What's Your Workout Like?

I have been trying to get some new ideas about things I should consider adding to my workout routine. Right now I manly go to the gym about 3 times a week and do about an hour of cardio. I usually burn about 500 cals, except on Saturday when I basically live in the gym I can get to about 800 - 900 cals burned. I haven't really incorporated too much stregnth training yet, because someone told me to wait until I am about half way to my goal before I focus on toning. Do you think this is good advice? I am also thinking about bumping it up to five days a week, but I don't want to over do it.

What do you guys do for exercise?

Here is mine as of right now:

Mon. - Treadmill (20 mins. alternating between 3.5 and 4.5 speed); Eliptical (20 mins.)

Wed. - Same as Monday

Sat. - Treadmill (25 mins. alternating between 3.5 and 4.5 speed); Eliptical (25 mins.); Free Weights (10 - 15 mins.); Treadmill (another 25 mins. this time on a slightly lower speed to cool down).

I keep my heart rate on average 80% my maximum at almost all times doing cardio, sometimes that means I need lower speeds and go very fast, before making things harder and slowing down. I keep the elliptical on like 5, then drop to 1, then up to 10, then back to 5 for a while.

If I don't go this much, I fear I'll stop going, and I mostly still hate it.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday- 20-30(usually closer to 20) mins elliptical, 30 min weight training circuit

Tuesday, Thursday- 30-45 mins elliptical if 30 mins elliptical, then 20 mins bike at 65-70% max heartrate

Saturday/Sunday - 15-30 mins elliptical, 20 mins bike, maybe some treadmill 0 incline 2.5 mph (my legs are short, so thats decent, I have to jog at 3.2)

I have really slacked on the treadmill since my shin started hurting very badly when using it, and i have been hesitant to do as I was: 8 incline, 2.8 mph, 30mins - so mostly I stay away from the treadmills unless my son is with me, then I walk next to him.

Have you ever considered dancing? I turn on music and dance nonstop for about an hour, it's fun and it burns a descent amount of calories plus I think it is good cardio too if I'm not mistaken. That's just an idea, because personally I am slightly ADHD so I can't stick to treadmills and such.

I think it is always good to see what others are doing and to get new ideas.

My weekly routine looks like this:

MON: To gym for 60 minutes of weightlifting (Chest/Biceps). And then onto treadmill for 30 minutes of walking/running program.

TUES: To gym for 45 minutes on Expresso Recumbant bike and 15 minute ab routine (includes 3 sets/15 reps of oblique side bends with 25 pounds and then a total of 100 crunches on medicine ball. Break it down into 4 sets (1st 3 sets do 20 reps and alternate it with olbiques. Then last set do 40 reps with 25 pounds weight plate.)

WED: To gym for 60 minutes of weightlifting (Legs/Triceps). On treadmill for 30 minutes if my legs allow, depends on intesity of workout.

THURS: To gym for 45 minutes on Expresso REcumbant bike and 15 minute ab routine (same as above.)

FRI: To gym for 60 minutes of weightlifitng (Back/Shoulders.) On treadmil for 30 minutes if time permits due to closing of gym.

SAT: Off day

SUN: Sometimes on off day and sometimes go to gym to do cardio, especially if Friday doesn't allow for it.

3 days a week I go to Curves and do my Smart Machine Workout.  Cardio and weight resistence and according to the machines, I burn between 600-700 calories a work out (not to shabby for 30 mins)

On the alternate days, I walk outside or treadmill it for about 45-60 mins.  I walk about 3mph currently and I am working back up to 3.5mph.  I don't care what anyone says, the treadmill is much different than being outside.

On the treadmill days I do crunches (3 different kinds, 2/25 of each one) and then work out with my 3lb hand weights (5 different exercises 2/20 for each one).

I generally take off 1 day a week just because life happens....LOL

Now supposedly Santa is bring the Wii to my house and I will get the Wii fit as an alternate workout....we will see!

I had a Wii Fit, but I didn't feel like it was intense enough. I guess it is something cool to get you moving, but for me to be motivated I need to break a good sweat.

Kudos to the people who workout 6 days a week....very impressive.

I have started using my step while I watch the Biggest Loser on Tuesdays, since I don't go to the gym on that day. I really like doing this, because I get a good 30 - 45 mins of step aerobics and it goes by so fast since I love watching that show.

