What's your workout like?

[mgrace]

I'm just curious as to what everyone does for their workouts. Do you workout at home? A gym? Do you take lots of classes?

I didn't see a "general" workout thread and I'm always interested to see what others are doing.

[Myra]

I run on the treadmill (occasionally outside) three times a week for anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. I'm in a 10k training group, and we do a group run outside on Saturday mornings; this week's run is 6 miles. Once a week I take a yogalates class. Twice a week I do weight training for about 1/2 hour using a combination of machines and free weights--I should do more of this, but it's just sooo boring.
ETA: yogalates class is one hour long.
Oh, and on days when I don't run, I walk for at least an hour.

[hockeybrat]

My workout (at gym)

Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays - cardio, usually elliptical (hills with reverse mode every 5 minutes for 2 minutes, at least 45 minutes long and then stretching, abs or if there is enough time, strength training

Thursdays - spin class, 45 minutes

For my regular non class workouts, I try to do at least one day of strength training but I am trying to move it up to 2-3x a week so that would be everyday but during spin class. Once in a while I'll mix it up and jump on the treadmill for a jog but for the most part I use the elliptical.

[Asha]

i generally exercise 3-5 days per week. I workout at home on my tread climber for 40 mins. I try to get in strength training about 2-3 days a week with our weight machine. I want to start incorporating yoga several times a week too. I got a dvd for that.

before i had the money to buy weight equipment. i would put on fun music and dance around my living room for about 45 mins. man, i was in great shape when i did that. plus, i was more motivated to work out bc it was fun. now, that my dh insisted on getting that expensive gym equipment i feel obligated to use it to get my money's worth.

during the warmer months, i usually go for about a half an hour jog a couple times a week. i love jogging outside on a nice day. can't bring myself to do it in the winter.

[alisong]

3 x per week - gym: usually 20-30 mins on the elliptical, 10 mins of weights, 10 mins of abs/stretching (my gym workouts are unfortunately really time constrained, but I figure it's better than nothing).

3 x per week - run: between 5 and 7 miles, try to do a longer run on the weekend.

[laura]

We have a gym at our apt complex. I go 4-5 days per week before work, and I do 30 minutes of varying workouts on the elliptical machine. I will add some free weights 2-3 days per week once I get less busy at work and I can take a little more time at the gym.

[PeanutButter]

I do 40-45 minute runs on the treadmill 2-3 times a week.
Once a week I usually do 45 minutes on the elliptical.
Twice a week I take a 45 minute pilates class.

I try to make it to the gym 5 times a week.

[njdiva]

Good thread...

I try to make it to the gym at least 3x per week (due to my work/school schedule this semester). I prefer the aerobics class because it pushes me to work out more rather than working out on my own.
Mondays - 45min spin class & 60min weight training class
Thursdays - 60min aerobics & 30min treadmill or elliptical
Saturdays - 60min aerobics & 60min weight training class

[Hello Kitty]

I post mine in my LJ (public) - usually about 5 days cardio; 3 days weights (okay, I seem to only have time for two :o) and a ballet or yoga workout. I try to do varied cardio at varied intensities - aerobics, elliptical, walking. I switch up my lifting every 6 weeks.

Right now, I'm doing Slim in 6, supplementing it with a bit of extra cardio & a weight routine. The weight routine is 1 set of 100 reps - full body lifting. Both are something I've never done, so it's definitely been keeping my interest.

[Nanner]

Mon: Circuit training (chest, shoulders, triceps, quads, abs)
Tues: Circuit training (back, glutes, hamstrings, biceps, abs)
Wed: Rest
Thurs: same as Monday
Fri: same as Tuesday
Sat: 1 hour high intensity cardio
Sun: Rest

On my circuits, I keep my target heart rate at 80 - 85%, so I burn as many calories as I would doing just cardio.

[andy's di]

Great thread! I'm always curious to see what other people do to get more ideas for myself!

