My gym offers a bunch of free group exercise classes, most of them at very inconvenient times. For example, most morning classes begin at 6:30 am. Right, because I’m getting up at 5 in the morning to do cardio “kickboxing”? No.
I went through the schedule today, as I was bored at work, and circled all the classes that I want to take that aren’t at some crazy time.
Monday:
11:45am Upper body resistance training
1:00pm Pilates
6:30pm Basic step
6:30pm Iyengar yoga
Tuesday:
7:15am Abs resistance training
11:30am Iyengar yoga
12:45pm Total body resistance training
5:00pm Stretch
Wednesday:
11:15 Pilates
11:30 Iyengar yoga
6:30pm Pilates
Thursday:
7:15am Abs resistance training
11:30 Iyengar yoga
5:00pm “yoga-based” stretch
Nothing else on Fri-Sun.
I like the classes because having an exercise leader pushes me past my comfort zone, which is the best way to progress and get into better shape. Lift a little more weight than feels comfortable, do 30 minutes instead of 25, do 4 sets instead of 2, and so on.
I also need to start swimming more. Lately I’ve just been doing a half hour of elliptical and then hand weights for 10 minutes or so.
A lot of it is a time issue. I would love to spend 90 minutes at the gym, but usually I need to cut it short so I can go (back) to work, or it’s after work and I wanna go home.
The other day I thought about how exercising five times a week shouldn’t just be something I practice until I have lost the weight I want to lose. It’s something I should plan to do every day for the rest of my life. Just like eating good food. It’s not a temporary thing, it should be just the way my life is: I take care of my body daily.
My gym offers classes at 5:45 a.m., which are the most popular, even in the dark and freezing NH winter. Talk about getting out of your comfort zone. This is a great way to kickstart your metabolism for the day, and actually you feel great all day becuase your energy level and blood sugar levels aren’t all fucked up. TRY IT WHYNOT?
Yes! “fasted cardio” as it is called, burns more fat than any other time during the day. Also, the way people fit in exercise into their day, EVERYDAY, is to make time for it in the morning, because most people don’t actually have to work at 6:30AM. (but I do, because I just got a new job, at a gym! haha!) If you become a morning exerciser you will be better for it. STOP BITCHIN and get out of bed!!!