Sammarieob - how do you burn 600 - 700 cals in 30 mins? OMG that seems huge. I am happy to burn that in an hour. There was a curves in my job but they closed it, so I really can't go to a Curves because I am in work/school about 12 hours of the day Mon - Thurs., so whatever I have to do has to be late at night. The gym is open until 11 but I think Curves closes at like 9.

I would loooove a dance dance revolution :) They have one at the gym but I onyl use it if one of my kids is with me and do it 2 player.But just music and dancing, I'm so not coordinated enough and I would end up kicking something and bumping something!

Shaylese, I see people at my gym using the weight training circuit like at curves. They use one machine and jump on a bike for a few minutes, repeat. They keep two very basic bikes right near the circuit stuff for that reason.

This activity for circuit with cardio and this without, which I use. I think I burn more in 30 minutes than that says, but not enough for me to really bother adjusting for my activity log.

My trainer at the gym encourages weight training from the begining. I said the same thing, about toning after losing weight etc and he explained that basically, I got fat and let a lot of muscle vanish (my translation!) and not only do I need to build that muscle back, and probably a little bit more - but more muscle = more calories burned by default. As you lose weight your % body fat will drop much faster if you are building muscle and burning fat at the same time.

I've recently become addicted to Bikram Yoga.  Each session is 90 minutes a pop and I go 5 days a week.   I don't care which days I go as long as I go 5 days a week.  I've also started using the balance ball at home to work on my core muscles and if all else fails I have Leslie Sansone's walk away the pounds to get a good workout in. 

I don't work out at all.  I have heart trouble and joint trouble, etc.  I do some light calisthenics and stretches.  I am hoping that when I get smaller I can start doing more.  I got tendonitis in one foot most likely from trying to walk up and down stairs like a normal person rather than by taking one step at a time.  Because of that I had to take almost 2 weeks of nothing but sitting with my feet up.

I am no expert but I would say staring weight training for toning now would be good because you body will change faster and you will be more motivated to keep up with your workouts. I am 302 lbs and automatically burn more calories than a smaller person. I would venture to say that if you add some ankle weights you are probably going to burn more calories AND see a better result in clothes fitting.

Shaylese-At the end of September last year, the Cuves I go to added "Smart Machines" and I have to tell you, that gives me a much better workout than what I was doing before.  It's the same basic equipment, but you have a keycard that links you to your personal profile when you are working out.  You no longer pay attention to the "change stations now" you go by what the machine tells you.  Trust me when I tell you, I earn every one of those burned calories!

I do agree though, most of the hours for Curves are  not as convenient as a lot of gyms, but then for me, it's just 30 mins so I go right after work and before I know it, I am done.

I had to think long and hard about this when I was starting.  In the past, you see, I had been able to if not out-exercise, at least keep up with the fork.  We had a gym on site here at work and it was so easy to work out right after work.

If I had an injury or an illness, I'd get derailed and gain since I wasn't changing what I ate.

So this time around, I'm truly committed to getting to a healthier lifestyle.  As such, I did not want to plan around a grueling gym schedule.  Instead, I shoot for at least 30 minutes of some activity each and every day.

Every other day, I do exercises from the "No gym, No problem" workout here: 

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/07/17/no -gym-no-problem-bodyweight-exercises-and-the- nerd-fitness-challenge/

I do 2 sets of 20 jumping jacks, 20 prisoner squats, 20 normal grip pushups, 20 lunches (each leg), 20 close grip pushups (on the 2nd set, I switch these with wide grip).  For now, I can't complete all of those pushups normally, and on my knees is too easy, so I do them off of the stairs.

The goal for them is to get them done as fast as you can.

So yesterday, I did that workout, and earlier I had mowed and edged the lawn with a hand mower and trimmer.

Other thing I do is walk around the neighborhood.  I use www.mapmyrun.com to plan out circuits of 3-5 miles.

My favorite thing to do is go hiking on the weekends.  Last weekend, my wife and I went on a 3.25 trail over 'extremely difficult' terrain (the kind where there are places where you can reach out and touch the trail rather than reach down).  Ridges to ascend and descend, about 10 water crossings, and great fall colors to enjoy as well.

Other "workouts" I'll get in the next few weeks include more hikes, raking leaves, one or two more times to mow the lawn before it gets cold, and so on.  I'm needing to make my walks longer and longer to get tired, so I'm trying to step up the intensity.  Two nights ago, for example, I went to the local sledding hill and walked up and down it for 40 minutes.

