Wednesday WOOT! Factor!!

Happy Wednesday Peeps! Welcome to the Wednesday Woot! Factor, featuring Tina of Faith, Fitness and Fun. LOVE HER> She's also one of our FitFluential Ambassadors WOOT! Check out her interview and then tell me you don't want to just HUG HER!! Love this woman!! ;-) 

When did you first start working out and why? I first started working out sophomore year of college. I had to take a fitness class for a required credit, so I signed up for an aerobics and weights class. I ended up falling in love and going through withdrawals when it ended. For my birthday that summer, I bought myself a handful of Cathe Friedrich workout DVDs that got me started with my fitness training. I'm so thankful for both the class and then DVDs kick-starting my love of fitness. 

Are you at your “Happy Place” right now – meaning more of a maintenance mode, or are you still in a weight loss mode? I can confidently say I have reached my "happy place"...and did so at six months post-baby, no less! I have even written an entire post devoted to my thoughts on achieving my happy weight - including what it is, how to get there, and how to stay there.

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 probably work even harder! Just because I have achieved where I feel best about my body doesn't mean I have any less fitness goals. I am currently training for two half marathons (including my FIRST!), so I work harder than ever to reach that goal. I love challenging myself and will never stop doing so. I appreciate how great my body feels at my happy weight...but that isn't what drives my workouts. Feeling strong and seeing what my body can do drives my workouts.

What does your current workout “routine” look like now? I have self-proclaimed exercise ADD. I love too many different workouts! Right now, I do cardio six days a week along with 2-3 weights workouts a week. For weights, I mix between full body circuits or upper/lower split training. Obviously, I believe variety is the spice of my workout life. ;)

What do you do for cardio? How often? I complete six days of cardio a week, with anywhere between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours in length. It's usually closer to 30-45 minutes, with the exception of my one weekly long run, which I not so secretly love completing. I run four days a week for my half marathon training plan. I also take one spin class a week and usually do elliptical intervals or an interval DVD workout at home another day. 

Do you workout at home or the gym? I workout anywhere and everywhere. I hit the gym regularly for weights and spin classes. I head outdoors for runs all the time. And I have a hefty DVD collection for at-home options. Cathe Friedrich and Turbo Jam are my all time favorites.

What do you say to those that haven’t gotten fit and complain that they don’t because they “can’t get motivated”? It takes time to form a habit. Plan plan plan to get in some form of activity for a month or two, and before you know it, fitness will start to feel more natural. You don't have to do everything. Start small. You want room to build up your progress. It does no good if you burn out at the beginning!

What about any/all of the excuses like “No time”, “No money”, “no gym”, “no support”? There is a way around every excuse if you are determined enough. And you are WORTH being determined enough to care for your body. Workouts can be short, but intense. Workouts can be done without a gym and even without equipment. Have you ever tried doing 200 squats and lunges and push-ups? It will get you good. And check out Twitter or blogs for support. I assure you that there is no shortage of support there.

What does your “diet” look like i.e. how you eat, what is your Philosophy? As a former binge eater, I have to be very careful with how I approach my eating habits. If I put something "off limits", I will end up wanting nothing else and likely going overboard. I simply strive to choose as natural foods as possible most of the time and not allow any guilt for splurging on occasion. I focus on keeping a macro view of my eating habits and recognizing that I eat nutritiously 80% of the time or more, and indulge 20% of the time as well. It balances out to an eating style I can consistently maintain without deprivation.

What changes have you made over the past several years in your diet and/or workout approach and why? As I mentioned, years ago I was in the midst of a terrible binge eating struggle. I would swing from eating an entire dozen of doughnuts in my twenty minute car ride home from work to nibbling 2 ounces of plain broiled chicken and a cup of green beans. Now, I strive for balance and eliminating any food rules. I am a much happier and healthier eater now.

What is your food weakness? Any sweets. I have a sweet tooth like no other. Especially for frosting!


What is your favorite healthy breakfast? The standard bowl of oats. It never fails me. One requirement though - my bowl of oats simply MUST have peanut butter. 

When did you start blogging and why? I started blogging at my blog Faith Fitness Fun in January of 2010. I had participated in online forums before then and enjoyed the connections but wanted a more personal space that reflected the healthy balance I hoped to achieve. Blogging fit me perfectly. I could share my life, my approach to fitness, and connect with other like minded fitness enthusiasts in the process.

How has blogging enhanced your fitness efforts? It motivates me to try new things and believe I can accomplish them. I honestly don't know if I would have ever taken up running had it not been for blogging, and it now fulfills me like no other fitness goal. I also love learning new workouts and increasing the variety in my workouts thanks to my blogging friends.

What is your Twitter/FB/Etc? You can find me on Twitter: @TinaFFF or on Facebook: Faith Fitness Fun's page. Check out my contact page for additional information on how to reach me.


What haven’t you done (fitness wise) that you’d like to try? I have already achieved my goal of competing in a fitness competition, but now I can't wait to take on running 13.1 miles. Soon enough!

What motivates you to keep at it? The feeling of health. I am a better person when I take care of my fitness. I feel stronger and more confident. I don't feel complete without fitness and healthy eating in my life. I truly enjoy it.

Are you a morning workout person or evening or lunchtime? I'm a "whenever I can get the time to myself and away from the kids" workout person. ;) I usually go in the morning around 8 am or in the afternoon around 5 pm depending on my family's schedules.

What is YOUR biggest excuse that you find yourself battling in not wanting to workout a certain day? Too much to do in a day! When I get overwhelmed with a never-ending to-do list, I often find myself the most tempted to skip a workout. Sometimes that is okay, though. I have to remind myself that daily activity with my kids counts too.

 
Do you weigh yourself or measure yourself? I currently only go by the way my clothes fit, monthly measurements, and occasional progress pictures to check my progress and make sure I'm maintaining my Body After Baby goals. I used the scale for awhile while losing weight, but when it got to an obsessive place, I decided to give it up.

More from Tina! My philosophy is that life is more than diet and workouts. If you want to live a full and healthy life, then you have to incorporate all aspects of wellness in a way that brings you joy. Forcing activity in workouts that don't suit your personality or eating foods you can't stand will not last. View healthy living as a blessing to care for yourself and to give yourself the best out of life. Make life fun! 

Do you have a favorite blogger you'd like me to interview for Wednesday Woot Factor? Let me know!