What is your workout routine, if you have one?

[Honeycombe8]

Mine: I just walk my dogs several times a week. Occasionally I do some yoga or something easy. I used to work out religiously but have let myself turn into a couch potato.

I'm trying to decide whether to join a gym (expensive, and somewhat inconvenient), get a Total Gym (I have wanted one forever, but never got one, and they also take up a lot of room), or just try to be more disciplined and do my numerous aerobics and workout DVDs using my bands and balance ball and hand weights.

It's hardest to get started. Once I start and get into a routine, I know it'll be easier to continue. But I was wondering...what do other people do?

[rug]

1. Change channel. Move the cat. Repeat.

[Honeycombe8]

2. That's about it. Except I have dogs, so I don't even have to move them. I just TELL them to move...

and they will (try to tell a cat to move!).

[Kennah]

12. I salute you. Moving a cat is serious work.

[raccoon]

52. Ditto here. I love to walk but much of the year it is too effing hot. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I joined a local gym, and I try to go three times a week. I've used personal trainers too...

You just have to make up your mind and then do it.

I do feel better when I go.

It's also good for my repaired left knee.

[GoCubsGo]

8. I wouldn't work out if I didn't go to the gym every day

I'm the type that doesn't like to waste money, so getting a membership forces me to go every day for a workout. I also like the variety that classes give you. It's not the same thing over and over and over, like doing workouts on DVDs. I used to workout on machines, but I got so bored, I couldn't stand it. I also need to have someone yelling at me to work harder, otherwise, I lack off.

I go to the gym every day. I take spinning class three times a week, Zumba twice, and one AquaZumba class a week. The AquaZumba replaces step aerobics, which I no longer due thanks to plantar fasciitis. I do about 45 minutes of lap swimming on Sundays, since there are no classes. I used to take a core class twice a week until an old shoulder injury started acting up. I really need to do some strength training, but have been a bit of a slug over the past year. I tried starting back up recently, when my shoulder was feeling better, but I overdid it, and made my shoulder sore again. I have several Pilates DVDs, but I never do them, even though I need to. They would make up for that core class I can't do.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. That's very ambitious...Good for you!

I'm a lot older though, and I need to rest my muscles between sessions. I find going 3 times a week very energizing. I have several friends that I see there, and they cheer me on.

Ya gotta do what works for you!

[GoCubsGo]

19. More self-preservation than ambition.

If I didn't go to the gym, I would probably be a 500 lb. recluse by now. And, even what I do now isn't really enough to keep my weight in check. But, I with you on the seeing friends and getting energized part. It great for stress reduction, too.

I hear you on the sore muscles, too. I'm lucky that my gym put in a pool a few years ago. I do water-related workouts on some of my "recovery" days. It's like getting a hydro-massage as you work out.

[Honeycombe8]

16. That's something that occurred to me. If I paid for a gym, would that make me more likely

to go and exercise? Something to think about.

Of course, the same thing holds true if a buy a Total Gym or something.

I like the idea of variety, too. I get bored easily.

Lot to think about. In the meantime, while I consider a Total Gym or a gym membership, I do have options at home. As far as boring DVDs, I have so many, I have plenty of variety. As well as various hand weights, bands, a portable stepper. Plus, there's always dancing, which is tons of fun.

I'd like a bike, too.

[GoCubsGo]

18. Some other things you will want to consider:

Total Gyms and other machines need to be maintained, and when they break it's up to you to repair them. Ditto for pools, if you want to include swimming in your workout routine.

Many gyms have floating floors in their group workout rooms to reduce the stress on one's joints when doing some of the higher impact workouts, like boot camps and some aerobics classes. My house is carpet over a concrete slab foundation. It's really hard to do many of these workout videos, partly due to the friction from the carpet, and also it's hard on the joints. If one lives in an apartment, the people who live downstairs should be considered, as well.

Some people sweat a lot. I am one of those. If I worked out at home, I would be having to clean my carpet weekly. Either that, or I would have to buy some kind of mat to put down every time I worked out--after having to move furniture, which I would then have to put back. What a pain in the ass.

