My start to Jogging/Running - Week 1

Welcome to 5.14 fitness, 

As you can see from my last post, I had decided to go running four times a week whilst I am on my six week holiday. The reason for this was to have an exercise which I could maintain and fit into my schedule as it gets jumbled around and becomes hectic due to the holiday. I wanted to do something that makes you feel good and helps as I will be eating more and being active less. Running was what I decided on doing, and I have done exactly that.

My first run, about three weeks ago, gave me a  good start to running. I ran 3.4 miles ( a little over 5k ) and did it on a route which I made on Strava . This allowed me to not worry about the route I was taking and just focus on the running. I ran a lot faster than I thought I would, which is probably thanks to Insanity. I went uphill quite a bit which I admit was a bit of a mistake, but overall I did quite well. 

The benefits I felt on this first run were pretty good. First of all, when I got back I felt very happy and good , due to how hard I had worked an what I had done. It made me feel more confident about myself and , most of all, allowed me to enjoy my day more. I also managed to see more of where I live. There are places which I ran through that I had never been before, and it was cool to discover these new areas. It was also good to post my results on Strava, so that others can see it. It was good to compare my results to other people and more notably, my pro cousin. 

The time for my first run was not brilliant, and the worst of all my runs by a long shot. This was probably because I took at easy, as on your first run you should not push yourself to hard. It is important to ease yourself into these things sometimes. I didn't experience any injuries and although it wasn't enjoyable, the run was definitely beneficial.
Over the course of the next week, I ran 4 more times and Improved greatly each time. This was because I pushed myself more and paced myself better. I took slightly different routes every time to make the run more interesting. 

My last run that week was a 5k run, and I performed very well in it. I completed 5k in 21 minutes, which gave me an average pace of 7:08 minutes a mile. For a beginner, I found this was very good and gave me a boost in confidence for more upcoming runs. I also had a 200ft elevation gain, which made things a lot harder of course. 

Add me on Strava - Will Henry Roberts

Next post I will talk about my second and third weeks and more about results etc..
Sorry about lack of posts, it has been poor I admit but I will try to post regularly on a Friday or Saturday now.

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My Start To Jogging/Running

Welcome to 5.14 fitness, 

Hi guys, today I will be writing about how I am starting to go running. 

It is the start of the holidays for myself, and I have six weeks of no school or work. This means I will not be out and about as much as usual, and therefore I need to stay in shape . My schedule will be completely thrown out the window foe these six weeks as various different things happen, so I need something that I can do early in the morning that purely keeps me fit. I usually play football or walk around a lot however now I will probably be lazing about most days. So, I need to focus more on cardio and fat-burning exercise so I can then not feel bad about lying around a majority of the time. I will also be eating a lot more, so need to balance that out with more exercise.
Due to all this, I have decided to go out for a run 4 times a week in the morning.

Running is something that I have only done once before. It was about 7 months ago, and I went out for a 25 minute run in the early morning. After that, I didn't do it again purely because I did not have the time . I could not afford to wake up early as I needed the sleep but now I have plenty of time to run when I wake up. I am running because it is something which is the most traditional and trust-worthy way of staying in shape and I want to also get better at ling distance. Running is the perfect form of exercise as it focus' primarily on maintaining a healthy weight and staying fit.  

I have a cousin who , a little obsessively, goes cycling and running for hours every day. I have already said a bit about him in a previous post but he has really inspired me to go running as it feels satisfying and professional. My cousin feels great and does so much work that he is good enough now to compete in competitions. His achievement and commitment has really driven me to take up running and be good at it. He used a range of apps but mainly Strava. I have done a review post on Strava if you want to check it out , but to put it briefly, it is an app/website where you record your runs , plan routes, and  talk and compete with other runner or cyclists in your area. It is great and I will be using it in my runs. 

My first run will be  in two days time and my next post will talk about that but also other stuff I have not been able to fit in today, like how running fits in with my workouts and the benefits etc..

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My Goals - May Update

Welcome to 5.14 fitness,

Hi guys, I apologise for the long absence but both Jack and I have had two weeks of exams so have not had the time to post. 
However, these exams are now over and we are reading to get back to business, and I am starting by updating on my goals and routines. 

