ImpactR Fitness Journey – Week 6
The final Week 6 on this Fitness Journey with the ImpactR, with the theme of ‘Feeling Strong’, a day-by-day account of the week, fav and least fav exercises, and some final thoughts on finishing this 6-week challenge!
THE FINAL WEEK
Back in Week 2, Deanna asked me to sum up our session in one word. That’s what inspired these weekly themes and reflections! At the time the first word that popped into my mind was ‘sweaty’ (there’s that deep philosophical PhD education coming out). But Deanna’s word for me that day was ‘strong’. I distinctly remember thinking in that moment, Oh I’m not there yet. But alongside that thought came another just as quickly…But maybe by the end of these 6 weeks, I will be.
It’s interesting to reflect on the evolution and growth that has happened in 6 weeks (I have a whole post focusing on just that coming next!). In some ways it feels like it passed in the blink of an eye. In other ways it feels like so much has happened and a transformation occurred, or at least started to. Because this week, I did feel kind of strong! And that felt like big progress in itself.
FEELING STRONG
There is definitely more room to continue growing (when is there not?!). But this week I felt a bit of a shift – feeling more confident to tackle moves, to match Deanna’s reps, to take Jeremy’s challenges a bit further than before. There were moves I couldn’t even attempt weeks ago, that I could actually (kind of) do this week. I felt more energy and motivation in each session, despite not getting a lot of sleep and having a lot going on. I finished sessions feeling tired and worked, but also energised and enthused.
Strength comes in many different shapes and forms – it’s not just physical strength, but also mental, emotional, etc. This journey has touched on all those things. And finishing Week 6 feeling strong and confident was more than I could have asked for at the start of this journey.
WEEK 6 DIARY
Going into this final Week 6, I was excited and, I’ll admit it, kind of scared. Deanna sent me the workouts for the week in advance and reading through them left me feeling just a little (lot) bit daunted. Jeremy helped design this final week’s workouts, to give an extra push to the finish line. Boy, could I tell. But despite feeling a bit apprehensive and intimidated, I was motivated to tackle this final week and end strong.
DAY 1 – MAY 26th, 2021
Today felt next level. I think it’s because today’s workout was all about combination exercises, adding moves onto moves with the ImpactR. That means there’s a lot more to focus on, and a lot more getting worked, hitting multiple muscle groups and engaging the core, arms, and legs. It really works the whole body. But this keeps things super engaging and makes it extra exciting to get through the workout!
There was one move that involved lifting the ImpactR out in front with arms straight. Just last week this move was not even possible. I went into today’s session a bit skeptical. But to my surprise and utter delight, it happened! I could lift the ImpactR with arms straight. I’m sure my form and everything still needs work. But the fact that the ImpactR was lifted with straight arms at all…I was shocked and so excited!
Fav exercise of the day – I’m enjoying slams more and more. I feel like I’m finally getting the hang of control and less bounce, which is exciting! One-leg lunges while also pressing up the ImpactR might’ve been one of my other fav moves of today’s workout. Possibly because I could kind of sort of do it. Plus it just really makes you feel strong to combine moves like that!
Least fav exercise of the day – Piston squats, OMG these are hard! With the bell up, …yeah, I can’t really do them. It’s a lot to think about, balancing as you do a one leg lunge, while also pushing a heavy rod of metal away from your body using just the strength of your arms. This one needs work, but even just attempting felt like a small victory.
DAY 2 – MAY 27th, 2021
Jeremy led us in today’s workout, and I felt pushed more than ever before. Deanna and Jeremy both have such amazing energy. Getting them together today was both a challenge and a treat. We got through 3 sets, and I still don’t quite know how, LOL. My shoulders and arms both feel like jelly. I took some harder modifications to give myself that extra challenge, because of Jeremy’s encouragement. I am sure I wouldn’t have done that if I was doing this workout on my own. This is just one of the (several) ways that Deanna and Jeremy really make such a difference!
Fav exercise of the day – Straight arm raises. It may or may not be ‘cause I’m just excited I can actually do these now!
Least fav exercise of the day – Arnold presses. Jeremy kindly modified this exercise for me because the first round showed how it was just not happening. My arms are not quite there (yet). BUT, that’s how I felt about straight arm raises last week, and look at how they’re going now!
DAY 3 – MAY 28th, 2021
WE DID IT! Finishing off today’s workout feeling strong and confident felt so good. Deanna was there cheering me every step of the way through this final workout. There were tangible moments of progress again in today’s session. One-handed lifts of the ImpactR absolutely could not have happened before, but today they somehow did. I did have to add an assist at times, and again the form was a bit shaky. But it’s definitely big progress. Plus, I did some push-ups without my knees down, which felt like a big deal as well. I think it’s good to mark those occasions and celebrate them alongside the bigger wins too!
Fav exercise of the day – It could actually be push-ups! I can feel the progress and that’s always so motivating. I feel like I’m going deeper with this move, and again, getting in some without being on my knees felt a big deal.
Least fav exercise of the day – Sit up twists are still one of the banes of my exercising existence. I just find core work so difficult. But on a happier note, a least fav exercise from the start of this journey was tricep swings, and today these definitely felt easier to do.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I cannot believe how quickly these 6 weeks have gone by. This week felt the hardest by far. The workouts were more intense, there were less breaks, moves from weeks ago were built upon, and I was pushed to take harder modifications and use the ImpactR in even more challenging ways. There were times when I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get through all the reps, or to even execute an exercise.
But somehow in the moment you dig deep and just tackle it head on. It’s a very present feeling, not focusing on what exercise is coming next (cause Deanna would just tell me when the time came), or how many are left to go, but just getting each rep done and then the next one. Then before you know it, you’ve made it to the end! Sometimes you modify, or slow down, or try again later, and that’s ok too. Because there’s always tomorrow as well, to improve and reach even higher.
For the last six weeks I have done 45 minutes of intense exercise more than I had for over a year really. It might not sound like much, but I can distinctly point to very tangible points of progress. I feel stronger, definitely had more energy in workouts as they went along, and could tackle moves I couldn’t have imagined myself doing Week 1. All in just 15 minutes, 3 times a week. Who knew that’s all it can take? I’m so grateful to Deanna and Jeremy for the opportunity, accountability, and for cheering me along the way.
More final reflections will be coming as I take in finishing off this challenge! ALSO, don’t forget to enter our giveaway to celebrate finishing off this 6-Week Challenge – you could win your very own ImpactR (running Monday, May 31st – June 7th, 2021)!!
THE SERIES
If you missed the earlier posts of my ImpactR Fitness Journey series, make sure you catch up with:
DISCOUNT
If you’re interested in trying out the ImpactR for yourself, you can save 10% on their website using the code BEKAH10! This is an affiliate link, and if you purchase through a link/using my code I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you and it really helps to support me in doing this work. Thank you so much for your support!
I’m also currently holding an amazing GIVEAWAY to win an ImpactR for yourself – check it out to enter by June 7th, 2021!
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