"And lastly, the concept of reversibility, and that states that the non-continuance, or the removal of the stimulus, results in the organism, or in this case the body, returning to pre-training levels. So it’s a case of ‘use it or lose it’, and we know that’s the way the human body works."
This is an exerpt from the job I was working on tonight. It rang very loudly in my ears since I am experiencing it lately in my life. I have never had a problem feeling motivated to get out and exercise but lately it's been hard for some reason. It's such a foreign feeling since it's something that I have always loved to do. For at least the past 14 years I have exercised almost every day.
When I was at BYU I belonged to Gold's Gym (the old one down on State St. near Riverside Ave). I lived just around the corner and I loved that I could walk/run there whenever I wanted to. There were times I went at 10 pm to have a workout. I would often take my school textbook with me while I ran on the treadmill. For some reason, it didn't bother me to read while running. I also did a lot of step aerobics then. There was one instructor I just loved. Her name was Claudia. She had a couple of kids and I always thought it would be cool to work as an instructor once I had kids. My MTC comp, Nanette, is living this dream of mine- she's my idol! She even taught up until the time she was 8 months pregnant. Wow.
After I had kids I didn't really go to the gym, but I did alot of videos. I had Legs of Steel, Abs of Steel, which I really like (even though Tammy Lee Webb is hilarious and her exercise gear was comical). I did a little bit of Tae Bo, as well as Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight (quite good for a short, but effective, workout at home). I also ran outside now and then once I got a jogging stroller. (This is a photo of the cool Phil & Ted stroller I wish I had bought. It has the coolest 'double' package you can add on for another kid. If you're in the market, buy this one!)
When we moved into our house in Provo I was able to get back into the gym thing and went to 24 hour fitness. I loved the group of moms that I met there. I would go to the morning class every day, I think it was like 8:30 or something. Austin and Olivia loved the Kids Club there. The ladies were so nice and the facility was great. Plus, the fee was worked into my gym fees and it was so reasonable! I would alternate running, weights, a toning class, and yoga. It was the class there that made me fall in love with yoga (power yoga).
The decision to join the gym when we moved here was a hard one b/c the cost was so much more than we were used to paying- $80 per month plus fees if I put the kids in the creche, $2.50 per child, per day. Yikes. Needless to say, I usually went in the early morning before they were awake to avoid that! But with Jared's travel schedule it seemed like I missed a lot of days and now that I have fufilled my year-long contract we've decided to let it lapse. It will be strange not to go to the gym since it's been so many years that I have been going regularly. I have an exercise ball, some weights, a jump rope, a few videos but I plan to get some more good videos and some other hand weights/ankle weights like I used to have. I also have seen some great exercises with resistance bands so I might try to find those. This photo is what I WISH my legs looked like!
Do you exercise? What kind of impact does it have on your life/day? Do you go to a gym? Can you recommend any DVDs for me? Any programs for exercising at home?
4 comments:
We have a clubhouse with a treadmill, bike, eliptical, and small weight set. It's nice to have. I'm just not able to mix it up much. I'm also in that groove where I don't have a race I'm training for or trying to loose weight and working out just to work out is a new concept for me. It's hard to stay motivated.
When I was working out at home I was just doing resistance band, ball, and dumbbells for weights (there really is so much you can do) and than running or doing stairs in my house for cardio. I liked my Pilates videos before my sister borrowed them for life. My neighbor really likes TurboJam. I've never seen it but she's always recommending it to everyone.
Good luck going gymless!
Hi Robyn, I love reading your blog. Your kids are so cute. I had forgotten about those "steel" movies and went on amazon and bought them for a penny. Funny huh! Hopefully it will help me get into shape. Since I have had my third child who is now 2 it seems exercise has to be creative.
That quote really hit home to me becuase with this pregnancy, I didn't "use it" and I definitely "lost it". It has been hard getting my body back because kids are so demanding.
The only thing that works for me is to try and get out for a run before Andy goes to work. I have never really done any aerobics videos....I am really lacking in coordination....even Andy laughed at me when I tried to do one.
I did order that weight DVD you mentioned, so I hope that will help.
I'm sure you'll find your exercise groove. You are the exercise queen and such a good example to me. :D
I'm surprised that exercising is a struggle at all for you since you seem to live to exercise most of the time. I thought you were running more lately, is that not happening anymore? I am not a good one to give exercise advice (as you know) but I find power walking every other day and then lifting weights and doing cardio at the gym on the other days boosts my energy tremendously and makes me feel great. I'm slowing toning up and noticing changes.
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