Since getting back to Memphis from Vermont I’ve had trouble getting myself to exercise. I have all the time in the world since I don’t have a job (which I’ve looked for something within walking distance and there is NOTHING, which means without a car I am out of work), but unfortunately having free time doesn’t motivate me to work out. Neither does the cold weather in Memphis. Funny, I never felt very cold in Vermont, but I’ve been freezing here in Memphis. FREEZING.
I haven’t completely abandoned exercise or anything. But what I’ve been doing seems like a huge cut back from the two hours or so I did on week days in Vermont. But since I did absolutely nothing my first day back, I should be proud of myself for doing what I have done the last couple of days.
MY EXERCISE FOR THE WEEK
Sunday 12/6 –
- 30 minutes Taebo kickboxing video
Saturday 12/5 –
- 1 hour walking: 2.5 miles
Friday 12/4 –
- 20 minutes walking: 1 mile
- 30 minutes lower body conditioning
Wednesday 12/2 & Thursday 12/3 –
- NOTHING
Tuesday 12/1 –
- 45 minutes kickboxing
- 30 minutes Zumba class
Monday 11/30 –
- I honestly can’t remember, but I did stuff.
See what I mean? It’s less intense and less time, so I feel like I’ve been doing nothing. Thankfully because I’ve been doing less I’ve been able to cut back on what I’ve been eating. Since I haven’t been very hungry I’ve cut out snacks for the most part. At least I seem to be averaging out.
MY WORKOUT OPTIONS AND PLANS
Just because my first couple days back were shaky doesn’t mean I’m throwing in the towel. I might hate the cold weather but I’m not letting it stop me.
As far as option for cardio go, I’m going to have to go outside. Since I can’t afford a gym membership I will have to use the great outdoors for my walking/running options. I want to get at least a walk a day in, which has been easy since I moved in with my friends Hilary and Chris. To get anywhere in town I have to walk, plus they like walking with me (Hilary and I walked to breakfast!). I also have to walk to a park with a gravel track so I can do my jogging workouts that Jen set up for me to start next week. The interval one requires actually running (ahh, really sprinting) which I won’t do on concrete due to my sad little knees. But I will force myself to get out and do those workouts because they will be good for me.
Additionally, I am now the proud owner of several workout DVDs (that may or may not have previously belonged to my mom and others). I’ve never been someone who likes to workout at home, but I now have a Dance workout DVD, which hopefully is a decent substitute for Zumba which I love, a Biggest Loser workout DVD, and a TaeBo DVD. Jen recommended TaeBo for a kickboxing class substitute, so I’m really excited to try it!! Once I’ve tried them all I will post a review so you know if they are worth getting or not.
And for strength I am going to continue using the workouts I did at Green Mountain and add in more fun strength moves. There wasn’t much variety there, so I want to try to some new stuff and things I used to do. I decided that strength is the one thing I will keep up no matter what. Even if I don’t do cardio I want to do strength training. I want to be strong!
So I’ve got options and I’ve got a plan more or less. I’m a total sucker for gyms, I love the environment and the equipement and the energy and the ability to try new classes, but for now I can do this at home. I kinda have to, so I will. Hurray exercise!!
FYI, most gyms will let you have a trial week (sometimes two weeks or more) and you can also take classes during that time. In my area, there’s an upscale gym that lets you try them out for a month with no hassle.
In addition, most YMCAs have an open house around the holidays — complete with classes for you to sample.
.-= ‘Drea´s last blog ..Rolling Out To Rock Climb =-.
I am a former YMCA employee, so I can’t take advantage of those offers. And since I don’t have a car I can only take advantage of gyms within walking distance, which is only one other that doesn’t offer trials like that. I wish!
Hi, i’ve been following your blog for a couple months now. What were your final numbers from Vermont? Thanks!
Check out this post with my final numbers: https://amerrylife.com/2009/11/30/final-assessment-and-reflections
Mary,
Ahhh, life AFTER the Vermont ranch. It sounds like you’re going through a readjustment phase. Cut yourself some slack! You’ve just finished up a three month stay, (where you did awesome!) moved back home (tons of emotional stress) and now are in a happy place living with friends. I bet in the next couple of weeks you’ll settle in and everything will click into place…
Hehe, I know. I’m not being tough on myself… I just really ENJOY exercise, so I always hate the periods of life where it falls on the backburner or whatever.
Transition times are always a little weird on workouts. I know when I moved over here, my exercise suffered from the malaise and time-suck things took. But it sounds like you have a good plan. It may not be ideal but often life isn’t ideal and it’s what we do with it that makes or breaks it. I have no car either and yesterday, the Boy and I walked all the way to a mall, did some shopping and walked back. Over 90 minutes of walking and it was awesome exercise!
If you need support, nagging, whatever, shout out!
.-= Gemfit´s last blog ..The 2 week itch =-.
Hmmm… I feel the need to ‘splain that I have a billion billion workout DVDs that I no longer use.
Would you like some of them? When you’re in Kiwiland, you can go through them and take which ones you like – I’ve got so many, well over 40! You’d be doing me a huge favour as well
.-= Marshmallow´s last blog ..Because I feel guilty about the lack of blog action… =-.
That would be totally cool!! I can’t wait to look at them all and see YOU!!
transitions are hard hard hard huh? and great in that once you decide what your wo of choice will be (even just week by week!) the fact that its a change from GMR may re-ignite fatloss as you shock your body a bit!
that said it can be tough—–do email me if you need a hand, some encouragement or just plain ole emailnagging :)
.-= Miz´s last blog ..Home is where the health is (video post). =-.
I think the emailnagging would be helpful, unless you are a shoe fairy. Are you a shoe fairy? Cause that would be useful!
It’s weird – every blog I’ve visited this morning is talking exercise – universe sending me a message?
@laughitoff
Yes. GO EXERCISE!!!
Mary, I will second what the others have said, you are just going through a transition time. At least you are exercising to keep the ball rolling.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Motivation for Monday – Growing Seasons =-.
I think it’s great that you’re not letting the weather or your finances stop your efforts. Workout dvds are a great alternative (one I hadn’t thought of!).
And I totally love that you want to continue the strength training. Strong women rock!
.-= josie´s last blog ..Week 10 – Weigh-In and Hot 100 Update =-.
looks like a great plan this week! i want to try zumba…
.-= janetha´s last blog ..22 reasons why i had a good weekend. =-.
I lose my apetite when I don’t get to work out for a couple days, too. Its actually the gym that made me into a big eater, though I’ve always loved food. Maybe it seemed less cold in VT because since VT gets super cold, it is more insulated?? I get really cold here in SF but when I went to visit my family the end of this past January, everyone expected me to be freezing, but I wasn’t (except for when I was shoveling out the car from the snow stormed driveway). Do you have cable? I think my sister sometimes uses workout videos that are available for free on demand on cable. I don’t have it so not sure how they are. I understand cold keeping you inside. Its been freezing this weekend and I holed myself up in my house. I would totally have a hard time working out without being in a gym (like when I moved to CA and had no $ or job or gym) so that’s great youre motivated to keep it up!!
.-= merri´s last blog ..Folsom Street Fair 2009 =-.
I think it’s great that you’re outlining all these different ways to get exercise in even without using a gym. Do you have netflix? Maybe they have some exercise videos you could rent if you find the dvds you have aren’t enough. What about a wii fit? I love doing the yoga and step portions on days where it’s too cold to get motivated to go outside. Just some ideas. We all have to work it in somehow, so good for you for doing just that!