While I always enjoy the end results of working out, I need help with the whole motivation thing. So I did a few things. First, I thought about what exercises I enjoy. That was easy. I love to swim. I also enjoy biking, yoga, pilates, and jogging/power walking. With this list firmly in mind, I began looking for a gym that would provide me with facilities and classes to support these interests. I finally settled on the JCC in Northeast Indianapolis. I fell in love with the facility for a few reasons. First, the fitness center is amazing - full of every kind of machine you could possibly want, a full compliment of free weights, and surrounded by an indoor track. I spend 3-4 days a week in this fitness center and have slowly worked my through most of the options. Second, the pool. The JCC is home to both indoor and outdoor competition pools - making it somewhat of a mecca for swimmers. I LOVE swimming laps in an outdoor pool - the sunshine just makes it more fun. But enough about the gym. After all, I've joined gyms before, but the shine wore off rather quickly and then all I was left with was a membership fee and no motivation. So to help with motivation, I invested in a personal trainer. I say invested for a good reason. Trainers are not inexpensive. I had to do some creative accounting and make some sacrifices in order to afford my trainer but she is the best thing that has ever happened to my exercise routine. She challenges me and helps hold me accountable for my weekly fitness plan. While I only see her once a week, I always go home with the "noodle-y" muscle feeling that comes from a good workout. I also go home motivated to workout more. Thanks to my trainer I have resumed an bedtime workout routine - something I haven't done since high school. I've also gotten creative about my cardio workouts. I swim. I bike. I run. I dance.
The results of my commitment to physical activity are numerous. I feel better. I am more alert and more energetic throughout the day. I get new cloths. My clothes are all getting to be too big for me. Ergo, I must shop for new clothes. Rough, I know. I'm meeting new people. If you go to a gym at the same time every day, you start to meet the other regulars that are on the same schedule as you. And I'm learning new things. For instance, doing lunges with an extra special twist makes me hobble like I'm ninety-years-old. I love it.
So I thought I would share a workout with you. This is a circuit workout, mostly designed to work on core strength. It should take about 60 minutes.
Leg extensions (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Leg curls (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Squats with swiss ball and 10 lbs. medicine ball (3 sets of 12)
Swimmer (2 60 second intervals)
Low row (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Shoulder press on Bosu (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Chest fly (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Overhead triceps extension on swiss ball (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Triceps pull down (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Biceps curls on Bosu (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Reverse fly on Swiss ball (3 sets of 12, weight should be a challenge after 15-20 reps)
Plank (2 60 second intervals)
Side plank (1 30 second interval on each side)
Bicycle with 6 lbs medicine ball (3 sets of 12)
Russian twists with 6 lbs medicine ball (2 30 second intervals)
Crunches on Swiss Ball with 10 lbs medicine ball (3 sets of 20)
Leg lifts with Swiss Ball (2 sets of 5)
Good luck readers! I'm going to keep on reclaiming me and I hope you are all out there reclaiming you.
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