Changing attitudes about exercise

[yeahbethany]

I just wanted to share some things I've noticed about myself when it comes to exercise.

I received "The Body Sculpting Bible for Women" for xmas, and I love it! I love the way they actually give a several 6-week workout plans in the book. I've been able to stick to one for three weeks already, and will be starting week four tomorrow. The plans can be recycled as needed, since they are based on the periodization concept.

For the last few months, I would start really intense exercise programs, only to abandon them after less than a week (and go several weeks of inactivity until I decided to start up again, and the cycle continued).

When I was reading this book, I looked at the workouts, thinking they were less intense than the ones I usually did, and that maybe I should make them more intense (especially the cardio).

But then I thought, "I've never been able to maintain a program of long, intense, workouts. Maybe what is more more important is working out CONSISTENTLY."

So I've been doing one of their 6 week programs for three weeks already. It has me in the gym 6 days a week-- 3 days strength training and 3 days cardio/abs. I can't believe I've been in the gym 18 times in the past three weeks! I think the factor that most contributes to this is that they are NOT BORING WORKOUTS! You do different exercises each day, and every two weeks you switch up the number of sets and reps you do, and the amount of rest between sets, and the length of the cardio workouts. I really like not being bored. I'm definitely feeling the results in my muscles as well. The workouts, despite taking less than one hour to complete, are REALLY intense. I hope to eventually lose the excess fat I've been hanging on to.

Occasionally I am tempted to do more of something or other (because I think I SHOULD), but I really want to avoid burnout so I stick with a program. It takes some conscious effort to change your thought patterns. We all know this, eating raw foods. But it applies to exercise as well.

Thanks all for letting me share, I feel like I had an epiphany about this, hehe. I'm glad to know that I am able to stick with this.

[Allison]

That's awesome! I'm going to look up the book you mention on amazon. It looks like something I might be interested in.

Allison

[yeahbethany]

Yeah, I've been having fun with the book. Of course, as with all bodybuilding books, you should completely ignore the nutrition information if you want to stay raw. Other than that, I love it!

[Melissa]

I admire your exercise plan so much! I need all the inspiration I can get to get my butt in gear :-) I think I've had this fibromyalgia "free pass" for too long..."Sorry, can't work out, I have fibromyalgia." I've got to get past this because weight loss is excruciatingly slow for me when I'm not moving! And I know it's crucial for detox and for health overall. So thanks again...I'll aim for some gym time this week. Any tips about getting one's mind past the "It's too cold" excuse?