leanmeanworkoutmachine:

Muscle Cramps & How to Avoid Them

Nothing puts a kink in a good workout like a bad muscle cramp. Muscles shorten and lengthen when they contract (read: work). But sometimes, a few rogue spots stay tight, leading to that familiar — and pretty awful — pain known as a cramp. Muscles can cramp for up to six hours after exercise, so this potential pain isn’t a gym-only problem! Here’s the low-down and keeping cramps away.

• Keep hydrated. Many experts suggest dehydration could be a key cause of cramping.
• Electrolyte yourself. A lack of electrolytes like potassium and sodium could be to blame for those side stitches, so sip some Gatorade or eat a banana before working out.
• Warm up. Going into a workout cold increases the risk of cramping, so make sure to get those muscles moving before upping the intensity.

The Takeaway: Stay hydrated and warm up to prevent muscle cramps.

Foam Roll: Foam rolling is a great way to combat muscle soreness.

Ok, so this is a really personal text for me. I want to vent out about something I’ve dealt with for six months now, and well it’s one of my biggest insecurities. It’s being bigger (aka fatter) than my boyfriend. And I know some of you may think it’s silly but to me it’s a huge deal. I mean, try to imagine all the worries it comes with. The fact that my body is “bigger” than his, how I can’t look to him for protection against people because he’s smaller. I mean, even my friends keep telling me and him how skinny he is.

I’ve noticed how skinny he is and how big I am practically before we started dating, that was actually one of my main concerns. But you know what’s worse? He’s one of the most shy guys I’ve ever met so he doesn’t take to much people and may lack some social skills. In our first month dating, he accidentally said one of the worst things I still remember perfectly this day. We were joking around but then he said how he’s skinnier than me and called me fat. That was honestly the worst mistake he did. But you know what, I still loved him after that, because I knew it wasn’t a lie. And I used what he said as a motivation to get healthier. I even cry over it sometimes and he knows that. When we addressed what happened a week ago, he says that’s one of the things he regrets the most and that he wishes he never said it at all.

He knows I have low confidence too. It’s so amazing to realize how much he knows about me now. I feel blessed. He even says how much he loves my body and that he wants to help raise my self esteem as much as possible. You know what? He has. I can wear shoulder-less dresses, a tank top in public, or i don’t care if my arms jiggle sometimes because of him now. He tells me how beautiful I am and the look in his eyes show that he’s telling me the truth. He also tells me that he thinks he’s too skinny and everyone knows that, but I could less. I tell him that I rather have him the way he is than be fat or anorexic. So I want to say guys, please don’t think that people are against you or that you can’t trust them for support. I’m the healthiest that I’ve ever been and part of the reason why is because of him. Love really does work.

The Benefits of Drinking Water:

• Lose weight: Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking water reduces hunger, it’s an effective appetite suppressant so you’ll eat less. Plus, water has zero calories.
• Natural Remedy for Headache: Helps to relieve headache and back pains due to dehydration. Although many reasons contribute to headache, dehydration is the common one.
• Look Younger with Healthier Skin: You’ll look younger when your skin is properly hydrated. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin and increases skin elasticity.
• Better Productivity at Work: Your brain is mostly made up of water, thus drinking water helps you think better, be more alert and more concentrated.
• Better Exercise: Drinking water regulates your body temperature. That means you’ll feel more energetic when doing exercises. Water also helps to fuel your muscle.
• Helps in Digestion and Constipation: Drinking water raises your metabolism because it helps in digestion. Fiber and water goes hand in hand so that you can have your daily bowel movement.
• Less Cramps and Sprains: Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated, so you’ll less likely get cramps and sprains.
• Less Likely to Get Sick and Feel Healthy: Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attack. Water adds with lemon is used for ailments like respiratory disease, intestinal problems, rheumatism and arthritis etc. In another words one of the benefits of drinking water is that it can improve your immune system.
• Relieves Fatigue: Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body. If your body lacks water, your heart, for instance, needs to work harder to pump out the oxygenated blood to all cells, so are the rest of the vital organs, your organs will be exhausted and so will you.
• Good Mood: Your body feels very good and that’s why you feel happy.
• Reduce the Risk of Cancer: Related to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining

Taken from: http://mydaughtersnameis.tumblr.com/

Ok people, I want to say that even though I may not have the six pack I wanted, I have the body that’s enough to lift weights/ run 5 miles non stop/ play sports for 5 hours straight/ and do whatever the heck I wanted. And you know what? It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication I’ve put into it. But more importantly, the motivation tumblr has given me. Fitspiration all the way!!! :)

drop-the-weight:

scary!