I have an old road bike and a mt. bike. They are rotting in my garage. It is not safe to ride around here. A lot of people in my area have no respect whatsoever for cyclists. So much so that they throw stuff at them as the pass by. I used to ride when I first moved here. But, too many close calls, and too many fast food soft drink cups full of ice flung at me from passing vehicles made me quit. In fact, a man was killed this past winter right about where I had my last close call. He and his wife were on a tandem bike, so I don't know how the car that hit them missed seeing them. So, I settle for spin classes. I really wish I could move somewhere that was more bicycle friendly.

[Honeycombe8]

20. True enuf about the equipment. I also have a space issue. Regarding bikes,

I see people riding bikes a lot around here, but I wonder where they are going. I live in an urban area, and you can only go a few blocks in my residential area before you hit a major roadway to cross.

Still, I loved riding bikes when I was a kid and think I'd still enjoy that. But I doubt I'd use it that much; anything that requires good weather is not likely to get a lot of use. It's so hot here much of the year.

I do have good floors for DVD workouts. I'm on a pier and beam, single house, with wood floors.

[GoCubsGo]

21. Yeah, then there's the heat.

And, the humidity. Here in South Carolina, it's awful from May into September, and sometimes earlier and later. We've had 90+ degrees in October in some years. I have a feeling this year will be one of those.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Type on the computer, get up

and go upstairs to the bathroom, come back down, repeat.

That appears to be the only "routine" that I have.

But I do feel guilty about it. Does that count?

[Honeycombe8]

5. You don't have a bathroom downstairs? Bummer.

I used to have a loft apt. like that. But I was a lot younger then. I never even thought about that until you mentioned having to go upstairs to go to the bathroom.

I say that stairs count as exercise.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Only one bathroom----upstairs.

And yes, I think it does count. When my sisters visit (who have one story houses), they are hurting after a few days.

And I am not that young anymore either, but the options are climb the stairs or get a case of Depends---and I am not THAT old yet.

[RebelOne]

51. Type on the computer, get up and go to the refrigerator.

Then later, walk the dogs. We don't go far because it is too damn hot.

[Curmudgeoness]

53. We are pathetic, aren't we?

Look at all the other people with all their great routines!

[RebelOne]

55. Yup, makes me feel guilty. n/t

[mythology]

7. On an ideal week, I work out 10 times

I try to bike to work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, about 6 miles each way. I train gymnastics Wednesday and Saturdays and I train capoeira Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Plus I've been doing some free weight work to try to open my back up.

The best bet is to either find one thing that you love or find something that lets you vary your training. Otherwise you risk either getting burned out or overworking one body part. It took a while before my legs were up to the abuse of biking and capoeira, and I still have to spend a lot of quality time with ice packs and heating pads.

[Arugula Latte]

10. I try to work out either at the gym or at home almost every day.

I usually skip a day or two during the week, but I try to implement working out as the rule and sitting on my ass (or doing other stuff) as the exception. In the gym I like to first run a mile or so on the treadmill, with some fast walking after, and then do the elliptical machine for 20 minutes or more. Sometimes I'll do the stepper or the rowing machine or the recumbent bike for more cardio. 45 min. to an hour of cardio is my norm. I work out with hand weights at home and do lots of squats, lunges, crunches, planks, whatever ... I'm trying to get back into using the weight machines at the gym, as well, but frankly I'd rather do cardio.

[noamnety]

11. It varies.

In June, I did kettlebell swings, planks, and chinups 3 days a week, and ab/leg/tricep stuff the alternate days, all at home - plus biking.

In July my routine was: go to crossfit, injure myself, spend the next 3-4 days sulking on the couch, go back to crossfit, injure myself in a new way, spend another week sulking, etc. I was left home alone one night this week and this was my evening:

sit on couch with laptop, realize my back couldn't take sitting like that so long
scoot down on couch to try to alleviate pressure
decide to try sitting on floor with back against couch
realize that's not working, decide to lie on floor on stomach.

That's when the fun started. I got most of the way down and found out I couldn't straighten my back to lie flat. Because of a rotator cuff problem, I couldn't push myself back up with my left arm. Because of all the pullups I did on Monday (18, then 15, then 12, etc) I couldn't straighten my right arm to push up with that. I spent a good 40 minutes rolling around on my floor alone, not exactly in pain but not able to get up, laughing at how pathetic the situation was.

Went for a run the next morning, oddly that feels better than sitting. If I was an insurance fraud case I wouldn't be able to explain myself, but I can run a mile or two way easier than I can get up from my couch right now.