Mondays - walk 1hour at 5km/hour, swim club training 1 hour
Tuesdays - walk 1 hour at 5km/hour
Wednesdays - same as Mondays
Thursdays - same as Tuesdays
Fridays - same as Mondays
Saturdays - bike for 20 min then I do about 45min of weights/cardio. My trainer calls them 'whole body supersets' where the work-out is broken into four 'groups' of excercises. Each group consists of 3 different exercises so I move from the first to the last then do some work on a stepper. Then between each 'group' I do three minutes of cardio to keep my heart rate up for the whole 45 minutes. After weights I do another 20 minutes on the bike then abs & stretching. I usually takes me 2 hours to do this :rolleyes:
Sundays - same at Saturdays

Generally I don't make all my swimming training (usually 2x week) and the walking is part of my commute to work ;) - so it may look pretty hardcore but it's not!!

I have about 30 different 'super sets' so I try to rotate through one a week to keep the muscles guessing.

[WestieMomma]

Mon: Go to Basic Training class (1 hr) at my gym which is basically a cardio weight training/resistence class which incorparates bands, dumbells, stability ball, etc for high rep movements which really get your heart rate up
Tue: 45 min on ellipitical trianer and abs or walk at my home
Wed: Fundamentals class (1hr) at gym. 30 min aerobics and 30 min weight training..very similar to my Monday class but not as challenging
Thur: off
Fri: 45 min elliptical or video at home like Walk Away the Pounds or the Firm
Sat: off or a walk with dog at home
Sun: The Firm video

I tend to get bored with things very easily so I like to change it up. I just started doing the Firm videos and they kick my butt..highly recommended. They are similar to the classes I go to at my gym but have some different moves and not as many reps.

[Tonysweetie]

M: 2.5 mile power walk = 50 minutes
T: Same as Monday
W: 35-50 minute eliptical, 15 minute weights, 10 minute tredmill at the gym
TR: Same as Monday and Tuesday
Fri: Same as Wednesday
Sat: Same as Wednesday and Friday
Sun: Rest and if not I'll walk

[CarolinaGirl]

I feel slack next to all of you, but here's my workout

Mondays: Yoga
Fridays and Sundays: run 2 miles

Before DD I ran 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week and did spinning once a week and did an upper body resistance video 2-3 times a week.

In college I went to aerobics (with weights) classes 5 times a week.

Since having DD I can't seem to find as much time.

[longislandlolita]

I usually do the elliptical machine (with arms) or the treadmill (on a 10% incline) 5-6 days a week, for one hour plus a 5-minute cooldown. Then I do about ten minutes of weights/abs, depending on my mood. I know I could be much better about weight training, but you have to start somewhere, right?

[AirForceLove]

DH and I belong to a gym

Monday - AM: 1 hour of cardio on the eliptical machine and a Body Flow class (combination of pilates, yago, and ti chi (sp?) for 1 hour.
Monday - PM: If I have time I will do Body Pump (combination of cardio and strength training to music) for 1 hour.

Tuesday - 45 min of strength training and 1 hour of cardio on the eliptical.

Wednesday - Body Pump for 1 hour and Body Flow for 1 hour

Thursday - 1 hour of cardio on the eliptical and Body Pump for 1 hour

Friday - Same as Tuesday

Saturday - Same as Thursday

Sunday - Off

[fuzzy]

I work at a college and use their gym during lunch on most days. I do the balance ball stuff at home.

Monday: "Core" muscle workout with balance ball in morning; hour long horseback ride.
Tuesday: "Core" muscle workout with balance ball in morning; 20 to 30 minutes on elliptical, 30 minutes upper body weighlifting (usually circut)
Wednesday: "Core" muscle workout with balance ball in morning; 40 minutes trail run, usually hills
Thursday: "Core" muscle workout with balance ball in morning; 25 to 30 minute trail run, more flat; 30 minute horseback ride
Friday: 30 to 40 minutes run, mix of flats and hills
Saturday: Pilates/balance ball workout; hour long horseback ride
Sunday: Pilates/balance ball workout

[maniach]

My workout goes something like so (definitely at the gym):

Monday: 45-60 minutes of cardio (usually elliptical trainer, sometimes elliptical and other stuff)

Tuesday: 45-60 minutes of cardio + weights (chest and tris, including chest press, incline press, push ups, shoulder press, lateral and front raises, and a tricep giant set of skull crushers, dips, and something else -- push downs, close grip presses, etc)

Wednesday: 45-60 minutes of cardio

Thursday: 45-60 minutes of cardio + weights (legs including lunges, leg press, leg extensions, hamstring curls, step ups, and dead lifts)

Friday: 45-60 minutes of cardio + weights (back and biceps including lat pull downs, straight bar push downs, seated row, close grip pull downs, barbell row, hammer curls, straight bar curls, and preacher curls)

Saturday: 45-60 minutes of cardio

Granted that's the ideal schedule, I haven't been very good at sticking to it. For example, it's Wednesday and this will be the first day I am going this week. I really need to get up on it, though, because the wedding's only 2.5 months away, gasp!