It has been a while since I last updated on this, and I have changed my schedule quite a bit. As you might tell, I am not a hard-core fitness fanatic that will push to extremes to get results. Instead, I workout 6 days a week and eat healthily. My workouts are all usually an hour long but may be less or more depending on the time I have. 

I mix together weight training, high intensity interval training and circuit training to formulate my workouts, and I base them around my day to day life,  I often have limited time, and so my free time is taken up by these workouts which makes them a lot less enjoyable! I only have a small amount of space ( my bedroom ) and so all my workouts can be done anywhere - trust me when I say that, my room is tiny.  
Last time I updated, I told you about my new weights plan and my full schedule. I have now changed that slightly, as I now have access to a gym once a week. This means that on a Wednesday I now do weight lifting and can work on areas I could not before. I have also introduced an extra abdominal workout so that I do it four times a week now. 

Here is my full schedule:
Monday- 40 mins Insanity followed by 20 mins Weightlifting
Tuesday- 25 mins cardio followed by 20 mins Abdominal workout followed by 10 mins chest workout
Wednesday 45 mins weight lifting followed by 20 mins Abdominal workout
Thursday- 40 mins Insanity followed by 20 mins Weightlifting  
Friday- 25 mins Abdominal workout 
Saturday- 45 mins weight lifting, 20 mins Abdominal workout
Sunday- Rest

As you can see, I still do Insanity twice a week which is incredibly effective and is very intense. It burns a lot more than regular cardio and trains all aspects of your body also. I hope this update tells you a little more about what I do- next time I will talk about the results of it. 

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Cardio - What To Do? Part 4

Welcome to 5.14 fitness,

Today I will be carrying on a series of posts about Cardio and the different ways to do it.

Almost every sport has cardio implemented, whether it is running in football or swimming in water polo. This cardio is key in order to become a healthier, fitter and thinner person. It is important that Cardio is done ,as without it, a good measure of health can not be achieved. Sport is the perfect way to do Cardio, but there is other ways that can sometimes be more effective ( Jogging for example). The important rule here is: Cardio is key. Aerobically exercising : Getting your heart rate up, sweating and breathing like hell is important for us! Today I will be writing about  team sports. 

There are countless sports that involve you working as part of a team. Whether it is football, rugby or netball, these sports almost always require you to run and  get fitter. This is a great way to do cardio and the choice of sport to do is endless.
First of all, Team sport gives you other people that will cheer you on and make you strive to work and get better. Unlike in individual sports, team sports mean that you have people to rely on. This means there may not be as much pressure, and if you are not particular skilled it is not the end of the world. However, it also means others rely on you, so you have to be ready to step up and not be scared of letting others down. 
Having other people helping you can make you feel so much better, and it also makes the cardio a lot more fun. Running around with friends, striving towards one goal ( to win ) is a great way to make Cardio enjoyable and also more rewarding. There is nothing better than the feeling of success, especially after you have fought hard to earn it with other people. 

Team sports require skill more than other cardio like Running. When jogging, it does not matter whether you are good or bad, just as long as you are getting your heart pumping. Sport however, requires you to be good if you want to succeed. Therefore, you need to think carefully at what your goals are. If you are just aiming to lose weight and want nothing else, then other cardio methods are probably more worth your time. If you are looking to improve and get better at a sport, that is also a major bonus. 

It does not take much to start doing  team sports. The amount of variety to choose from is amazing ; there will certainly be one for you. Just get online and search up what sport you want near where you live, and there will be a whole host of options. You will find places to go to play these sports, and if you are good you can be picked to play in a real team. It is a common misconception that you have to be world-class to play in any team at sports. In fact, it is the opposite. There are hundreds of leagues for hundreds of types of people. Just get up, go to a session, and there will normally be teams that you can be placed in where you will be surrounded by people of a similar ability. Don't be scared to go out there and investigate what you can do. 
If you are interested in hockey, look up hockey near your area and go to a session. If you don't like it, try something else!

Sport makes you run, which is Cardio. There is little point in me going on about how it can help the body, I am sure you already know the benefits! Join a team, have fun, and strive to get better.

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Benefits Of Running

Welcome to 5.14 fitness,

Today I will be posting something a little different - the benefits of running. I found an article which sums up the rewards of this form of exercise extremely well. Here are the six benefits given from www.active.com. 

