Week 3 with the ImpactR, talking about showing up, more of my least and fav workout exercises from the week, and a day-by-day account of how the week went.

‘I’m excited to work out with you this week.’ Could there be a better way to start a week of workouts?! This is the kind of energy Deanna brings to our sessions every. single. time. It makes all the difference.

SHOWING UP

 This week’s theme is all about showing up. I genuinely think it’s one of the hardest parts of starting any new kind of routine, especially a fitness routine. Queueing up the workout video, opening the yoga app, rolling out the mat, pulling out the equipment, pressing play…Sometimes those preparatory motions can feel even more difficult than the workout itself.

Once you get going, momentum can be a powerful factor in propelling you forward. It’s especially helpful when you have someone there motivating and cheering you on along the way (thank you Deanna!).

Working out is hard. Deanna said this during one of this week’s sessions, and it’s really stuck with me. She broke down the ratios like this: 80% mind, 10% heart, and 10% body. As surprising as it may sound, working out is a hugely mental thing. To me, that relates a lot to showing up in your workout – in mind, body, and soul – and the particular importance of getting into the right headspace to get started and to keep going.

Week 3 consisted of showing up three days in a row. I am feeling stronger for it, both mentally and physically!

WEEK 2 DIARY

 Day 1 – May 5, 2021:

Wow, well today felt tough. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I haven’t done a workout in 4 days, or if the workout itself was just ramped up again. I imagine it’s probably a combination of both. Today’s workout was challenging and I acknowledge that my core needs A LOT of work. Now that I think about it, core exercises have very much been neglected over the last year+, possibly even more than my arms have (oops). Sit-ups with the ImpactR are very hard work!

Fav exercise of the day – I really like kneeling slams. This involves lifting the ImpactR bar up and down, while kneeling on the ground. This modification on the slam really helps me focus on and engage my core. It’s a fun way to switch up an exercise I’m starting to get intimately acquainted with during this ImpactR journey.

Least fav exercise of the day – Sit up and twists with the ImpactR. As I said, core exercises have been neglected, and this exercise really reveals it. Doing a sit-up while also lifting the ImpactR over my head, and then twisting to the side once getting to the top – very difficult indeed.

Day 2 – May 6, 2021:

Today involved quite a lot of cardio, and I felt like I was pushed for the full 15 minutes. That’s no bad thing. I also really liked combining the arm and leg exercises to target the whole body in one exercise. It’s as simple as adding an overhead press to a squat, and feels very effective!

Fav exercise of the day – I have a love hate relationship with slam jumps. They’re fun when you get into a groove. I could see myself doing this to the beat of a catchy song and really getting into it. But they’re definitely tiring!

Least fav exercise of the day – Those triceps targeting exercises are still getting me every time! One of my weekly goals was for triceps exercises to not make me feel like I’m dying…I’ve still got a ways to go in achieving this one.

Day 3 – May 7, 2021:

I took a quick peek at today’s exercise list before hopping on Zoom with Deanna. I’m not sure it was the best idea LOL. Deanna had mentioned earlier in the week that she thought Day 3 was a tough one and looking at it was daunting. But it didn’t feel as hard as I thought it might have done!

I do feel I am getting stronger, which is encouraging. The first round of military press ups felt easier than they had the week before! Then they got much (much) harder, especially towards the end of the session. But hey, it’s progress, and I’ll celebrate every little bit of it.

Fav exercise of the day – I had fun with the slam push-ups! This was a combination of the Slam, and then putting the bar of the ImpactR down on the ground and doing a push-up on top of the bar.

Least fav exercise of the day – Squat jumps (fairly self-explanatory, involving a squat with the ImpactR on the shoulders, and then jumping slightly after rising up – with the ImpactR still being carried on the shoulders) are possibly one of the hardest exercises I’ve attempted on this journey. My legs were feeling slightly like jelly during the last round!

THIS WEEK’S GOALS

1. Continue to feel more comfortable with handling the ImpactR and improving in grip strength.
2. Stretch more! Try to do more daily yoga.
3. Intentionally take time after a workout to breath and reflect.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Deanna ends a lot of our workouts saying ‘I’m proud of you.’ It gives me all the feels!

This week I felt proud of myself too! Going three days in a row and reaching the halfway milestone of this ImpactR challenge is exciting. I am also really enjoying the post-workout feeling. 3 weeks down, 3 more to go!

THE SERIES

If you missed the earlier posts of my ImpactR Fitness Journey series, make sure you catch up with Week 1’s introduction, and Week 2!

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!