I don't have a trainer, but a friend of mine IS one and we often work out together. I have been thinking of hiring one, though, because I could really use some motivation. I was doing really well last year around this time, but at the end of last summer and all through the fall I fell out of habit and I am really having trouble getting back into it.

[Janey]

Great thread! My workout schedule usually gets me about 2,500 calories/week.

Mondays - I don't do anything. :( I really need to start working out on Mondays though. There are 3 classes I could take, and I have made excuses to why I have not been going to each of them. Step aerobics = I'm not crazy about the instructor. Water Fitness = I don't want to get into my swimsuit. Yoga = I've never taken yoga and I'm scared of it. Gotta get over this silliness and just go to something.

Tuesdays & Thursdays - I do the Couch-to-5k program with a friend in the mornings. We go to various parks about equidistant from our houses. Then in the evenings I do the couch-to-5k program again with B. This is outdoors as well.

Wednesdays - "Ultimate Workout." It is a 1.5 hour class; half step aerobics, half weights.

Fridays - Step Aerobics at the gym.

Saturdays & Sundays - One day I do the couch-to-5k with B. The other day we don't usually do anything specifically for PA.

[Myra]

Yoga = I've never taken yoga and I'm scared of it. Gotta get over this silliness and just go to something.

Don't be scared of yoga! But I would really advise you not to take it a regular gym if you have never taken it before. If your gym is anything like mine, they don't really "teach" yoga, they just announce the position, do it themselves, and assume everyone knows how to do it. :confused: I would go to a yoga studio to learn technique, then try the classes at the gym.

[TracieB]

My workouts:

Monday - 60 min. cardio (either treadmill or elliptical) and weights for arms, back, chest, abs
Tuesday - 60 min. cardio (treadmill or elliptical) and weights for legs and abs
Wednesday - 60 min. cardio (treadmill or elliptical)
Thursday - 60 min. cardio (treadmill or elliptical) and weights for arms, back, chest, abs
Friday - Spin class
Saturday - My loooong workout... 60 min. cardio and total body weights
Sunday - rest and refuel

I alternate cardio... one day treadmill, the next elliptical. I do everything in the gym. I did have a personal trainer who I used for about 30 sessions, but she moved off-island so now I'm just taking the workouts we did together and am doing them alone. Sometimes I feel like a dork walking around with my clipboard and pencil, but it helps to have everything planned out before I go so I know what weight, reps, etc. I should do.

Everyone here has some great routines!! I'm impressed!

[luvalwaysMandy]

I don't know how you guys do all of this i would really die!

I just started about 3 weeks ago. Trying to get rid of my baby weight that will not go away.

I do the treadmill m-f and usually only run/jog/walk a mile. yesterday i did a mile and a half and about died.

i do 100 crunches and leg lifts too.

[Janey]

Don't be scared of yoga! But I would really advise you not to take it a regular gym if you have never taken it before. If your gym is anything like mine, they don't really "teach" yoga, they just announce the position, do it themselves, and assume everyone knows how to do it. :confused: I would go to a yoga studio to learn technique, then try the classes at the gym.

Thanks for the encouragement, Myra! :) My gym is actually pretty good. There are 19 different Yoga classes every week... this one on Mondays is called Yoga Fundamentals, and it is billed as a 'beginner' class. I like the instructor - she takes my step classes on Friday, and so I know her through that. I think I will try this class on Monday, but if I don't "get it" I will not give up. There is a yoga studio a 10-minute walk away from my house, and I will get a schedule from them next time we're walking by. (They also have a pre-natal yoga on Saturdays that I can't wait to sign up for ;))

[Cath2005]

Wow - I don't know how you ladies fit in all those workouts!

