The last time I worked out was in Utah when I went with Shannon to her workout class with Skyler. That was almost a week ago. A week! A week without exercising. That’s not good for me and will soon be coming to an end.
I’ve done lots of stretching after driving a lot, but I most definitely haven’t done anything worth blogging about. My roomie Jessi set up her family’s Total Gym in our living room, but I haven’t used it properly yet. Yesterday I got on it to see how it worked and did a few ab exercises. Then at one point after that later in the day I knocked the thing off the track it sits on. I have to be honest – I’m a bit intimidated by the thing. She said it was a good workout, and Chuck Norris seems to agree, so I’ll try it, but no promises.
For me it’s sooo hard to motivate myself to workout at home. I don’t care what anyone tells me or tries to say to motivate me… it’s really hard to get motivated. I know a lot of people love to do DVDs and at home workouts – but that’s not me. I think it’s because I work from home and want to get out of the house to do everything else. So when I’m supposed to workout at home that just adds another thing to the list so that eventually it feels like I never leave the house. That’s not very fun now is it?
But like I’ve said, I’m not giving up and I’m determined to make this work. So Total Gym at home workouts plus walking is my new plan. My old plan involved gym workouts several times a week.
Isn’t it funny how plans change?
I think a lot of us who are trying to lose weight feel like we need a plan laid out to follow step by step or otherwise we will fail. That’s actually a load of crap. Plans are super helpful and I am a fan of eating and workout plans. But plans change. The only thing that doesn’t change is YOU. Your motivation to keep going and do whatever it takes is the thing that doesn’t change. Your ability to take on different plans and techniques and change things up when you need to. Plans can change but that doesn’t mean you have to.
When your plans change, or you decide to change them, it’s not the end of your progress. It’s just another chapter. I know some people might be able to lose weight following one simple method, but most of us will try different things, adjust our eating habits, and play with different types of workouts during the process of losing weight and getting healthy. New things are usally good things and change should be embraced. If what you are doing is working then by all means stick with it until that changes. But if you are stuck? Try something new. Shake things up. And if you are forced to embrace changes then do exactly that – embrace them.
Plans are good but so is change.
Have you ever changed your plans during your weight loss journey? Or like me have you changed them many, many times?
A gazillion times! I’m ready to do it again. :D
.-= Fitcetera´s last blog .. =-.
I think changing plans and rethinking your approach as your body adapts is all part of the game. It’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen and how things are going to work. I sometimes feel like if I change my plans it means I’m giving up, but that’s not really the case at all. Just keep fighting the good fight and it’ll all work out. :)
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Meal and Exercise Planning =-.
I change my plans all the time. They are all some variation of the same plan but I change them when they just aren’t fitting “me” right. And right now I’m up for another big change. So watch out me I need to do it.
.-= Cynthia (It All Changes)´s last blog ..Scenic View =-.
Nothing wrong with making a change now and then – the important thing is to be able to move with the changes without it upsetting your long term goal! The more we are able to adapt, the more empowered we will feel going forward!
They are YOUR plans to change….just make sure you change for the better and all will be well! Keep up the awesome work. :)
Plan for change! This is a life long journey!!! I have been consistent in doing cardio & weights & flexibility for years BUT what I actually did changed thru all that time. Change is good for the bod! Food, I have changed my program more than I can count!!! The bod & hormones change & food with it! :-)
Love that you are embracing change! The key is to just keep moving forward with consistency & patience!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Fear of Fear =-.
I always make a plan and then change it. I often get hardcore in my planning stage and I can never live up to it! Plus the change keeps it exciting!!!
.-= Dana (www.eatsleepgetfit.com)´s last blog ..Let’s Talk about…Compliments… =-.
I can never motivate myself to work out at home. I always tell myself I should, esp if I cut my gym short or something, but once I’m home, I want to relax or make dinner or hang out with my roomie or even bleh stuff like clean and do dishes, everything except working out.
.-= merri´s last blog ..Five Star Restaurant: Ana Mandara =-.
I agree – plans can only take us *so far.* Whatever it is in my life that I’m hoping to accomplish, it’s almost a lost cause unless I have the motivation and drive to actually make it happen. With that being said, though, sometimes the right plan is what GETS me motivated, you know? That’s why it’s certainly not a bad thing to switch up a plan from time to time. If that’s what it takes to keep you moving forward – so be it!
.-= Gracie´s last blog ..smiling is my favorite exercise. =-.
I am REALLY bad with following a plan. I like to think of them as rough guidelines, like suggestions rather than ingrained truths. I can’t do C25K, and I’m pretty sure I will not stick to a marathon training plan although I’ll somehow work in the mileage myself. I like to mold things to my needs, not mold my needs to things.
