It finally arrived. The health club membership. It's here. I have it. I can just stroll into any GoodLife Fitness in the world and start working out any time I want. Any time at all. Yep. That's what I could do. Indeed I could.The good thing about it is: my BFF also belongs to this club, and theoretically, she'll go with me sometimes. And we will, theoretically, motivate each other and have fun and become better, fitter versions of ourselves. We will, theoretically, burst forth from our coccoons, revealing our fit and healthy inner butterfly! Too much? Yeah...it felt like it was too much.
My questions for the good and faithful gym people are as follows:
1) I know we all love zumba - but what ELSE do we like doing that is helping us get strong and build muscle that will raise our metabolisms for when we are sitting on our butts doing nothing?
2) Do any of you do weights? Got any suggestions there?
3) How do we motivate ourselves to actually GO to the gym without feeling this big knot of guilt in our chests that I began experiencing the minute the card arrived in the mail yesterday?
Tell me your secrets, ladies!
Good for you!
ReplyDeleteThoughts for you to consider:
Re: 3 - figure out what days and times work best for you (for example, I really just have to do it in the morning - no excuses, done, feel great after), then just show up. I'm not trying to be flip either, just make it a commitment to yourself and it will become a habit. And, if you get there, the battle is won. Have you ever heard of anyone that drags themselves to the gym and then leaves? : )
Re: 2 - Weights - yep. Try out a body pump class or a bootcamp class and try to integrate that into your routine 2 days a week (minimum in my opinion). Guarantee you will see great reasults! (Don't give up either. You might very well hate the first class. And may be sore as well. But give it a couple weeks and then see how you feel.)
Re: 1 - I'd try all the classes that work with your schedule you figure out. It's possible that you might fall in love with others as much as Zumba!(spin, body pump, boot camp, kickboxing, etc.)
Hopefully you are going to Chicago again this year and I'll get a chance to meet you!
Best,
Fluffy
I've always heard that building muscle increases metabolism when one is at rest. I personally enjoy the elliptical and the stationary weight machines. All you have to do is set the weight and the seat height and you're pretty much good to go.
ReplyDeleteThe gym I go to has pretty self-explanatory instructions on each machine, which is supremely helpful. Start slow and don't be afraid to ask questions!
I agree with Fluffy: figuring out the days you can and will go in advance and working it into your schedule is much easier than just leaving it at the last minute to decide.
I go to the gym 3 times a week for my strength training and some interval cardio... I also usually go once or twice a week on non-strength training days to do just cardio. Take a book, the time goes faster. I haven't gone in almost a week with this move but I am going to start back to my regular routine on monday.
ReplyDeleteBody Combat or Body Pump (incorporates weights!). And Combat makes you feel like you could be a superhero!
ReplyDeleteWhy guilt you little turd? You KNOW you are worth every second you invest into your health! GO GO GO!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a class person. I do mixed cardio at the gym. Never the same combo two days in a row. It keeps me from getting bored. Usually a little warm up on cardio & then some weights followed by more cardio. That seems to get the juices going and keeps me motivated.
ReplyDeleteOKay. So I think you are a group exercise person. So classes like Zumba and Body Jam are great starts. Body Combat is the kickboxing class that Les Mills does. It is really fun. Any cycling class gives you awesome cardio in less than an hour and its addictive. Body Pump is a great group exercise class with weights. If you try it, start off REALLY light because it is a lot of reps and you will be sore. I could also see you enjoying yoga. I think yoga is the best resistance training there is because you are literally lifting yourself. I'm excited for you! Can you tell?
ReplyDeleteI too have that little Goodlife card stuck in my purse waiting to see the light of day again. But it will. I actually liked the Body Pump class. Just tell the instructor you are new so she gives you the weights to start out with and don't try to add more just to make yourself look good (I might have done just that on my first class). I don't really like the dance type classes. For some reason everyone seems to move left when I am moving right and so on. Lots of bumps.
ReplyDeleteMachine wise, I like the elliptical but try out the various ones to see what you like. And remember not to push yourself like those cute 18 year olds, size 00 who are almost running on them. I use the treadmill occasionally and really liked the Jacob's ladder thingy. It is a moving staircase. Really pumps up the bum.
Lastly never leave your keys or anything in your locker even with a lock. I had my lock popped and replaced and they stole my bag which had the remote for the car and also my iTouch. I was out $800.
I've started strength training loosely following a program in the Female Body Breakthrough by Rachael Cosgrove. I say loosely, because I can do maybe a third of the exercises, but the weights are helping.
ReplyDeletePS...until you're used to it, Body Pump will make you hurt for days!
ReplyDeleteGilly, you will be a rock star at the gym. People will be BEGGING to hang with you. Just go. You'll find your thing soon enough. xoxo
ReplyDeleteGilly: it is all about routine baby. I am one to talk, b/c I am out of a gym and workout routine, with the exception of every saturday tae kwon do.
ReplyDeleteBut commit to 2 times per week at the gym (very reasonable) and do something enjoyable, like walking at an easy pace on the treadmill as an entry activity. You'll get there bit by bit-- I DO NOT advise overdoing it too much and then never going back...
1. Spinning! I love spin class. It's a lot more Fu. Than it looks.
ReplyDelete2. I need to work on this.
3. Classes. If you go to a class, then you feel like you have to be there. Talk to the instructor, a friend, a stranger and say " see you next class" then you feel obligated to go.
I'm super proud of you!!!