I thought I was good...

I do 3/4 sessions at the gym consisting of 5 mile 'run' on the elliptical and 30 minutes of weights. I would like to make one of those sessions into a class such as spinning or kickboxing but that would mean going back to the gym to do arm work so the gym is the quickest workout.

You guys are inspiring me to do 5 workouts per week!

[MsRo]

You all have me so excited! I am a total newbie to the whole gym scene but so far am enjoying it. In the past week I've:

Saturday - 30 min. on the bike
Sunday - 30 min. on the bike
Tuesday (scary first day with Trainer Nick!):
3 sets of 10 push-ups (ouch!)
3 sets of 30 sec. planks
3 sets/15 reps leg press - 80 lbs.
3 sets/15 reps chest press - 40 lbs.
3/15 leg curl - 60 lbs.
3/15 seated row - 30 lbs.
3/15 tricep pulldown - 15 lbs.
3/15 bicep curl - 18 lbs.

And I haven't been back since. I'm too soooooore!!!! No, it's really not bad. I feel like I need to strech?

Anyway...can anyone tell me, does this seem like an OK starting point? I don't want to "tone" - I hate that word. I want to get STRONG. Not freak strong but rearrange-the-furniture-on-my-own strong.

Thanks ladies!!

[juliemag]

I feel slack next to some of you guys! We have a gym at work, and I try to get in 3-4 days a week there, for 40 mins each.

Here's my routine:
Monday - 20 mins run/walk on treadmill, 10 mins stairclimber, 10 mins bike
Tues - Same as Monday, except add 15 mins weights (arms)
Wednesday - Same as monday
Thursday - Same as Tuesday
Friday - rest
Saturday - Elliptical - 30 mins, bike - 10 mins
Sunday - rest

I try to cram in ab exercises at night on the balance ball, because I never have time for those at lunch. Seems to be working ok!

[jenjunum]

Here's my routine, all at the gym:
M-F 30 minutes on the elliptical (I try to go as often as I can, but usually go about 3 times during the week)
Sat 30 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on the bike (so I can have some magazine time), 15-20 minutes of weights (arms)
Sun something outside (hiking, biking, etc)

[jeepgirl]

I started taking Pilates about six weeks ago at a studio down the road from where I live. With nursing classes (full time+) I can't go as often as I'd like, but I do go 1-2 times a week (every Tuesday, and every Thursday I don't have clinical), with walking/jogging the other days of the week. I need to incorporate "targeted" weight lifting somewhere, but for now this has been what I can be consistent in until my schedule changes. I avoid my apartment complex gym unless I want to do a quick 10 minutes on the elliptical, which I do upon occasion when I'm short on time and just need to get my blood "pumping." (I generally like fresh outside air better).

Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Friday - speedwalk/jog 30 min. around the lake in the morning
Tuesday/Thursday - 45 min. Pilates class
Saturday - rest or drive over to the coast and walk/"play" at the beach


I LOVE my pilates classes, and can tell they are making a difference!

[Janey]

I LOVE my pilates classes, and can tell they are making a difference!
What kind of difference do you see them making? There are pilates classes at my gym as well but I've never taken one. Everybody raves about it, but when I ask them what they like about the classes, they just say "Oh they're so great!" but never really say why.

[jeepgirl]

Posted by MrsHill: What kind of difference do you see them making? There are pilates classes at my gym as well but I've never taken one. Everybody raves about it, but when I ask them what they like about the classes, they just say "Oh they're so great!" but never really say why.

Well, for starters, I can "feel" my body changing. The change is slow, but it is strong. I feel stronger, I feel "sturdier," I feel healthier. I've had back pain in the past, I can also tell a difference with that. Because my abdominal muscles are getting stronger, as a result, my back pain seems to be improving (that's not to say I never have any anymore, I'm just a "baby" with pilates, but the pain is MUCH milder and noticed less often). I can also tell a HUGE difference mentally on the days when I go to Pilates in the morning. My whole day has much more focus, and I can concentrate better, even better than on the days that I just go walking/jogging. I have been sore after some Pilates workouts, and have not always been able to do two days in a row (one week I did pilates three days in a row). I've learned to spread it out a bit, but try to remain consistent, and I can "feel" the changes, right now, mostly on the "inside." (Although I think I can see a difference in my upper arms already, which has been something I hope continues!) My instructor says it takes 10 sessions to feel a change, 20 to see a change, and 30 for a "new body." I am probably getting to about 10 sessions now. My first three, which really aren't counted as "sessions," were one-on-one with an instructor to make sure I understood the body mechanics involved. After that, I go once or twice a week to a class where there are usually 3-5 of us. The attention we get, and the atmosphere, I feel, is different than just a regular pilates class at a gym. I've been to classes at gyms and felt like "one of the number." The personal attention has made all the difference for me.

