip the chips with this and instead use the guac on my tacos, burrito, fajitas, etc., to keep it as healthy as possible.
Of course feel free to go out and enjoy your favorite Mexican meal options in moderation, but when a craving strikes, just know that you can still load up on the flavor, protein and all around deliciousness of Mexican food while staying on track with your fitness goals! After all...healthy food doesn't have to be boring!  Enjoy! :)
*Note that the photo inserted in the post above is a snap shot of a meal I grabbed while on the go traveling. Mexican food made as healthy as possible while on a layover at the Dallas airport!*

Holiday Work it Circuit

Workout alert! The holiday season is now in full effect, but that's no excuse to skip your workouts! I know the holidays are hectic and you'll likely have less time than usual for the gym, so I've created a fun, fast and EFFICIENT upper body blast workout that also combines some cardio bursts, so you'll really be maximizing the time you spend workin' it on out!
Now, another MAJOR perk of this workout is that you don't need ANY machine access or much equipment for this one, so for those of you who workout at home, have a limited gym, hectic travel or holiday event schedules, it's incredibly convenient. I combined shoulders and arms, here's what I did:

I did about 12 reps and4 sets of everything listed below:

CIRCUIT 1:

Arnold shoulder press
Hammer curls
Overhead tricep press
Mt climbers using sliders at feet, 30 seconds
Bentover rear delt row

CIRCUIT 2:

Lateral raises
Plank hold to tricep kickback w/DB (alternating arms while in plank position)
Barbell bicep curls
Skull crushers
15-20 burpees

 
You'll be a ridiculous , sweaty mess with some epic workout hair after all of this but it's fun, efficient and will definitely having your upper body feeling the burn! Let's make this your healthiest holiday season yet! Ready, set...work it!

 

 

 

 


Rower Workout Fun!

I’m not going to lie- the rowing machine is not my favorite mode of cardio, so whenever I do include it in my workout I always do something fun to switch it up, challenge myself and keep it interesting while working with bursts of high intensity!

 

I don’t want to just sit on the row machine for 20-30 minutes straight, so instead of that I set little mini goals for myself for brief intervals and then hop off for some resistance exercises between rowing intervals. Grab a set of dumbbells, a rower machine and get to work! Here’s what you should do (full workout, including warm-up should take you 20-25 min):

 

Warm-up on row machine: 3-5 minutes, with a speed/level of effort at: 20-25 strokes/rows per minute

1 min: 30-40 strokes/minute

1 min: 20-25 strokes/min

30 sec: aim for 25-30 strokes (high intensity…work it!)

 

Hop off rower and perform 15 reps of the following exercises, back to back:

  • Burpees
  • Jump squats
  • Shoulder press
  • Bicep curls
  • Mt climbers

 

Jump back on rower and repeat this for a total of 4-5 rounds


Best Thing I Ever Did...

BELIEVEINME

 

 

The Best Thing that I Ever Did was Believe in Me

 

Well, it’s been nearly four whole years since I did it, you guys. Four years since I took that leap of faith, placed that bet on myself and challenged myself in ways that I’d never dared to before. What in the world did I do, you ask? Well, quite simply, I quit. I quit my job in corporate America and never looked back. It seriously seems like just yesterday that I was driving around all of Northern California, making sales calls in my territory, working a job that I dreaded waking up for. Don’t get me wrong- it was a good job, and in the type of economy I was faced with upon college graduation, I was grateful to even have solid employment. It was this very detail that I reminded myself of daily…sometimes multiple times each day in order to keep myself motivated and focused enough to make the sales calls day in and day out, sometimes driving 450+miles in a day just to get the job done.

 

So…how does you being unhappy working your 9-5 job relate to fitness and what I’m doing now?

