Oh hi there!
Today we are introducing something new and exciting to Tamara Menges Lifestyle, Fitness Wednesday! Get excited y’all!
Yes today is Tuesday, but we are introducing the new series and will start tomorrow with weekly posts, we just wanted to get y’all acquainted first!
I have always enjoyed working out and lifting weights! Running- not so much, but that’s another story. Getting sweaty and seeing results in the mirror will always be motivation enough. I remember in Junior High doing crunches and sit-ups religiously everyday for hours, and then being so proud of my baby “six-pack” at swim parties, ha! Those were the days right?
I have had the opportunity to work with many trainers over the years (I’m the kind of person to need accountability, so I sacrifice in other areas so I can pay someone to kick my butt, I’m ok with admitting that!) One trainer made me eat mushrooms with everything, another who used negative reinforcement to “motivate” me- he didn’t last long- and others who didn’t mesh well with my personality. Enter Marshall, we been training for almost a year now, and I know full well this is the best I have looked ever. There’s still more improvement to make- taking into account of a few-month-long-bread-binge, whoops! Marshall has returned to school after serving in the Marine Corp (another reason he’s awesome!) and is pursuing environmental science. He enjoys studying the “why” of workouts and how the body reacts to certain movements, making for a more customized and meticulous workout regimen for each of his clients.
For introduction purposes to “Fitness Wednesday” let me introduce a couple of other key players! Marshall and I train at World Gym Express on Dowlen in Beaumont, Texas (for those of y’all outside of Texas!) I am so grateful they let us shoot inside! Thanks World Gym, y’all are the best!
Next up, photography is provided by Allen Ayres, owner of Bellafotografica! Allen was the very first person to reach out to me when I began TMD (at that time we were Whimsical Creations by Tamara!) so I knew he was the perfect person to help with this project! He is awesome, clearly.
Now to discuss what my goals were and still are. I have a short attention span and I am very busy usually, so I can’t spend hours in the gym, nor do I want to. When I first began working with Marshall I explained I just want to be and look “fit”. I want to look like a strong and healthy working woman that I am, with the occasional surprise to someone by my ability to pick up something “that I shouldn’t be able to”. I love that!
The images in each post are of me actually “working”. My goals are not to do any type of fitness modeling so while I will have make-up on in the images (that’s only to be kind to y’all- you’re welcome!) I am not “trying to look pretty” so just know I don’t hate the world, I can’t smile when I concentrate on lifting! 🙂
I want anyone who comes across our blog to be able to say, “I can do that!” Therefore the images are meant to be educational and light-hearted.
What you can expect in every post:
The “Why”? – Why Am I doing this movement? (Heart rate, etc.)
The “How”? – Technique on keeping it correct and safe
The “What for”? – What muscle groups are targeted, what is the desired result?
So are y’all ready for Fitness Wednesday? Let’s get to it!
Image by Bellafotografica
Tomorrow we start “Fitness Wednesday” with OVERHEAD PRESSES!
xoxo, Tamara