How do you get back into a fitness routine?

Kayleigh09

Thanks Scubaangel. I will have a look at this tomorrow on my lunch break. I am waiting for the OH to ring me, which was supposed to be 18 mins ago! I will report back tomorrow after reading

scubaangel

Kayleigh09 wrote: »

Thanks Scubaangel. I will have a look at this tomorrow on my lunch break. I am waiting for the OH to ring me, which was supposed to be 18 mins ago! I will report back tomorrow after reading

Get used to delayed phone calls its a military speciality - mines been in the Army since before we met and is an absolute nightmare for doing everything late - I think I'm not quite as scary as the RSM. :rotfl:

jenniewb

If the 45 min run works for you then carry on, but personally I'd get bored! I'd run outside for an hour fine but looking at the same 4 walls...I can see exactly why you don't want to go!

Can you not break it down into smaller chunks: 5 mins running then 2 mins v.fast, 1 min just a fraction off normal, repeat 5 or 6 times, then raise the gradient, run as fast as you can on that (you may need to reduce the speed considerably-at first!) do not hold onto the bar at any point.

Or just chop and change machines, 10 or 15 mins per machine, you get a better all over workout that way too.

Penny_Watcher

I've found that I only keep to an exercise routine that I enjoy.

I've just completed the Couch to 5K running challenge so I'm running outside for 30 minutes every other day. Although I sometimes drag my feet a bit to make myself go out if it's raining I always come back feeling so much better for being out in the fresh air.

I ride for at least 3 hours a week (1 hour arena work + 2 hours cross country) which I absolutely love. It doesn't seem like exercise.:o

I also walk my dogs over the fields for at least 90 minutes every day. Again, it doesn't seem like exercise too, but it is.

So my advice is find something that you truly enjoy doing and it'll be easier to stick to.

SandC

I can understand why you lack motivation as you seem to favour the treadmill for fast results. I think you need to vary things - try something else in the gym or like others have said, go at a different time.

What worked for me was changing gyms to one which was more expensive but closer to home, opened early and has a swimming pool. I now swim 3 mornings per week before work. I also realised that I will never have proper motiviation on gym equipment. I had a few sessions with a PT and whilst overall a waste of money for me as it didn't spur me on, it did at least teach me that just because I feel hot and am sweaty, doesn't necessarily mean I am working to my capacity. Basically, you have to work hard to get results, end of story.

So I rediscovered classes and although i was dead nervous as I'd let myself go so badly, I shouldn't have been. I realised it has always been exercising with others, to good music, with mirrors to see how you are doing (or even when I started again to see how terrible I actually looked - you cannot avoid seeing yourself) and an instructor who loves what they are doing. It doesn't have to be torturous. Anyone can do bodypump and that is terrific for toning. I do pump, salsa aerobics and step and my regret is that I left that other gym some years back cos I was bored and then got out of the habit.

bills_2

To keep you interested you need to have a varied weekly exercise plan, mix it up dont just stick to the same old boring thing. A key thing I think in keeping motivated is PLANING your week...3-4 sessions a week is suffiecent its not too much and should be obtainable, dont dive in there and try and do a workout everyday. Plan the 3 -4 sessions by placing them at certain times you know you can fit it in during that specific week and write it in your diary. I find personally that once its written down in my head its like an appointment I have to stick too...looking in my diary knowing that I didnt do it makes me feel like a failure and I don't like failing...so I do it!

You have to make your goals attainable and look at the smaller picture by looking at your progress daily weekly etc,

My weekly workouts I do involve going out for a run in the nice fresh air, going the gym and either using the cardio machines, weights, swimming, home workout dvd, home circuits or going to a class...some classes you can burn well over 500 calories in one single session so look into what classes are available and give them a try, its also motivating in classes because you are in a group and want to keep going. No one session for me is the same during one week. You dont just have to do one big boring run or cycle at the same setting and spend for ages, ask a gym instuctor to go through the benefits of the different programs on the machines and give them a try. For example on the bike one day i will do a 20min hill interval training program, another i wil do a 'kilamanjaro' climb for 20mins (going up a gradual hill then coming back down) another day i do 30mins on a random setting 5mins quick pace, 1 min recovery and repeat 5 times. The key is defo to vary your sessions to keep them interesting. Monitor your progress and up levels every 3 -4 weeks to push yourself more as you get fitter.

Once you really get into it and start a structured program, know what your doing and understand what the benefits of things are you will notice you enjoy your workouts, become less tired and sluggish and notice the changes in your fitness and body shape.

Hope this helps, I absolutly love training but like everyone do have them sluggish times when life is seems too hectic to fit a workout in but to be honest there is always a spare half an hour in your life you can fit something in, we just make excuses to make ourselves feel better. For example instead of sitting on the sofa watching half an hour of eastenders set up a little circuit in your front room and do that while your watching the tv or drag the exercise bike out the garage and do half an hour cycle time soon flys when ur enjoying ur soaps!

The quality of the workout is far more important than the duration, you dont have to be hammering a workout out for ages, a 30mins circuit is great for fat burning and strength if done with lots of effort and quality.

stuartbelling

First thing in the morning....then it's over and done with

jenniewb

In addition to all the above:

You need to change your workout every 6 to 8 weeks as your body gets used to what you do and doesn't work as hard at it, you work at the same rate but its not being challenged to the same degree.

Kayleigh09

Well I managed to do it! I've finally been to the gym and I managed to do a 10 minute steady pace on the rowing machine and then 45 minutes on the treadmill. I started off with a walk, then brisk walking right through to sprinting and then alternated. It's made me feel so good! I never intended to do that long on the treadmill, but it's the way it worked out!

Back tomorrow to do a session of all the extensions and weights! So proud of myself!

honey06

yeayyy!!
well done Kayleigh!! :j:j:beer::T