Wednesday WOOT! Factor!
Wednesday WOOT! Factor Questions
When did you first start working out and why?
I was a high school athlete but we did mostly conditioning exercises. It wasn’t until I had a back injury that I realized I needed to make strength training and exercise part of my life and strengthen my core.
Are you at your “Happy Place” right now – meaning more of a maintenance mode, or are you still in a weight loss mode?
I think “happy place” can mean different things to different people. I am happy with the progress I have made in the past 16 months in being strong enough to stretch myself in new areas. My goal is not weight loss, more toning.
If you are in maintenance mode, do you feel that you work just as hard to maintain your level of fitness as you did to lose it?
I don’t feel like I work “as hard” in maintenance mode mentally but I feel like I am working harder physically if that makes sense. In the losing weight phase, I was concentrating so much more on diet than exercise. That has totally flipped for me now.
What does your current workout “routine” look like now?
I am just into a new phase this month training for a half where I am doing 4 workouts a week – 2 strength and 2 cardio. If leg recovery is good to me, I stretch to 3 cardio days for running.
What do you do for cardio? How often?
I started running about 6 months ago to try and start enjoying cardio. J The crazy thing is IT WORKED! I am training right now for my 2nd half marathon! Not something I thought I would EVER do. WOOT! You don’t have to be the fastest or the best – but just cross that finish line and you feel an amazing sense of accomplishment. Training goal is 3x/week.
Do you workout at home or the gym?
I have been more of a gym girl. I have a weird mental block to working out on my carpet ;) New changes this month include outside workouts and TRX workouts in a friend’s home.
What do you say to those that haven’t gotten fit and complain that they don’t because they “can’t get motivated”?
I say AMEN. I felt that way TODAY. J Go anyway for 20 minutes and see how you feel. I also often ask what can I do to help you ;) That usually stumps friends because they have to own the reason they aren’t motivated.
What about any/all of the excuses like “No time”, “No money”, “no gym”, “no support”?
I was a BIG user of the “No Time” excuse. I am a working mom that travels – guilt kept me at home with my son on the couch instead of the gym. When I started training for the first half during the spring/summer this excuse got harder to use with the big hairy goal staring at me. So I would ask my son to “train” me by riding his bike in front of me. He LOVED being part of my exercise and being able to cheer me on when I wanted to slow down. He also got interested more in healthy lifestyle and moving his body from being a part of mine. We started going on more walks and he would ask to take me running. This was a big oh wow moment for me – seeing my kid 5 less hours a week actually made our quality time better and set the example for him on moving his body.
For the “no money/no gym excuse” – I like to suggest running! It’s just you and a pair of shoes!
What does your “diet” look like i.e. how you eat, what is your Philosophy?
My number one item I am a freak on is WATER. I must have 75oz a water a day. I drink chlorophyll in most of it to help alkalinize the body. Outside of water, I am not really “strict” with myself. I eat instinctively and what my body is craving. I must say that I didn’t eat fries for a couple years but running burns so many calories that I brought them back a little more often ;)
What changes have you made over the past several years in your diet and/or workout approach and why?
I have changed my diet a lot over the past 3 years. I started studying nutrition 3 years ago and would run little experiments on myself J I would give something up for 30 days, if I didn’t miss it and I felt better – I would leave it out. If I missed it, I might add it in periodically. That really helped my perspective on shifting diet. It was one change at a time and at my pace and if I missed it – I brought it back.
What is your food weakness?
Mexican food! I could eat it daily with guacamole, sour cream and Corona on the side ;)
What is your favorite healthy breakfast?
I lean towards eggs with how hard my workouts have been the last few weeks to get some extra protein. If I want a quick version, I will try to have hard boiled eggs in the fridge. On the light side, I will isolate fruit or do smoothies.
When did you start blogging and why?
HAHA. I started blogging a month ago or less ;) because of YOU! J I met and got to know you through your blogs. I totally felt like I knew who you were from watching you 10 minutes a day. Through the changes we made together in our friendship, I wanted to keep the feeling of community and encouragement that we can all be for each other. The awesome bloggers hold each other accountable and help pull each other off the couch when we need it. I also think it’s a HUGE bonus that you can cover so many books and material by reading blogs. Each person is trying and telling us how it’s working for them so you can evaluate how to apply things in your own life.
How has blogging enhanced your fitness efforts?
The combination of blogging and The Daily Mile have me working out more! It posts your times and distance for all to see on FB or twitter and I have to own that number. I LOVE THAT. I use that to talk to myself sometimes ;) I want to be a positive example that many have been for me to read my updates and say – I am lacing up my shoes right now! The #runnerds group on Twitter has been instrumental in keeping me running past that first half. They are a GREAT resource for beginners.
What is your Twitter/FB/Email:
Twitter – AmyLBurford
Blog – AmyBurford.com
Email – AmyLBurford at gmail.com
What haven’t you done (fitness wise) that you’d like to try?
Right now I am still trying to knock off a good time on the half marathon ;) but after I get good at this, I am thinking a small Tri might be tempting.
What motivates you to keep at it?
Feeling great and being an example of possibility for my friends and family.
Are you a morning workout person or evening or lunchtime?
My favorite time is 10am. If I eat lunch and haven’t worked out – there better be a buddy dragging my butt to a class!
What is YOUR biggest excuse that you find yourself battling in not wanting to workout a certain day?
Traveling. I am not a good on the road workout girl.
Do you weigh yourself or measure yourself?
Nope. I go by how my pants fit.
Extra Oomph!
I can’t begin to explain how many items I am doing right now that I said I couldn’t’ or wouldn’t do. I starting taking the advice I give my son – well just try it a few times and see how it goes!
And just for fun, here is a random bit of the Amy/Kelly show:
Amy Burford, Wednesday WOOT! Factor
Reader Comments (8)
Love Amy's attitude. I agree with her on the encouragement and community of blogging, it's been huge for me.
Amy, I love that you're a "10:00 A.M." girl in terms of workouts---we'd make perfect workout partners in real life, that is if I could pull you away from Kelly ;-)
I think you should be like me and just totally get the soda/pop outta the fridge :-)
I dont miss it at all, i acutally took a sip of my daughters 2 days ago and was like wow this crap is yuck and too sweet...
I enjoyed ur video together, you both are so cute....And no Kelly you are not fat at all and didnt even look like it...
I watch and read Amy and your website everyday...
Just watched the video all the way through ;). Ahhhh makes me laugh.
Thanks for the opportunity! :)
A
Elisha!!! HEY!! Thank you so much for the kind words- you are most awesome. You're right I should just throw that stuff OUT!!
Amy XOXOX
Joanna- I'd love to be a 10am girl again, just won't work with my schedule.....OY!
KAT- totally in agreement on all counts. ;-)
Well the two of you put a big smile on my face after a very chaotic day at work. Total crack up. Amy, you rock (i was a highschool athlete too!) and kelly girl, CHEEKY is totally your middle name ;-)
HEY CHELLE. Now we just have to get YOU here to vlog with us!!!!
FLY ME OVER, FLY ME OVER lol!!! I'd totally love to hang out with you two cool kids ;-)