Still trying my best every single day! I'm not too sure what it is that I'm fighting for, or where exactly I'm headed towards, but none the less I am still going to give it everything that I've got! I might not be the slimmest, strongest, or fastest athlete out there, but who would we be if we gave up on ourselves for that reason? We have so much to offer and so many talents to expand; regardless of what level one is at; one must keep going. 

The journey continues on Instagram!

Whether it's your buns, guns, or core; you work on it!

Quick fact. Ready? When one has muscle soreness after working out, there is typically an accumulation of metabolic by products in the blood including Substance P, Ammonia, Intracellular Edema (swelling), Hydrogen ions, and Neutrophils. These may sound rather complex, however to think about it simply; these by products are from muscle contractions and the inflammation created from working out intensively.

Quick fact. Ready? Consuming a large amount of carbs prior to a workout will cause the body to use those as energy as supposed to dipping into its own carb stores in the liver.

More wonderful facts for you here, friend!

Quick fact. Ready? Every single one of our cells contains mitochondria. They are so important, for they produce 97% of the body's total energy! They are especially concentrated in high energy demanding tissues like the heart, liver, and brain, where there can be up to thousands of mitochondria per cell! Is the human body not the most amazing thing?

When it comes to doing exercise, there is no right or wrong way to do it! If you enjoy playing soccer, then do that! Or if you love going for a jog, then by all means, do it! One should not cage them self in the gym and tear themselves apart simply to look a certain way. You need to show yourself the love and care that you deserve, and really just get moving in a way that makes you genuinely happy!

Quick fact. Ready? Vitamin C has been shown to help decrease cortisol during moderate bouts of exercise.

However, during prolonged exercise lasting for a couple of hours, this Vitamin actually augments cortisol release, which is a unique property that other vitamins do not seem to possess.

Quick fact. Ready? Many of our joints are lined with a special substance called hyaline cartilage. This is meant to greatly reduce the friction between our bones as they slide across one another during movement.

Quick fact. Ready? Consuming your Branch Chain Amino Acids prior to, during, or after a workout helps to delay fatigue and promote recovery. How? For one, they aid with glycogen synthesis in muscles, which prevents one of the major causes of fatigue. Secondly, BCAAs compete with the amino acid tryptophan during absorption, thus, less serotonin is produced. Serotonin often makes one feel a bit sluggish when exercising, so the less there is during a workout, the better!

Quick fact. Ready? Your Branch Chain Amino Acids Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine are extremely important, for they are largely stored within your actual muscles as supposed to being stored in the liver.

Quick fact. Ready? When exercising, especially at high intensities, electrolytes are lost as sweat. It is essential that these electrolytes are replaced as soon as possible, for they are required for proper muscle contractions, ph balance, and fluid balance within the body.

Quick fact. Ready? 
Hyperventilating, whether purposeful or not, removes carbon dioxide from the body at a faster pace than normal breathing. Thus results in a slight increase in bodily pH, for carbon dioxide is weakly acidic

Quick fact. Ready? 
The period of time following a workout is known as EPOC, excess post oxygen consumption. During this time, the body increases its oxygen uptake, temperature, and calorie expenditure simply to recover from the workout. The higher the intensity of exercise, the greater oxygen deficit created, and thus, and greater EPOC period. Amazing, isn’t it?

Quick fact. Ready? When we workout at moderate intensities, the vessels in our skin dilate in order to send more blood to the surface and release heat from the body. However at high intensities, that blood is redirected towards the heart and working muscles to fuel their high levels of work. This leads to less thermoregulation, and thus a higher risk of overheating when working at very high intensities, especially in hot weather.

Quick fact. Ready? Performing exercises with a specific muscle group only depletes the glycogen in those that are performing the movement. The glycogen in muscles that are not being used during an exercise stays about the same, unless activated.