[Kennah]

13. Bike to work every day, a 10-15 mile bike ride most every Sunday

[hauweg]

14. Bike to work too

I started to bike to work to save on gas money while in europe... 24 miles every day saved tons of money and got me into shape.

[crunch60]

15. I do this one at home 4 times a week, cheap, and effective.

I have some weights and a mat. I also have a resistance bike. I have some dance music, turn it up loud, and dance like crazy for about 20 min, also 4 times a week. I belong to the gym because I like to use the treadmill and pool.You can get all the workout you need at home, just a make up your mind to do it.

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[underpants]

17. Run 4 to 5 times a week - try to lift twice a week - 100 situps every night

[LWolf]

22. Stagger out of bed and head for the barn.

Scoop some poop. Throw some hay. Check on chickens, fill feeder and/or collect eggs as necessary. Come in, feed dog and cat, start coffee, head for shower. Lift coffee cup repeatedly.

That's the morning routine.

Less regular day time workouts include more manure scooping and hauling, weeding, splitting & stacking firewood, hauling, unloading, and stacking hay, moving hoses for irrigation around, and repairing things that I can, dismantling things I can't.

Then in the evening I do the barn run again.

[Honeycombe8]

27. LOL! Well, I guess you don't need a formal exercise program. nt

[LWolf]

34. I keep telling myself that,

but the older I get the more I know that I need to build and stretch the muscle in order to keep from straining things out there, lol.

[HopeHoops]

23. The only thing I can do now is lift barbells in bed. It keeps my upper body in good shape.

[Honeycombe8]

41. Why is that? nt

[HopeHoops]

42. Multiple fractured vertebrae - actually, more fractured than not.

I have severe osteoporosis and just break them by moving. Fortunately the disks haven't collapsed, but my spine is shot. Speaking of shots, I recently started a daily injection of a Lily drug called Forteo. It's supposed to rebuild bone mass, but we'll see. Fucking expensive shit. Fortunately it uses a #29 needle so it's basically painless.

[Honeycombe8]

45. Oh, wow. I've never heard of osteoporosis that severe, unless it's that other condition...

there is some disease where the bones crumble. I forget the name of it. But it's not arthritis.

Sounds like it would still be dangerous working out with weights, even tho you're sitting or lying down.

I hope that drug works. You are in my thoughts.

[HopeHoops]

47. It's in the -3.2 T-scale range, and it isn't terribly uncommon. Just not for my age.

[Hotler]

24. Look and see if you a city recreation center near you.....

Most times they are cheaper for residents than joining a gym. Then hit the weights three times a week. PM me and I'll tell you how to strenght train properly. I'm 57 and I strength train. If you are a lady don't fear the weights, you don't have enough testosterone to get big like a man. The stronger you get the stronger your bones get. The stronger you get the more you have to eat. It takes more calories to keep a pound of muscle alive than it takes to keep a pound of fat alive. A pound of muscle is about the size of a softball. A pound of fat is about the size of .... wel... a football. More muscle gives you more energy. Your body doesn't care how old you are, if you train and eat right you can grow muscle.

[Honeycombe8]

28. Hmmm. Good idea. We do have some rec centers. I don't know what they have there, but I'll check

it out.

I'll pm you for strength training. Yes, I need to do that. I'm so out of shape now (not fat, just really soft now and no stamina), that I will have to start slowly. I used to work out with weights regularly, years ago. I'm a female in my 50's.

I think it's the computer age. I gradually started doing less and less physical stuff, and spending more time on computers, in the 90's.

[mnhtnbb]

25. Walk the dog--fast walking--EVERY morning for 45 minutes.

We alternate our routes. Every other day we have a horrendous hill to climb--
and I make myself keep the same pace going up as we do down.

On the other two daily dog walks, we walk more slowly and I let her stop and sniff.

I've also started doing push-ups during commercials when watching TV at night.
Can't say I have guns to rival the First Lady's, but I'm working on them!

[Honeycombe8]

29. The dogs would love that! But ooooh...that means I'd have to wake up early.

I could start with a shorter walk on work mornings. And keep them long on the weekends.