Improve Your Health

Believe it or not, running is actually a great way to increase your overall level of health.  Research shows that running can raise your levels of good cholesterol while also helping you increase lung function and use.  In addition, running can also boost your immune system and lower your risk of developing blood clots.

Prevent Disease

For women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer.  It can also help reduce the risk of having a stroke.  Many doctors today recommend running for people who are in the early stages of diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis, and it is proven to help reduce the risk of having a heart attack.  By helping the arteries retain their elasticity and strengthening the heart, your chances of suffering a heart attack can be significantly reduced.

Lose Weight

Running is one of the best forms of exercise for losing or maintaining a consistent weight.  You will find that it is a leading way to burn off extra calories and that it is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute, following only after cross country skiing.

Boost Your Confidence

Not all of the benefits of running are physical.  Running can provide an noticeable boost to your confidence and self-esteem.  By setting and achieving goals, you can help give yourself a greater sense of empowerment that will leave you feeling much happier.

Relieve Stress

Stress can actually cause a number of health and mood problems.  It can also diminish appetite and sleep quality.  When you run, you force your body to exert excess energy and hormones.  Running also helps to reduce your chances of developing tension headaches.

Eliminate Depression

When you are depressed, the last thing you likely want to do is to get up and go for a run.  Yet you will find that after only a few minutes of running, your brain will start to secrete hormones that naturally improve your mood.  In fact, there are few things in the world that can better or more rapidly treat depression than exercise such as running.

There you are, six reasons why running can change your life for the better. Thanks for reading, please like and subscribe, and peace!

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Cardio- What To Do? Part 3

Welcome to 5.14 fitness, 

Today I will be carrying on a series of posts about Cardio and the different ways to do it.

Almost every sport has cardio implemented, whether it is running in football or swimming in water polo. This cardio is key in order to become a healthier, fitter and thinner person. It is important that Cardio is done ,as without it, a good measure of health can not be achieved. Sport is the perfect way to do Cardio, but there is other ways that can sometimes be more effective ( Jogging for example). The important rule here is: Cardio is key. Aerobically exercising : Getting your heart rate up, sweating and breathing like hell is important for us! Today I will be writing about Cycling and swimming.

Swimming 

Cardiovascular exercise refers to the kind of workout that gets your blood pumping, raises your heart rate, boosts your lung capacity and burns calories. Swimming achieves all four of these with the added benefit of weightlessness that reduces impact on your joints. Cardiovascular exercise is only as good as the effort you put into it. Finding the appropriate pace while swimming can ensure maximum cardiovascular benefits.


Swimming can not feel like much of a workout whilst performing it, due to the fact it makes you pretty weightless and you move quite fast without much force. However, the movement you go through to propel yourself forward during front stroke and backstroke requires energy from your muscles and this means your body  sends more oxygen and blood  to your tissues. In other words, your heart pumps faster, which in Cardio is always a good sign that you are burning calories and getting fit. You burn about 240 calories per 30 minutes swimming, which isn't bad at all. 

Swimming is something that you can do quite easily. Either go to your nearest pool or utilise the earth by going to the sea or a lake. Although this might cost money and be cold, it would be effective if you want to train for a triathlon or some kind of swimming event. Getting into swimming could be something that benefits you as you could discover a real talent and compete in events. The world is your oyster! 

Cycling

Cycling is much like running, so be sure to check the previous post about that. Cycling is something, I admit, that I do not really do at all. I am not very good on a bike, and so I am writing this not on experience. However, I do have a cousin who is a cycling enthusiast, he competes in competitions and trains every day with expensive gear. From what I can clearly see from him, cycling is something that comes with great enjoyment. Getting on your bike and cycling through the countryside is something that can be very peaceful and satisfying. The wind on your face and the places you can go is appealing for many. Unlike running, Cycling can get you places and you can visit towns and city's during your cardio.


In terms of cardio, Cycling is very effective. Not only does it get your heart beating, it also really strengthens the muscles in your legs. As you can feel, your muscles ache when cycling, but this might hinder how effective the workout is in terms of weight loss. If your muscles get tired quick, you will go slower and thus not burn as many calories. Despite this, you will still burn a lot and become a much stronger person. 
Cycling only requires a bike and  helmet, but you can buy gear like clothes and accessories to make your ride more successful. Apps like Strava can log your workouts and activity, and gadgets can track your rides to precision. Overall, Cycling is a very effective form of Cardio.    

