Wellness Wednesday: Low Impact July
Happy Wellness Wednesday, friends!
It’s August! Phew, we made it to the last month of summer before school starts and I don’t know about you, but I want to enjoy every last minute of it! (Also, super excited about all the pumpkins and fall everything. Good things are coming! 😂🎃🍂)
As promised in this post, I shared about how I would be doing the impossible (for me, taking a break from running 😅), and really embracing a whole new mindset when it comes to fitness with a brand new program called, Lava. This program is 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, low impact and no equipment. It’s a mix of power yoga, primal movement, barre, and pilates, truly a hybrid of it’s own - the burn is real, the results are insane, and I really, really love it! Not only am I seeing all the results, feeling the results, but so are so many of my customers - who joined me on this journey of low impact!
Listen, I know you all love a good transformation story. Before and after pictures get all the attention, and we all want that story of transformation. I am all about the results driven approach, of seeing it to believe it, of celebrating change and progress, growth and strength! That’s why I’ve tried my best to truly share with you all my experience and journey with doing something I have never done since working out, sticking to low impact, no running for all of July, and sticking to moving my body in all low impact ways. I know this way of training works, I see it, I feel it, and I think there is such value in this program!
Full transparency, here is a little bit of my documentation of July. Going from running most days, 60 minute strength classes, lots and lots of steps, overtraining, inflammation, full intensity to these 20 minute, low impact classes, still walking, and sticking to low impact, burning way less calories, less steps. I lost weight, inches and inflammation. I was shocked!
Here’s the thing, did I see physical change? I did! Did I feel the change? Yes, I do think training in a lower impact way, my stress was lower, I felt more balanced, my appetite was in more control, less cravings, and I felt less on edge. Elise, the trainer of this program, explained how women who overtrain tend to have raised cortisol levels, are usually in flight or fight mode, and their body is just under too much stress - and I totally believe that was me! Was it easy to switch things up? Oh my, absolutely not! When I reached out to Elise and asked her if I could continue running with her program she challenged me with a little tough love, telling me nothing would change if my mindset didn’t. There was no way I was going to choose to stay stuck, to not embrace a new challenge, and seek growth through doing something new and different. We all have that choice. To defy our default, to step into the unknown, the uncomfortable, and that’s when change and breakthrough happens.
Here’s the thing, for those of you like me out there - you know, the stubborn runners, the ones who tend to overtrain, push ourselves a little too hard, mentally we feel like we have to always push it, never rest, and burn the max amount of calories, get the most steps, it’s so scary to let go. I didn’t know what would happen! Guess what? It was the best thing I could have ever done. In letting go, I was released from this mindset that kept me stuck, I realized I had an error in my mindset with fitness and training, that while my tracker is such an awesome tool and motivator, it doesn’t tell the whole story, and I need to honor and listen to my body, sometimes less is more. I truly believe in the world of wellness and fitness, there is a place for everything. I will always love running, I still love to use weights, I love walking, hiking, (still don’t love using the bike, but I will to cross train), I love yoga, pilates and now I’m obsessed with this new program, Lava. Do you know what drives me more than a before and after? Longevity to age gracefully, energy to live my life well. Of course seeing your body change and get stronger feels amazing, but I want to enjoy my work outs, I want to love the way I’m pushing myself, and how I move my body. I’m so thankful I was brave enough to let go, to embrace NEW, and step into a changed perspective and mindset when it comes to fitness.
Just for fun, I even had the trainer of the program compliment my abs! 😂😇 I mean, goal accomplished?! Just kidding!
Why do I share all of this with you? Because I’m one of those people who just loves fitness, I love the world of wellness and I want nothing more than to share that with others! We complicate things. We hear, this is the best way, don’t do that, but make sure you do this - it’s confusing, and it shouldn’t be that way. My goal for every one of you taking the time to read this is to add in movement into your life, add in daily walks, and the very best work out? The one you love and enjoy doing. Be open minded, when your mind crosses over to obsession, you probably need to add in a little more rest, recovery or cross training. For me, a good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes a ruling thing. I want to honor God with the way I move my body, and I want it to work FOR me, I want it to give me great energy, help with gaining strength, mobility, and a healthy mind. That’s why I love running monthly accountability groups, because I have a solution. I know the programs we have, work. It’s not a one and done kind of thing, and as much as I want you to create your own transformation story, I want to see you fall in love with taking care of yourself, with moving your body in a way that feels great. If you need support, if you want to join my accountability group, please email me at nicoleklaverwellness@gmail.com, leave a comment, or message me on instagram, or Facebook. I’m truly here for you. For support in your fitness, your nutrition, and your mindset.
Phew! If you read it this far, thank you. I know I have a lot of words, and I’m so thankful you spent some of your time here with me in my corner of the internet. Don’t be afraid of change, in the world of wellness - I hope to always be learning, growing, and continuing down the road of my healthiest self. I hope you’ll join me! xx