Before I get too into this, allow me to back up and fill you in a bit more on how me saying “I quit” was actually a rather positive statement and how this whole thing started.  I know you don’t have all day to read this, so I’ll make a decade long story pretty short. Since high school I’d admired the physiques and dedication of the women gracing the pages of fitness magazines and competition stages, always thinking to myself “Geez, I sure wish I could do that!” but had always been plagued with self-doubt and fear. Doubt that I wouldn’t be able to measure up to the other women on stage and that I wouldn’t look even close to like I belonged up there beside them, and fear that I would be laughed at or mocked for not looking nearly as in shape as the competitors I’d looked up to. So what did I do? Well I took the easy way out, skipped the competition prep and just admired the competition circuit from afar, always with the melancholy “One day…” thought at the back of my mind.

For years I continued to work out at the gym, experienced my own transformation with my weight gain (and then subsequent fat loss) journey which was when I had pretty much chalked up the whole “fitness thing” as a pipe dream. At one point when I weighed about 40-50 pounds heavier than I do today, I actually stopped reading fitness magazines because to me looking at those pages was a constant reminder that I still had not yet mustered up the courage to prepare for a competition (and looking back I now realize that deep down I always knew I had it in me). For years after that (even after losing the weight) I decided that I should just accept the fact that I was just going to work on my fitness in the gym to stay healthy and continue driving somewhat aimlessly around Nor Cal in attempt to sell medical equipment to orthodontists. But I wasn’t happy and I knew something had to change.

Quick side note here, for those of you that have found yourself riddled with self-doubt and negative talk at one time or another:

If I’m being perfectly honest I’d have to say that for years I was disappointed in myself for not having stepped on stage. This was something that I thought about on a regular basis. In all other areas of my life I’d always been driven, motivated, confident, and focused on success. For some reason, this whole competition thing was different and really highlighted every major insecurity I’d ever had. Talk about messing with your head! I worked out all of the time and knew that I had the discipline to get to the gym as needed, I’d been a personal trainer during high school and throughout college, so the fitness knowledge was there, but so was that self-doubt always second guessing my ability to make it happen. Seriously, what was my deal? For those of you that have followed me for the past few years, I’m sure all of this self-doubt and second guessing myself madness doesn’t sound a thing like the Jen Jewell you know. But you know what? It’s all good. I firmly believe it was this little hiccup that I went through that has helped shape the confident, empowered, focused person that I am today. We always become stronger as a result of the tests, trials and obstacles we face! I’m living proof!

Sorry for the tangent, but I feel that sharing my ups, downs and insecurities is an important part of this little story. Now let’s get back on track!

In early spring of 2011, I stumbled across a quote by Mark Twain and this was when it really hit home for me.  The quote reads:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

 

Seeing as the quote talks about “20 years from now” and I’d already been contemplating this for a decade, I knew I had to try, to just give it one shot. Even if I didn’t place in the top line-up, I knew that I would seriously ALWAYS regret not having actually following through with the goal that I’d had for years. So I did it. That quote was the kick in the ass that I had needed all along and prompted me to get my act together. I signed up with a coach, we selected a show date and before I knew it I was 12 weeks out (literally 12 weeks out to the day of when I signed up and decided to prep…and side note to any fellow or aspiring competitors out there- not everyone needs the same amount of time to properly prep for a show, some need more or less than 12 weeks but at this time I was already working out 4-6 days a week, in good shape and starting out around 20% body fat so the 12 weeks of prep worked well for my condition at that time) counting down to my long time goal of stepping on stage.

So how does all this relate to me quitting my corporate America job?

Well, turns out, I had a hell of a lot more focus, willpower and drive than I’d given myself credit for. Preparing for the show and stepping on stage that very first time on June 28, 2011, I realized that amazing things truly do happen when you can finally kick self-doubt to the curb. I not only stepped on stage (which for me, that morning when I was backstage and letting it sink in that I was actually there, FINALLY after all those years, was, after having graduated college, perhaps my biggest personal victory to date) that day, but I also took home a Pro card, something I didn’t even realize was possible to do in my first show. This then led to me competing at the World Championships about 6 weeks later, where, much to my dismay, I took home 6th place in the world. Excuse me?! Top ten in the world in my Pro debut? Talk about shock! I was elated! What in the hell had I been so worried about all these years?  In the weeks following both of these shows, I had a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. I also felt empowered and was no longer afraid to set goals for myself that I previously would have felt were unattainable. It then dawned on me that the thing that had been missing from my professional life was helping others- this is something I truly love to do and missed from my previous days working as a personal trainer.

