Strickland Fitness

For everyone taking part in the Strictly Fit October Challenge, your tool for today is time. Use the weekend to make sure you have the first 3 prep tools accomplished. We will start again Monday with some new things to help you prepare for the Challenge. I will post some fitness tips as well that will educate you on some important aspects of fitness. It might be helpful to browse the topics on the right and read some posts. There is a lot of useful information that will assist you for the challenge as well as for your current exercise regime. Stay Fit!

 How is the food journal going? Did you find that heart rate monitor or learn how to manually take your pulse? Ok, you are doing great so far. In order to see how we are doing in a fitness program, we have to have a starting point. The easiest way to determine progress (besides feeling better) is to have some measurements. So the next thing to do to prepare for the October challenge is to take your measurements. Using a tailors tape, measure your chest (at the nipple line), your waist (at your belly button or the thinnest part of your waist), your hips (the widest part), and your thighs. If you don’t have a tailors tape, use a string and then measure against a tape measure. Be sure to know exactly where you measured for accurate results when you measure again. Also take your weight. Write all these measurements down. I would also like you to write down how you generally feel. Try to be as specific as possible as to compare later on. If you have access to fat percentage measurement, do that as well. Most gyms have them. Just ask someone to do it for you. Once you have taken all your measurements, put a big check in the box for Sept. 18^th. Great Job!!

Use of any knowledge from this website is voluntary. By reading this post, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the disclaimer in the about section of this website. Thanks for participating!

 The next thing you will need to do for the October challenge is know how to monitor your heart rate during exercise, both resistance and cardio. If you have a heart rate monitor in the closet, dig it up. If you don’t have one, don’t despair. Most cardio machines at the gym have sensors on them for you to check your heart rate. Make sure you know how to use it. The third way is to take your pulse manually. Place the tips of your first two fingers lightly over one of the blood vessels on your neck, just to the left or right of your Adam’s apple. Or try the pulse spot inside your wrist just below the base of your thumb. Count the pulse for 10 seconds and then multiply by 6. So you should at all times be able to, using one of these methods, check your heart rate. Next time you are working out, try stopping and seeing if you can get it. Once you have this down, put a big check mark in the box for Sept. 17^th. Great Job!!!

Use of any knowledge from this website is voluntary. By reading this post, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the disclaimer in the about section of this website. Thanks for participating!

Remember, to start the challenge, all you have to do is email me (chad@stricklandfitness.com)  your age, height, weight, and specific goals you hope to achieve from the Strictly Fit October Challenge. After that, just check the blog daily for exercises and tips. Stay Fit!

Use of any knowledge from this website is voluntary. By reading this post, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the disclaimer in the about section of this website. Thanks for participating!

 Ok, here is the first tool you will need for the October Challenge. For any fitness program, the biggest element is nutrition. Whether you want to gain, lose, or maintain weight, this will have to be looked at. Create a food journal that you can keep track of what you eat and drink, when you consume it, and how much specifically you consume. I will not be looking at anyone’s journal so be honest with yourself. Now starting at the beginning of the next day of reading this, start journaling. It shouldn’t take long and you should create an easy way to do it to be sure that you do it every day. Write down everything!! There are many websites and iphone apps out there that can track your intake for you for free. If you don’t know how to count calories, this might be the way to go because later you will need to know the specific amount of calories you are taking in. Again, just figure out the system that works best for you to be sure you do it every day!

Next, print a generic calendar from your computer for the second half of September and the whole month of October. Keep this calendar next to your computer. Once you have found your food journal entry procedure, put a big check mark in the box for the 16^th! Great Job!

Use of any knowledge from this website is voluntary. By reading this post, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the disclaimer in the about section of this website. Thanks for participating!