Thank for reading, please follow and like (we will like and follow back) . Thanks again and peace!   

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Cardio - What to do? Part 2

Welcome to 5.14 fitness,

Today I will be carrying on a series of posts about Cardio and the different ways to do it.

Almost every sport has cardio implemented, whether it is running in football or swimming in water polo. This cardio is key in order to become a healthier, fitter and thinner person. It is important that Cardio is done ,as without it, a good measure of health can not be achieved. Sport is the perfect way to do Cardio, but there is other ways that can sometimes be more effective ( Jogging for example). The important rule here is: Cardio is key. Aerobically exercising : Getting your heart rate up, sweating and breathing like hell is important for us! Today I will be writing about  2 ways- Walking and Running 

Walking

Walking is the easiest of the three and also the most relaxing for most people. Walking is something that does not produce the best results as it does not have nearly as much intensity as running or cycling. Walking does little to raise your heart beat and wont make you lose weight as fast as other methods. However, Walking is easy and anybody can do it. Walking is integrated into our lives; we walk to get places and do work. Walking burns calories as it is engaging you muscles and is a form of exercise. Albeit not the most effective form, but nevertheless a form. 


Walking can be done easily- just get out the house and go for a stroll. If you can, walk the fastest speed possible as this will burn the most calories. Walk to the gym, or the park, or your friends house. Whatever the reason, walking at a speed is a good thing and is the perfect choice of exercise if you are incapable of strenuous activity. For example, if you are elderly, a walk can not only make you fitter but make you a lot healthier too! 

Running

Running is the most well known and an extremely good form of cardio. Running gets your heart rate up quickly and there is not many better ways to lose weight and get fit. Running only requires yourself and space, and I am sure there is plenty of space right outside your door. Whether, like most people , you get up early to run around your neighbourhood or you go for a late night jog, running is always going to be considered the go-to for cardio. 

Because of its popularity, Running has never been more amazing. There is a whole host of apps that can map your run, give you results and data, and pretty much make running as fun and effective as possible. For more information, look over some previous posts about apps like Strava and Google fit. 
There is a wide range of electronic gear to track your run and heart rate, as well as stylish clothing that makes running more comfortable. Wristbands like Fitbit track your sleep patterns also to extend the benefits of your run.  This form of cardio is perfect for those who do not have space and want results. It can be hard, yet is worth all the sweat and pain. Motivation is just a click away, there is a host of websites with helpful motivating features to encourage your run. With running, there is no excuses:  you can find the most unfit people running down your street sometimes. Whoever you are, Running , Jogging , sprinting or whatever you want to call it is just a few steps away...

Thank for reading, please follow and like (we will like and follow back) . Thanks again and peace!   

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My Goals Update + New Weights Workout

Welcome to 5.14 Fitness, 

Today I will be posting about how my workouts are going and how I have achieved my goals. 

As I have said, I planned to do Insanity 3 times a week followed by 20 minutes of weight lifting. On the other 3 days, I planned to do weight lifting followed by an abdominal workout. Instead, I have been doing something a little different but still has the same results hopefully. I have also introduced a new weight lifting workout that I will share with you. 

I still follow that basic plan I set, however I have made a few differences to fit in with my schedule. Here is my full week plan:

Monday- 40 mins Insanity followed by 20 mins Weightlifting
Tuesday- 45 mins Weightlifting followed by 15 mins Abdominal workout
Wednesday 25 mins cardio followed by 20 mins Abdominal workout
Thursday- 40 mins Insanity followed by 20 mins Weightlifting  
Friday- 25 mins Abdominal workout 
Saturday- 50 mins Weightlifting  
Sunday- Rest

As you can see, I have 3 core workouts: Cardio, Abdominals and Weightlifting. I do 3 of each every week in order to focus on all the groups. I make sure that I do not have 3 days in a row of weights, as it is important to have a recovery period for your muscles to grow. As I often do not have time for Insanity on Wednesdays like I planned, I do a 25 minute cardio circuit training video which I found on Youtube.
I am still focusing on my Triceps and Biceps and looking to lower my body-fat percentage like I wanted to. This plan Is what I am trying to do every week, however sometimes there are complications and I try my hardest to make up for them. I will post now and again to say if this plan is working and If i am doing too much or too little ( I don't know yet!). I you have any improvements to my plan, I would love some feedback.  