Perhaps the ironic thing about this was that I never had a set plan to leave corporate America, it just happened. I never stopped and really thought it all through or continued to work my med sales job until I had a sure thing lined up in the fitness industry, or held out with that job so I could save up money as a reserve/emergency fund (sorry Grandpa! I know that wasn’t the most responsible thing to do, but hey- I did what I felt I needed to do at the time), but the one thing I did have was a serious sense of self awareness, purpose and a passion for helping others. On the flip side, deciding to just go for it didn’t allow for me to second guess myself or hang on to the sales job as a safety net. If I’d done that, who knows if I ever would have decided to truly devote myself 100% to working in the world of health and fitness. It’s hard to move on and progress if you’re still in a comfort zone.

And four years later…

Here I am, working in fitness full-time, as I have been since November 2011. Has the road been an easy one? Heck no! It has, however, been full of learning experiences and adventure. What you see now is the product of the culmination of the past four years of my life, generally working 7 days a week.  Each day I’m still learning how to evolve my business and how I can help more people with their fitness. The first year was by far the most challenging, as I literally quit the corporate job and essentially said “Hello fitness world, here I am! Who wants to work out with me and let me help them with their health & fitness?” without much more than 3-4 months’ worth of rent in my checking account and a handful of online clients. When things were tough and I was struggling to build my clientele base, I’d always remind myself of how accomplished I’d felt after finally reaching my goal of stepping on stage (and side note- I’ll elaborate more in an upcoming blog about pursuing your passion and what it’s meant for me during this journey). How great it felt to crush that self-doubt that had been looming for so long and reminded myself that I’m capable of so much more than I’d previously given myself credit for.

So the next time you find yourself riddled with self-doubt, are fearful of change or taking a risk, remind yourself to take the chance, give it a shot, focus. I promise the results will be far more rewarding than you ever would have imagined. By simply believing in myself and pushing that self-doubt and fear to the side, my life was forever changed. Imagine that…a simple thing like believing in yourself drastically changing the course of your life for the greater good. I did it and I have no doubt that you can, too.

 


Goal Setting Made Simple

Goal setting doesn’t have to be complicated…I keep it simple with these easy steps…” - by Jen Jewell

While most of us are probably familiar with the S.M.A.R.T goals, (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, Time bound), I like to keep it a bit more simple and break down my goal setting into 4 simple steps.

My planning takes the form of these four simple steps. Look around and you'll find lists that are way longer, but I'm of the opinion that simple is better when it comes to something as important as fitness goals.

1. Overall Goals

2. Obstacles

3. Solutions

4. Timeframe

Break down your goals in terms of these steps, but limit yourself to 1-2 sentences apiece. This will ensure that they are clear and free of fluff and distraction. Here are some examples to get you started:

1.  Overall Goals

Don't just jot down "get into shape," "lose weight," or anything else that could be considered vague. Get specific: "Set new PRs(personal best) on my three favorite lifts," "Reduce my body fat to a percentage within the 'fit' range," or "Achieve six-pack abs for the first time."

Jen JewellMy example from past: Compete in first fitness competition.

If you have trouble making goals, use the S.M.A.R.T. system to help you analyze a few candidates. S.M.A.R.T. stands for: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. There are countless guides in print and online to help you put these principles into use.

2.  Obstacles

This is where your past can help. Identify obstacles that have prevented you from achieving your goal up until now. If you've never had a "fit" level of body fat before, what prevented you from achieving one? Was it making the time for consistent, quality training? What about poor nutritional habits during the workday, at home, or both? Do you go strong and too restrictive on your program for a week when you first set off and then fall off the wagon on the weekend? If you can identify the obstacles ahead of time, you'll be far better prepared to combat them when they arise again.