I have an elliptical machine, but I wore it out about a month in (using it 4-5 times a week back in July/August).  I need to take it apart, regrease it, and realign the arms.

When it gets really cold, I'll probably rejoin the gym that's down the street.

I've got to have probably the strangest workout style ever. I don't work out. Ever.

I play pirates and sea monsters. I race "cars." I have a WWE smackdown on the bed with the littlest powerhouse you've ever seen. I play tennis now (so much fun!). I play basketball. I walk down nature trails and race to bridges. I will soon be biking to the store instead of driving. I dance like a madwoman. 

Exercise in the conventional sense is boring and tedious: a formula that guarantees my failure. So I'm changing my entire lifestyle to accommodate a ton of exercise without me even knowing it. And it's improving my son's quality of life as well. Win/win.

LDA - I am the opposite, I don't think working out is boring or tedious. I actually like turning my headphones up as loud as possible and working up a good sweat. For me it is personal time. I go to the gym by myself so I am a hundred percent focused on me and me alone. I have some quiet time in the sauna afterwards and really unwind from the stress of the day. And after I leave the gym I feel so refreshed and so accomplished. I played tennis in high school so all during tennis season we would have boot camp like workouts, so I guess somewhere along the line I actually started liking exercise. My problem is more so making time for it.

I really would like to start getting some outdoor workouts in, but something about going to the gym and seeing the calories burned on the machine really motivates me.

You can call me Dovie, Shaylese. ^_^

I tried doing the gym thing to get some alone time and it just doesn't work for me. I'm a stay at home mom so alone time is really iffy. I usually feel guilty about not caring for my son 24/7, sadly enough. So I bring him along and do things we both have fun with. For the most part it works out really well. I've also noticed the more I concentrate on that "calories burned" meter, the more frustrated I get. Walking, running, etc aren't whole body workouts so I burn a lot less than romping around with the kiddo for an hour anyway.

Original Post by loviedovieann:

Exercise in the conventional sense is boring and tedious: a formula that guarantees my failure. So I'm changing my entire lifestyle to accommodate a ton of exercise without me even knowing it. And it's improving my son's quality of life as well. Win/win.

I'm the same way - I want natural increases to activity that I feel will be good, sustainable habits in a balanced life.

In 5 years when my son is 12 and my daughter is 7, I'm not going to want to spend quality time with them in the gym - I'm going to want to take them trail hiking or playing soccer with them at the park.

Look at the biggest loser contestants.  What are they learning?  Past contestants seem to fall in to two categories - those who gained it back and those who have had to move on to a sport/hobby that requires constant training like triathalons.  They either didn't learn to lead a healthy lifestyle, or they have to keep up a full-time training regimen.  It's the all-or-nothing mentality that I don't like.

Shay - if you like the gym and working out, take a look at Crossfit.  It is getting pretty popular and looks like an awesome workout.

67, you hit the nail right on the head for me!

You know, you can totally take your kids out now. They have tons of stamina. I know my just-turned-three year old can out walk either one of us on a good day. And if you're into biking, get a kiddie trailer for your bike! That's the plan for my little one. They love that kind of thing. I think most can hold up to 200lbs so your 7 year old could even go for a ride. Or if your significant other or a friend want to join you, one can pull the trailer and the other can help the 7 year old with a trail-a-bike. And if they tend to get bored on long rides, ride for half an hour to a really great spot, pull them out and throw a frisbee around or go for a little hike, then bike back home.

Yay 67 for hikes! I was thinking about hiking last week, and searched a few things online, and found every state I have checked so far, have an official (state ran) website devoted to hiking trails, bike trails, etc all over the state. There are like 6 <1 mile hiking trails within a few miles of me I never knew where there. also a 2 mile one up a small mountain I am dying to try.

I want to incorporate a hike into my weekly schedule, either alone on Tuesday/Thursday or possibly with my family on the weekend.

When we lived on a military installation, we had a kiddie trailer hook up for my bike and my husbands, and we would take really long rides all over the post and after a while, switch off who pulled the trailer (which didn't seem to add ANY additional weight except up hills) - you have got the right idea dovie! :)

Sam - you have me convinced. I set up an appointment with Curves for Saturday. If I could accomplish my burn goal in 30 mins., then I would be able to move my workout to the morning and then maybe I could sleep at night.

Gamlindar,

Have I ever said hello to you?  If not....this is it.  It's nice to hear from you.