Now onto my new Weightlifting plan. It is called The Ultimate 6-week Home Workout. I am doing it because it only requires dumbbells and a bench, which is what I have. There are 3 parts to it : A legs and shoulders day, a chest and back day and an arms day. I am currently only doing the arms day 3 times a week . I am replacing the other days with arms as I am focusing on that group. 
I do this workout 4 times a week- the full thing on two days and half on the other two ( 3 in total ) . I ma starting straight away on week 2 as week 1 looks a bit to easy. 
Here it is:

Week 1-2       Week 3-4      Week5-6

Standing Biceps Curl                       

2*X 6-8            3 X 8-10       4 X 10-12

Overhead Triceps Extension            

2*X 6-8            3 X 8-10       3 X 10-12

Incline Curl                                      

2 X 6-8            2 X 8-10       3 X 10-12

Weighted Bench Dip                        

2 X 6-8            3 X 8-10       4 X 10-12

One-Arm Incline Preacher Curl                

2 X 6-8            3 X 8-10       3 X 10-12

Lying Triceps Kickback                  

2 X 6-8            3 X 8-10       3 X 10-12

Reverse Curl                                   

3 X 6-8            2 X 8-10       3 X 10-12 

I will keep you updated on this workout. Thank for reading, please subscribe and like (we will like and subscribe back) . Thanks again and peace! 

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End Of January Analysis

Welcome to 5.14 Fitness,




Once again I find myself apologising for the lack of posts in recent weeks, it has taken me a little while to adjust to the new year and there have also been a few things in my personal life that have occupied my attention. However, my focus is now back on blogger and I am going to start posting more frequently and on more regular subjects rather than jumping about all the time. But back to January here is an End Of Month Analysis...


My goals for the month


So this one is pretty straight forward: literally just try to lose some of the extra fat gained over the Christmas period and the previous month. I was just trying to regain some of the form that I had managed to build before the winter struck. The primary goal was to really work on the core, to allow the abs to come back through and for them to become more visible. I intended to do more weight orientated exercises for arms and upper body simply to build size. Where as for legs I have planned for occasional work to ensure gradual progression


What actually happened


I did manage to be reasonably consistent and stuck to the plan pretty much as intended, I shall not exaggerate: it was hardly a month of pure graft and hard work. It consisted mostly of low sets high reps and it was mostly performed quite late at night - sit ups this is. I did not the most challenging workouts either they were just ones that I knew worked and that would get me to where I wanted to be and back into the swing of things. As for upper body I managed to attend my fair share of gym sessions I reckon I averaged around 3 a week I was lifting pretty heavy and low rep low set. I might have thrown myself in the deep end a bit with this one, despite this I seemed to be able to handle it as the weeks progressed. Diet wise, I did not really take too much notice of what I was eating to be 100% honest, some days I was healthy others I binged out, but there was never a full out fatty foods week.


Results


Well as I managed to stick top the plan, I have actually gained the results I was looking for. I have more definition in the core, as well as a bigger upper body in particular arms and chest, but also a toned back which I did not anticipate. Legs I am not really seeing much of a change but this a was a s expected as they were not being worked as hard or as frequently and with the cold conditions they were not even used that much.


February


So next month or should I say this month, I have decided to take the form (technique ) of my exercises and really work on improving this so that even if it means dropping reps I can get the best results for what I do and that I work everything in the correct way which also decreases the risk of injury. Legs are also going up in the pecking order so I will aim to work them every day - every other day. I have also left my gym as I am now too old for previous membership tariff and I am looking around for a new one. That isn't all bad though as a rest from weight training could do me some good and allow my body a chance to grow and develop naturally. Of course I will continue to workout weight free but I this will result in slower improvements. Diet wise I feel like an increase in dairy intake is in order but not much else to worry about.


What I Have Learnt


I have learnt that technique is more important than reps and that reps and sets should vary upon your goals. For example Endurance= low weights high reps high sets Strength = heavy weights low reps low sets Power= medium/ heavy weights done quickly




Hope this helps, had a really useful month full of lessons and information. Please read again, check out other posts, some comments plus ones etc., would be nice and any following is returned (you can also follow the blog that would be awesome)- work hard and peace!

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