Lately I have been hitting the gym hard!
I have had several emails and DM’s asking what exactly I do at the gym…
Since I haven’t done a post in a while about what I’ve been doing at the gym I figured today I would!
So happy Tuesday workout day 🙂
I am big fan of the gym….some people despise working out and I just have never been one of them. I grew up playing sports, I was a cheerleader, I danced and I always enjoyed anything athletic.
I work 7:30-6:30 at least 3 days during the week and come 3 weeks from now 7-4 Mon-Fri. So Night workouts are just not my thing. It took me a while to get used to doing a 5 AM workout but now I love love love them.
So 1st my biggest how to work out in the morning tip:
Plan! Plan your workout and what you will do so when you get there you are ready. Also lay out your clothes and everything you will need for the morning. That way its good to go and there is no time to say ….screw it…IM not gonna go.
Anyways on to what I do….
Sundays: Swim usually about 1200-1500 meters with Chad
Mondays: Cardio(70 mins mix of running and elliptical) 20 mins of strength training(arms, abs)
Tuesdays: Cardio( 70 mins mix of running, biking and stairs) 20 minutes of strength training (legs, back, abs)
Weds/Fri: Same as Monday
Thurs/Sat: same as Tuesday
Some weeks I sub one or two of these for Bar Method, Yoga or crossfit
There is no science to it, this is just what works for me. Most days I vary how long of each cardio I do, depending on how my legs feel. Sometimes I run for an hour, sometimes its for 15 minutes.
I noticed a big difference in my body when I upped my workouts from 65 minutes to 90 minutes. Obviously thats a big weekly increase. Its also a huge time commitment because It involves me getting up a little earlier and going to bed a little earlier.
I am also no expert. So take what I say with a grain of salt. I love the gym, and to me its not about getting skinny its about feeling healthy and feeling good. I feel great after a workout.
I am also a firm believer in doing what YOU like at the gym. Running on a treadmill sucks…truth. I would much rather be running outside but its 100 plus degrees and thats just not gonna happen. So right now I have to deal. But I love biking, I love the stairmaster and I love strength training. So those are the things I look forward to. I dont mind elliptical but I dont feel like its much of a workout for me. I sweat more when I run or bike. Its a personal preference and everyone has their own.
I am also someone who needs to refuel. So I usually take some kind of protein bar with me and have half before my workout and half mid way through.
Some of my favs are Cliff bars and Luna Bars. I also love the Kashi Go Lean crunchy bars.
Sometimes I get bored with music and thankfully the iPhone has a netflix app so Ive been watching episodes of The City lately. Chad keeps asking what the eff the city is hahaha. We share a netflix account so he is definitely able to see the crap reality shows I watch 🙂
I also have a few movies on my iPhone that I will watch when I am slacking. Watching sometimes tends to distract me and I tend to work out harder since IM not AS focused on what I am doing.
So I am curious….
What motivates you while working out? What keeps you going when you see yourself slacking?
Before I injured my back/had back surgery I used to do 90 minutes of cardio and then strength training every other day. When I had to stop because I got hurt- my body would literally ache for a workout. It’s insane how our bodies adjust.
As disgusting as this is going to sound- I used to get extremely motivated the more I sweat. There was something satisfying about it for me so I wanted to work harder to sweat more. I guess because my brain attributes sweating to calorie burning (even though I know that’s not always the case for everyone!)
Great post- it’s awesome that you love to work out so much! I never had a problem with the actual workout- it was just getting on the treadmill etc. and getting the first few minutes in!
Anyway! Enough rambling! Happy Tuesday!
Erin
I’m one of those girls that really dislikes going to the gym! But when I manage to go, I leave feeling so good. (even though I get super self-conscious that people are watching me lol). I grew up dancing & swimming so when I get the chance, I LOVE laps and doing zumba at home via youtube. When I do make it to the gym, I do elliptical for 30ish mins, then do weights for 15ish, stretch, and I’m out that door! 😀
Thanks for sharing your workout. If I ever get more self-confident/a better runner, I might try it!
Eh. I hate the gym and working out. #noskinnies
I’m still in the love/hate relationship with the gym. I’ve upped my cardio to around 45 minutes…and you are my god for being able to 90 minutes of it. I’m sorta still learning what is right for me, but I’ve got to learn to go on a consistent basis.
I’ve recently re-discovered my love for the gym. More like the group classes they have at the gym. I can’t do any treadmill/elliptical on a long term basis because it just gets TOO BORING. I loveee the group classes like Body Attack, Body Combat etc. I’m going to try out Zumba this week because the girls on TV look so happy doing it (HAHA). I think I’ll enjoy it though 🙂 Dancing is such a fun way to exercise!
Belly B 🙂
Great post, Neely! I’m working on working up to an hour on the elliptical every day. I can’t run or bike, it hurts my right foot from an old dance injury. I started strength training last week too.