I was on a walking program several years ago. I didn't walk maybe fast enough, but I got super healthy. I was already healthy, but my normal blood pressure dropped much lower, my normal cholesterol dropped much lower. But I didn't build any muscle or lose even one pound (I'm not fat, but I'd like to lose maybe 8 pounds). Maybe that was because I didn't walk fast enough.

[mnhtnbb]

30. If you want to lose weight--change what you eat. It doesn't take much to

eliminate 500 calories/day from your diet...but it takes a lot of effort
to burn up 500 calories/day in exercise.

[Honeycombe8]

32. You're right. And I can easily do that. Seriously. I LOVE veggies and fruits and salads. nt

[hlthe2b]

26. 4.4 mile walk every morning (for the past 25 days--yeah, me!)

I've got a long ways to go, but walking has always been the one thing I can do, even though I'm really out of shape. I walk a hilly route, though and some mornings it is damned hard to make myself go.

But..... I'm motivated by the example of my recently lost doggy girl, who, to her last day, tried so hard to keep going--even though anemic and in the last stages of cancer. Some days I can almost feel her pushing me and nudging my legs to keep going (she was a herding mixed breed). sniff sniff....


I'll add some upper & lower body weight work this month.

[Honeycombe8]

31. Oh....how sad. I have a doggy girl, too. And a doggy boy.

I was on a walking program several years ago. As I told another poster, I got really healthy, even though I was already healthy (it's true what those doctors say about exercise and health!). But I didn't build any muscle or lose even one pound. Well, my legs and rear end did get firmer, I guess.

The easiest thing for me to do, I guess, and one of the most enjoyable, would be to increase the # of walks and length of walks, and then add some weight work three times a week, to try to build my stamina and at least get in good enough shape for a more structured program.

[hlthe2b]

33. My motivation...

Treasure them while you can... her last year with cancer I had a hard time leaving her even for the day. I never walked by her without taking time to hug on her and treasure those moments. I have no doubt in my mind that she survived as long as she did--for me.

My Tallulah--"snuck" into a hotel on a business trip (!)

[marlakay]

35. Used to go to gym 3 times a week

And do cardio/weight class and mini hike or walk few times a week. Since my summer full time job started, class is out and only a few walks...not so good...

Now that I am semi retired and have seasonal job I get more tired working full time. Maybe because the other months are so easy. I work jun thru aug and 6 weeks around Xmas.

I miss my summer hikes but don't have the energy...geez that sounds bad I am only 56!

But I do know in the fall I will be back at it...

[Broken_Hero]

36. I walk

1.5 miles, five times a week. If the weather is to bad, I ride my exercise bike for 40 minutes or so.

Just started this routine the day after Fathers Day...I gotta do something.

When I get back into the swing of things, I usually walk 3.3 miles a day, or ride bike for an hour....I hope to be hitting those strides by Xmas. I really let myself go this time.

[auburngrad82]

37. I put a couple 12 ounce weights in the refrigerator in the morning.

When I get home from work I do some curls with the cold ones.

Then I'm done.

[Xyzse]

38. I Worship in the Shrine of Tony Horton

Currently I have the following programs (In the order I got them):

Insanity
P90X
RevAbs
Asylum
P90X-2
Les Mills Pump

I just finished Insanity again this Sunday, so this whole week is a rest week for me more or less. Although I just joined a rock climbing gym so I am having fun with that.

I'll probably go back to doing weight training using a M-W-F rotation of weights plus running 4-6 miles, Tuesday = Plyo/Cardio day, Thursday = Stretch Day/Maybe Yoga... Saturday = Long run 10-14 miles + Rock Climbing Fun, Sunday rest.

I haven't decided yet though, but I am leaning towards that for 3 months before changing gears again and doing Asylum or Insanity for insane cardio again to keep my heart strong.

I've been adding variations on pull ups and push ups with Insanity though. Things that are hard just to get me prepared for obstacle courses.

Basically, I log on a minimum of 1 hour a day of something very active. Saturdays are always much longer.

If anything, you can try the Hal Higdon method if you want to just start up.
He advocated a training session that goes like:

Monday = Rest
Tuesday = Run 3 miles 1st-3rd week, 4 miles on 4th-6th week, 5 on 7th to 9th
Wednesday = Run 3 miles 1st and 2nd week, 5 miles on 3rd-5th, 6 miles on 6-8th week.
Thursday = Same as Tuesday
Friday = Rest
Saturday = By week, 5, 6, 7, 6, 8, 9, 10, 8, 11, 12,13
Sunday = Cross Train

Of course, you can walk most of that, but the important part is logging on the miles.
I used to use www.mapmyrun to figure out a route.