I can’t even stick to meal planning. I basically open the fridge and go hmmm, I want THIS.
By the way, I’m really bad with working out at home. I need to get outside or to the gym or something. If it’s even outside for a walk, I can do it. But if it’s on a treadmill in my house, no way. Too many other distractions to tempt myself with :)
.-= Jess´s last blog ..Day 105: A New Best =-.
Haha. I’m that way with meal planning. I’ll even make my meal plans and then I just go completely crazy and I’m change my mind that day because I’ll be craving a type of food or whatever. Planning ahead is not my strong point.
I’m glad I’m not the only one bad at working out at home. I’d much rather get outside or into the gym. At home I just want to either surf the internet or read or watch tv. Never workout.
I never stuck with a plan long enough to NOT change it! I enjoy mixing things up. I hope you will start to “like” the Total Gym at least a little bit!
.-= Diane Fit to the Finish´s last blog ..One Of The Big Three In My Journey =-.
I’m literally going through this right now… a change of plans. I’ve been flat on my ass for two weeks now recovering from a nasty illness. It afforded me the chance to really take stock of what I’m currently doing for exercise. I came to realization that I’m not enjoying it as I once did. I’m getting really frustrated and when the free trial is over, I’ll be looking for something different. Haven’t figured out what yet, but I know it’s time for change.
.-= Leaving Fatville´s last blog ..Where, oh where has my willpower gone? =-.
I would like to make some changes, like this cat that is laying on top of the computer saying “are you talking to my best friend Mary”, well I would like to put her in a box and change her address. She is mean and moody, she hates me even more since you left.
Sounds like Oregon is doing you well. You will get the other worked out.
Look for a large fed ex package with holes in it and marked catty.
Love Mom
This comment made me laugh and laugh. I’m sorry catter doesn’t love you as much as she loves me. Cats just like me. ;) I’m excited for my package and my kitty! HAHA!
ok I was heading here to say yes!! that my initial plan was to be thin. skinny. and then I met the iron and havent looked back that way.
and THEN I SAW THE COMMENT ABOVE MINE
how do I adore that your mom even reads your blog let along comments?
that rocks.
.-= Miz´s last blog ..No excuses! The personal stuff. =-.
I think that is something that I’ve learned. The only plan that REALLY works is listening to YOU. I mean that in every sense of it. I have done WW, Atkins, etc. However, what I come back to is the fact that when I rob myself of listening to ME is when I fall of the plan and go into destructive mode. It’s really hard to let go of plans, but it’s what I need to do in order to live a LIFE worth living.
.-= Michelle@eatingjourney´s last blog ..Fearing Love ~Cynthia =-.
Change can be scary. Totally. But getting used to certain changes is worth it. ;)
Change totally scare the begesus out of me. I was so used to fighting change because it was uncomfortable. Over the last two years I have learned (the hard way) that the only thing constant in life is change. Change can be good. Change can be liberating. I still need certain routines in my life but for the most part I am learning not to have such a tight grip on things and kinda go with the flow.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Every Journey Begins With One Step =-.
We have the Total Trainer (similar to Total Gym) and LOVE it. Free weights and our universal gym were totally boring but the Total Trainer really makes us push ourselves and I’m so glad we invested in it. Especially love doing squats/leg presses on it. I think you’ll like it even if it is an at home workout. ;-)
I hate change! I kept doing the same thing, even though it probably wasn’t the most efficient way to lose weight. Just swam my laps and watched my calorie intake. I heard a saying the other day that I love: “I like ruts. Ruts allow you to get good at something.” That’s what I think!
.-= Nancy B. Kennedy´s last blog ..Boys and their third legs =-.
I change my plans all the time. Or more correctly, I change my mind. I make plans, but I never follow them, I never stick with them. I’m trying this new approach where the only thing that stays static is keeping track of what I eat, and testing me self to see if I can eat a little better, a little less the next day. If I can exercise a little more, change my habits a little more than the day before. I’m just trying to be aware of where I am at, and where I am going. It doesn’t matter (well, it does a little) where I’m going, as long as I know how I got there.
When I started this journey my initial plan was to just lose weight by walking my dogs and playing on the Wii Sports until my hands went numb. Then something changed. I actually started to enjoy sweating and soon enough the Wii wasn’t cutting it anymore. I needed more so I started c25k and when that wasn’t enough, I joined a gym.
When it wasn’t enough, I got a trainer.
I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be here a while so no more change for a while (which is good cause I need the rest)!
.-= Tara´s last blog ..All Systems Go! =-.
I was actually just looking at a few of your pictures this week and that’s exactly what ran through my mind. I thought, wow, she’s a really beautiful girl! I’m glad you see that too!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Biggest Loser Final Four =-.