If you develop an interest in Pilates you might want to consider what I did. I found a smaller establishment where you can pay for individual classes and where personal training is also offered (at this point I can't afford that, but I plan on affording it in the next year). I discontinued my gym membership, and replaced it with a more intimate class setting, where the instructor can pay attention and help each individual in the class. The cost, if I go twice a week, is $40 a month for a student (which currently I am), and about $56 for a non-student. The trade off, to me, is worth it. The rest of the week I have found alternatives to the gym I use to pay for, but rarely actually used. Instead, I take out my ipod and powerwalk/jog around a nearby lake and soon I want to buy a weight set to keep at my house. I also have a couple of pilates DVD's I hope to have enough discipline to do soon, in order to supplement my classes on the weeks that my schedule does not allow me to go on Thursdays.

I hope that answered your question. I realize I probably went into too much detail, but if this thread is to give people ideas, this is "my story" of a journey I've only recently begun, but feel really good about, and realistic about. Good luck!!!

[Asha]

just wanted to mention they have pilates dvd's if you can't afford to take a class. though take it slowly bc some of the exercises are complicated and you could possibly get hurt if you don't take your time to learn them correctly.

[Janey]

jeepgirl, that is some great information -- not too much detail at all. Thank you for posting all of that! It's nice to hear you are having such success with it.

Asha, funny you should say that -- Pilates For Weight Loss just showed up in the mail from Netflix today. I'd been thinking I should try this thing out that everybody'd been talking about. :)

[emmasart]

Wow! Everyone here is so hardcore...

I'm kinda gym newbie.. I always loathed the idea of gyms until this past january when i realised that none of my "clubbing" clothes fit anymore. Since that ego shattering blow I've started going to my gym 4-5 times a week.

I generally spend 40-45 mins power walking uphill on the treadmill. (my body won't run, yet...)
Then I always do various stretches and then 100 - 120 crunches.
1 or 2X a week i add in 20-40 reverse vertical crunches.
3-4X a week I alternate weight machines, focusing on either my arms or my legs.

I've also altered my diet... cooking healthy stuff and eatting at regular intervals.

So far I havnt lost any weight and i havnt dropped a size which is extrememly frustrating, although my body is beginning to look great. My previously squishy body has turned into firm muscles without looking freakish. So i'm motivated to keep going, but i really hope that some day in maybe 3 more months, i'll be able to fit into some of my old miniskirts...

[mgrace]

Anyway...can anyone tell me, does this seem like an OK starting point?
I'm pretty new to the gym scene too, so I'm not going to be much help. Sorry. I think it sounds like a good starting point--you've got your arms, legs, chest all covered and you are doing cardio. Have you been back to the gym?

As for my workout, it's something like this:

30 mins of cardio--3xweek
30 mins of strength training---3xweek (upper body, then lower body, then combo).
Abs 3xweek

Pretty basic, but I think it's a good starting point for me.

I'm going to try and get to a couple of classes in the next few weeks, but I'm a little more nervous about that. Not sure why. Oh, and one (dumb) question--should your 30 mins of cardio be done in one chunk as oppossed to 10 mins, then stretching, 10 mins of cardio, weights, etc...? I like to mix it up, but it's best to do all cardio at once to keep your heart rate elevated, right?

[Myra]

should your 30 mins of cardio be done in one chunk as oppossed to 10 mins, then stretching, 10 mins of cardio, weights, etc...? I like to mix it up, but it's best to do all cardio at once to keep your heart rate elevated, right?
You don't really reap the benefits of the elevated heart rate unless you do it for at least 20 minutes straight.