17 January 2012
This is perfect. Might I suggest doing this workout while watching your favorite 22-minute show (not including commercials)?
workitoutt:
# something different to try
9 January 2012
Rachel has been encouraging me to quit my gym (“break up,” in her words) for months, but I’ve been resistant until now. I always felt like I should belong to a gym. As a health blogger, it seemed like a prerequisite. I mean, it almost seems like a prerequisite to being a healthy person.
But now I know that’s not true. There are so many other options! I was wasting my $30/month (yes, I know that’s ridiculously cheap, but even $30/month is expensive if you’re not using it).
Even this nice-looking equipment looks painfully boring to me.
Here’s what happened: I started dreading going to the gym — but not because I didn’t want to work out. The classes I liked (Zumba, Boot Camp) weren’t at great times, and working out on cardio machines bores me to death. I used to do strength training with a hardcore workout buddy, but she stopped being able to go, and solo strength training can get old really quickly. Also, I have gym ADD. I can’t do the same workout more than a few times, and there are only so many options at a standard gym.
At the same time all this was happening, I was spending money on Zumba classes at a small studio that had better times (and a better teacher). I was also eying Groupons for Crossfit and other classes — but felt too guilty to pay even more when I already had a gym membership.
I don’t know what finally tipped the scales, but I realized that having a gym membership was actually hindering my fitness because it prevented me from pursuing the fitness activities I like. It also helped that Daily Burn hooked me up with a free 30-day membership to try out. I used to use the Exercise TV website for free workout videos, but for whatever reason, they shut it down.
So far, I really like Daily Burn. It’s a customized workout video program with an optional meal plan and tracker. I don’t need the meal plan, but I checked it out, and it’s actually not bad! It definitely sets you up for weight loss if that’s your goal.
The Daily Burn videos are really unique, and there are enough of them that I can do a new one every day (which is crucial for me. I hate repeating workout videos!). After my 30-day trial expires, I’ll probably continue paying the $9.99/month, as long as I’m using it at least a couple times a week.
I also finally got to buy a Crossfit Groupon, and I’ll be starting that in the next week or two. Of course, I’ll let you all know what I think.
If you’re hesitatant to bite the bullet and quit the gym, let this be your motivation and permission. If you’re not enjoying your gym membership or using it enough to make it worth your monthly fee, just quit. There are plenty of other workout options.
In fact, here are 10 to get you going:
- Like I said above, Groupon and other deal sites always have coupons for fun fitness classes. You can probably get a new one every few weeks!
- Try Daily Burn or invest in a set of workout videos. It’s always good to have an at-home workout option anyway. You could always get free workout videos from your local library or find them on Netflix if you have a membership.
- Do at-home DIY workouts like my How I Met Your Mother 20-minute blast.
- Spend around $50 on workout equipment to guarantee you have everything you need to stay fit at home. All you really need is a yoga mat, two or three sets of dumbbells (lighter and heavier), and a BOSU or exercise ball.
- If you’re into sports, consider joining a local team or league. I consider Zumba to be as sporty as I get, but if you like team sports, this would be a great way to motivate yourself.
- Make household chores a workout by changing into your exercise clothes before you start doing them, setting the timer to make sure you move for at least 45 minutes, and vowing to keep moving the whole time you’re working around the house.
- Walk during your breaks at work or over lunch.
- If you like working out on cardio machines, consider buying one! You can find them on sites like Craigslist for a couple hundred bucks, which will pay for itself in no time if you quit the gym.
- If you have a gaming system, like the Xbox Kinect or Wii, get a workout game or two.
- Check out all my workouts! Many of them can be done at home easily.
5 January 2012
The 27 Rules of Conquering the Gym 
In case you haven’t seen this yet. It’s funny.. and scarily accurate. Here’s a sample:
1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.
2. Give yourself a goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you want to quarterback the New York Jets into the playoffs. But be warned: Losing 10 pounds is hard.
3. Develop a gym routine. Try to go at least three times a week. Do a mix of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. After the third week, stop carrying around that satchel of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
4. No one in the history of gyms has ever lost a pound while reading “The New Yorker” and slowly pedaling a recumbent bicycle. No one.
Read the rest!