Obstacle: Myself. Between being so nervous and not thinking that I would ever be capable to achieving a stage worthy physique that I would start out on a super restrictive plan, go hard for a week and then end up falling off the wagon after a week or two in because this approach was too restrictive, I was my own worst enemy.

3. Solutions

It may not seem like it after years of disappointment, but trust me: Your problems have solutions! For example, if you tend to make poor food choices when on the go, make it a point to educate yourself on healthier options out there or plan ahead and prepare more of your meals to have with you.

Make sure each solution is realistic according to your lifestyle, but also don't pass up the opportunity to transform your lifestyle into a better one. For instance, if hitting the gym after work isn't consistently feasible because of after work obligations with family, etc., then consider going in the morning (even every other day during the week just to get it out of the way), even if you know waking up a bit earlier will be a struggle for a while.

My solution: Knowing that in the past the food was always the biggest issue for me, I knew I had to take a more balanced & sensible approach if I wanted to make it through contest prep and finally get on the stage. Instead of an ‘all or nothing’ meal plan approach, I included a mid week treat and a weekend treat meal, and didn’t cut out going out to eat with friends or family throughout the week. I was really busy with work at the time I prepped for my first show, so lunches out with clients were part of my job each and every week. I just made healthier choices each time so that I could still enjoy these meals out, while staying on track. Trust me- it’s doable!

Jen Jewell fitness

4. Timeframe

Set both short (weekly or monthly) and long-term (the next 3, 6, and 12 months) timeframes for your goals.
Having these overlapping deadlines helps you turn an immediate goal into a stepping stone to a larger one. For the short term, you could challenge yourself to only eat out at restaurants three days each week instead of five, and instead have healthier meals from home. Each time you replace even one unhealthy meal with a healthier option, you are one step closer to achieving your overall goal.

 

My timeframe: Each week I would take progress pics, assess measurements and look back on the week. I knew the ultimate countdown was 12 weeks, so week I wanted to make sure I was progressing in some way. Be it with posing, making healthier choices with my meals each week when in years past I would have had dessert 3-4 times, I switched it to once a week, seeing more definition in one muscle group, getting stronger, going down a size, whatever it was, I set new weekly and bi weekly goals that helped keep me on track for the full 12 week countdown. Setting these benchmark goals throughout the duration of my prep made everything far more attainable opposed to just starting Day 1 and then looking ahead to the final day of week 12 on stage. All of these small steps/goals helped add up to big time results on stage.

Motivation tip:

If low on motivation, dig deep and ask yourself WHY YOU STARTED in the first place. What was going thru your mind when you set these goals? How AWESOME will it feel when you reach them? How will it impact you and change your life when you meet these goals?

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS….PROGRESS IS PROGRESS NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL…EVERY LITTLE BIT ADDS UP, EARNING HUGE RESULTS!

- See more at: http://www.fitnessmag.co.za/health/bc/goal-setting-with-jen-jewell/#sthash.Ux41YOSt.dpuf

 

Original link: http://www.fitnessmag.co.za/health/bc/goal-setting-with-jen-jewell/


8 Bad Habits That Could Wreck Your Fitness Goals

We've all been there before...diligently hitting the gym each week, eating what is generally considered to be "healthy" while being focused on our fitness, but still not achieving the results we think we should be. So what's the deal?

 

Chances are it's all in the details and hidden amongst habits we've (perhaps unknowingly) developed. I know I've made my fair share of mistakes with my fitness over the years (that's how we learn, right?) so decided to share a few of my top tips, along with other Team members from Cellucor with Bodybuilding.com to help ensure that YOU are able to make the most of your fitness and maximize your efforts.

 

All the details are here in the round-up of our top 8 habits that could be wrecking your fitness goals! Give it a quick read and you'll be on step closer to reaching your health & fitness goals for good! Ready, set, get after it!  :)

 

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-habits-that-could-wreck-your-fitness-goals