Unlocking My Summer Strength and Sweat Journey
We all set goals for ourselves, and this summer, I’m aiming to improve my physical fitness. I have been wanting to make the most of my time by embracing a fitness routine inside and out with the nice weather this time of year. I knew I wanted to combine home and outdoor workouts with a place that would offer guidance plus equipment I didn't have. While I do like the traditional gym’s, I felt I needed some help getting into a fitness routine, when I found InsideOut Health + Fitness in Toronto. In this blog, I will be sharing some of my routine I have with InsideOut as well as keeping track of my results throughout the weeks. So far, I’ve found the Core Training, HIIT and boxing to be my favorite workouts and I am excited to document my progress.
High on HIIT + Loving the Burn!
Today marked my first two weeks doing a blend of core training, HIIT, boxing sessions and I’m already seeing and feeling progress! The HIIT workout, run by Michael, was an intense full-body functional training session, challenging every muscle group including my lower body, core and upper body. I could feel the burn in my legs and arms, especially during the squats on the bosu ball and the chest press. Out of the nine different circuits, these two were definitely my favourites. I could really feel my muscles engaging and the sweat slowly dripped down my face - that’s how I knew I was getting a great workout in. By the end of the 45-minute session, I had one of my most intense muscle pumps and was well worked! More importantly, I felt an immense sense of accomplishment - it was safe to say I really enjoyed the class and was already looking forward to the next.
Punching Through Limits with Boxing
Following the HIIT class I was introduced to boxing. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect other than throwing a few punches, but it turned out to be a truly engaging full-body challenge! Michael showed us some basic moves like “one-twos” as well as some kicks and self defense. As we progressed, we added new variations of punches to our sets such as the uppercut, and in true Rocky Balboa style, we even jumped rope! This class was more than just throwing punches; it made me feel powerful and confident. Michael's knowledge of tips and techniques was super helpful, making the experience even better. I enjoyed how the class included some core body work towards the end, making sure you felt the burn all throughout. It’s a fun and intriguing class, allowing you to gain some experience in self-defense and also get in shape!
Day One Baseline Measures and Nutrition Guidance
To aid in tracking my progress, I met with the studio’s nutritionist, Marrisa. She provided me with a tight but very informative package to help me understand the nutritional aspect of my fitness journey. I also am starting personal training where I underwent a fitness evaluation which consisted of planks, push-ups, wall sits, pull-ups all timed plus a flexibility/posture check. This assessment revealed a rough outline of my fitness level and will provide a good comparison to the final evaluation once my summer training is complete. I am extremely optimistic that I can achieve as much as I am willing to put in. If you would like to sample one of these for yourself you can take advantage of this months’ first-time offer for in-person or where they come to you with this link.
Setting this summer goal has not only improved my physical fitness but also, already boosted my confidence by a ton! With the support and guidance from InsideOut, I'm excited to continue this journey and see where it takes me. More to share with you soon.
By: L. Gibson