Good luck! I have no choice, I'm working against my genes which is pre-disposed to heart problems.

[lastlib]

39. Right-click..Left-click...Right-click..Left-click...Right-click..Left-click...

[benld74]

40. 12 ounce curls - decreasing weights,,,,,

[bigwillq]

43. Poomba

My version of Zumba.

I do it all at home.

Lots of cardio (basically jumping and dancing around), light weights, push ups, sit ups.

30-45 mins per 5X week

[pinboy3niner]

44. I take two 50-pound potato sacks...

Best to begin gradually and gently over at least a few days with light lifts before progressing on to a full press.

After a few weeks of various exercises with ever-increasing numbers of reps, I stop and consider whether or not I want to put any potatoes in the sacks. Then, I dissolve into paroxysms of laughter, and I'm ready to take a couple of months vacation from my exercise routine.

[Honeycombe8]

48. LOL! You had me going, there.

[TorchTheWitch]

46. my dog is militant about getting that cupcake off my butt where it settled

He's the most relentless personal trainer there is. Sometimes I think he's just plain evil about it. After all, I ate that damn cupcake weeks ago but he's still punishing me to shift it off my ass.

Other than that I've always been a hyper person... I can't even sit through a whole movie from start to finish without having to pause it at least a couple of times and get up and do something. Having to sit through school classes and having a desk job were torture to me. I think just being a hyper person keeps you from gaining weight. I always notice that if I'm ill but can still eat normally is the only time I actually gain some weight, but I'll lose it again fast once I get back to being my usual hyper self.

I hate actual formal exercising though. As long as I'm doing something like dancing or running around with the dog, or working on some physical activity project like something that has a lot of heavy lifting or shoveling or something like that then I don't even realize I'm exercising and don't care that I'm dripping with sweat. But get me to do aerobics or a stationary bike or lift weights? Forget it - I'm done after two minutes of that. Yuck.

[Honeycombe8]

49. I've noticed that. Hyper people ARE thin, aren't they?

I've noticed thin people just sitting there with others, and they'll have a foot moving or something. They always seem to be moving. (unlike me)

I accidentally lost weight once years ago. I thought I might have cancer, because I just don't weight w/o trying! Then I realized that I had been eating lightly at night, if at all, and had been painting a large room in the house. Those two things combined, and voila! I had lost weight fairly rapidly. Painting isn't strenuous, but it was fairly constant movement for a couple hours every night, plus less food in the evening. (I'm convinced that WHEN you eat matters.)

[HipChick]

50. armlifts right now...from one pub to another

[rad51]

54. 1. Catch my reflection in the full length mirror, feel ashamed.

2. Proceed to do 20 push ups, 20 sit ups, and 20 calf/squat things.
3. Then I return to the mirror and notice how ripped I now am.
4. Smoke and drink for 3 months.
5. Repeat.

[Honeycombe8]

58. You are brave, rad. I avoid the mirror, naked, UNLESS I'm prepared...

and sucking in gut and in the right pose.

I also like the lighting in full length mirror in one bath over the other, because the lighting is more flattering.In the other bathroom, the mirror and lighting can make for quite a shocker!

[rad51]

59. Not brave, just a glutton for punishment.

+1 on the lighting.

[DryHump]

56. Chinning bar...

...I've had the same chin-up bar since I was fourteen (40+ years). Set one up in a doorway you walk past frequently and do a few chinups. Don't kill yourself. Before you know it, you can increase your reps. Keeps you toned.

[Honeycombe8]

60. I can't do even one chinup. I'm female. Can other normal females do chinups?

No, not the ones who are emaciated so they have no weight to lift, and not the ones who benchpress their body weight. They're not normal!

I tried a number of times when I was young...in school, then later at gyms. I never could do even one.

I used to have one of those chinup bars for the doorway (I got it for free somewhere). It's around here somewhere.

[twizzler]

57. Raising a beer to my lips every day LOL

Not really, my wife and I attempt to walk a mile a night and we watch our diet.