What motivates me is watching the Travel Channel. I love to watch all the awesome vacation spots and all those beaches make me want to keep going so I can get a super cute swimsuit next year. 🙂 I also time my workout by tv shows. 2 half an hour long shows skipping commercials is usually about 40 minutes on the elliptical! I’ll hit three here soon. 🙂
YOu are so motivated! I want to work out for 90 minutes but I can barely make it through 30 on the treadmill without feeling like I’m woozy. I do however LOVE the elliptical and the stationary bike. I can do that all day long and be happy. I want to start weight training just to get my arms more fit. 🙂 When I DO workout, what keeps me motivated is that I think about how much I want to wear a size six! Haha!
I REALLY needed this post!!! I just started getting back into working out last week… I am 25 and seriously out.of.shape. My daughter will be 5 in September and since she was born I have lost 85 lbs… I still have a long way to go though… I got a bit of a scare last week from the doc and there was no option but to diet and exercise. It’s not easy but who said it would be right?
Wow– 90 minute workouts are a commitment! Good for you. And I agree about the elliptical– I used to love it. But since switching to the treadmill, I HATE going back to the elliptical. The treadmill is such a better workout.
I need to use this post as motivation to start working out again! I am so impressed by your work out routine girl! I need to be more like you!
I really need to get back to the gym. My favorite way to work out is going to group classes, like zumba. It’s different songs every week, with different dance moves. I may feel like a fool sometimes but I really enjoy it. Being able to have fun while I’m working out is big for me to keep going. I wish I had the motivation and drive that you do! Lady, you are amazing!
For me I just tell myself not working out is NOT an option. I have never regretted a workout. I also teach circuit training so that keeps me accountable because I HAVE to be there to run the class.
I’m also training for my first half marathon so that helps too 🙂
I just know if I don’t work out I’m miserable. It’s just so worth it.
I hate to work out but getting back into shape after baby will motivate me. I want to be down to my preprego weight before bathingsuit season rolls around again.
thanks for sharing what you do! when i workout, i always think of how i want to try on my wedding dress again AND my 10 year HS reunion (blah im old). but overall, i want people to say “you have a kid? u dont look like youve had a baby!” makes sense? lol
I love this workout post and seeing what all you do. Kudos for AM workouts — I’d like to switch over to them but I’m not quite motivated enough yet.
I love when good TV is on at the gym — I could do cardio forever when soccer is on or a good movie or TV show like SATC reruns. [Woot — I love The City!]
LOL love this…my bestie ES did a blog post about this exact thing you should take a look here…you guys definitely have some pet peeves in common! 🙂
xo lamb loves
Hola Eva, tienes que crear el evento, invitar y dejarme el enlace del evento, lo que sale en la barra de direcciones en un comentario en la entrada del sorteo en el blog. Ya he visto que has dejado uno, así que añades otro con esto y sin problema.
I NEED to start going to the gym more often. I get bored with this kinda stuff though, I do more classes more than I do stuff on my own. I guess it’s easier than figuring out what’s right for me. I’m so lazy 🙁
I hate the gym and get bored soooo easily so I have to constantly change up what I’m doing. I just went from boot camp to dance trance. Who knows what I’ll do next lol!
I like how you work out. I used to be in love with the gym..then I missed a few days, and now I do everything at home. Running KILLS my knees..I messed them up with years of skating. .but I have recently gotten into roller blading. It’s nicer to my knees and honestly, so much more fun!
You are so motivated and dedicated!
I really need to get motivated to work out again. I was so good about it in college and I loved planning out my days based on what time I was going to the gym. I got out of it for a while and then picked it up again this last winter when I lived in NY. I got out of it again while I was in the Bahamas because I was so busy, but now I am really needing to get back into it…with a 3 week vacation to Florida and Mexico coming up I really need to get toned a bit. Thanks for sharing your routine. Happy Tuesday!
I love this post because I’m terrible about finding the motivation to go work out. I have always hated it! But I like the tips you’ve shared! I definitely feel better about myself after I get in the routine of working out.. it’s just a matter of making the time for it! Great post Neely!
I love to take classes at the gym. That is my motivation…I know others are watching. I love to spin and body pump whenever I can. And I also love pilates.
i miss working out. i always feel so crappy before i go and then terrific when i’m done. i just can’t leave reid just yet…and hello i am not even attempting to talk the 2 on a walk in this heat
Im always impressed when I read your workout related posts, its cool that you do it because you want to you know!? about the swimming, hows that work out for you? lol, Im curious cause Im moving into a place with a pool and I feel like that could be good for me….Anyways, go YOU! 😉
I cant even imagine working out for that long. When I would go to an hour long class, I was DONE by the end. I can’t wait to get back into working out though. It was always hard for me to get motivated but I always enjoyed how it made me feel when I did work out.
I definitely need to have something to distract me while I workout… that is one reason I love Gold’s Gym is because I can be watching a show that I am really into and then the hour on the treadmill goes by really fast. Or having someone to work out with me… I am jealous of you there. My boyfriend HATES working out, so I have to go it alone!
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