I am thinking of discontinuing my YMCA membership. I have not been there in months, and I move in a few. What can I do sans gym? I do have old workout videos, and a pilates video, as well as 5lb weights. I am not looking to do an intense workout program right now anyways. I still belong to Bally's, its just to far away to go (especially with these crazy gas prices!!) But I plan to utilize that in Michgan, as there are closer clubs to where I will be living.
Robin
Formerly "Robinbebe"
Posts: 420 | Location: SE Michigan | Registered: August 19, 2004
Robin Almost any exercise you did at the gym can be replicated using a stability ball. There are tons of DVDs using balls - head to your local library and rent some out to try. The ball will give you a very good workout if you use it properly : )
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Robin, I agree with the others, it sounds like you have a plan already. Utilize those tapes, and with nice weather eventually coming, you could be outside walking with them, or even "just" walking. I guess my idea is that any movement or physical workout is great, because we aren't sitting on the couch. AND with moving in a few months, you will feel pushed to get in much exercise, too. So make the best of the activity you are doing now and can do then. Good luck. Sounds like you've got the plans now put them to work.
It's never too late to get it right.
Posts: 3473 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
My gym is close to where I live but, because of my work schedule vs. the gym's hours, doing most of my workouts at the gym doesn't work for me.
I work out 5 days a week--at least 3 of those are done at home, sometimes more depending on the situation and other plans I have when I'm not working. At the start of each week, I write down my exercise plan for the week in my journal. I shoot for 3 days of cardio and 2 days of weight training or toning, though there is a mix on some days. Below is an example of what one of my weeks might look like to give you some ideas for home workouts:
Monday: (1-2 hours of cardio--home or gym) 1. If I go to the gym, I do about 20-30 minutes of lower body weight training and about 90 minutes of cardio on machines. OR 2. If the weather is great, I love to do a one-to-two hour powerwalk/jog outside. I have a couple different routes I use near my home. OR 3. If weather isn't good for walking and I don't have time or proper attitude for the gym, I do a cardio tape at home: Caribbean Workout (from FitTV), WATP 3 or 4 mile, or Tae-bo usually.
Tuesday: (30-40 minutes of toning at home) 1. 10-Minute Solution DVD: 10-minute ballet PLUS 2. Tamilee Webb's "I Want That Body!" DVD: Abs 1 PLUS 3. 10-Minute Solution DVD: 10-minute yoga
Wednesday: (45-60 minutes of cardio at home) 1. Tae-bo Cardio DVD OR 2. 10-Minute Solution Cardio Blast DVD OR 3. Walk Away the Pounds 3-mile
Thursday: (30-45 minutes of weights or toning at home) 1. Tamilee Webb's "I Want That Body!" DVD: Arms 1 + 2 OR 2. Gaiam Beginner's Balance Ball Workout DVD OR 3. Gaiam Balance Ball for Weight Loss DVD
Friday: (planned exercise off day)
Saturday: (1-2 hours of cardio at gym or home) 1. If I go to the gym, I do about 30-40 minutes of upper body weight training PLUS either 60-90 minutes of cardio on machines or a 60-minute aerobics class + 30 minutes cardio on machines. OR 2. If the weather is great, I might do a one-to-two hour powerwalk/jog outside, though Saturdays I really try to get to the gym. OR 3. I do a cardio tape at home: Caribbean Workout (from FitTV), WATP 3 or 4 mile, or Tae-bo usually. I just got the 10-Minute Solution Carb Burner DVD and the Balance Ball for Weight Loss DVD so I'll be cycling those in as well.
Sunday: (planned exercise off day)
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by RobinBeBe: I am thinking of discontinuing my YMCA membership. I have not been there in months, and I move in a few. What can I do sans gym? I do have old workout videos, and a pilates video, as well as 5lb weights. I am not looking to do an intense workout program right now anyways. I still belong to Bally's, its just to far away to go (especially with these crazy gas prices!!) But I plan to utilize that in Michgan, as there are closer clubs to where I will be living.
Sounds like a plan already. Do one of those tapes. Heck, do a different one every day. Your challenge here isn't going to be getting a good workout, it's going to be getting a workout, period, because you'll be home and that changes the mentality of it.
What you might want to do is try something new and interesting to you, so that you have an extra reason to make that time. A new video-- maybe in something you don't usually think of as exercise, like dancing-- might do the trick. Or signing up for a short-term class in something active like martial arts. You've got a few months to try something interesting, so go for it!
Do what works for you. Do what you can promise yourself to do regularly. Just as long as you do it, it doesn't matter what it is.
Posts: 149 | Location: Chicago | Registered: January 24, 2005
Robin, I use a combination of gym/class workouts and at home. (We live about 30 minutes from my gym and it would be inconvient to go 4-6 times per week.) At home I generally start with a 20-30 minutes of a cardio video to warm up. I then have a couple weight routines that I vary. You could look through your video/DVD collection and start to think about a plan for the week. What one might you do on which day. The 5 pound weight could be used for bicep curls, chest press, tricep kickbacks-- depends on your level of strength. You can also use stuff around your house like full water bottles of varying sizes as weights. Brie wrote a great article on workingout at home. She focuses a lot on building up your equipment, but some of her pointers will work for your temporary situation.
There is tons of stuff you can do at home Robin. Aside from your videos, you can walk/run around your neighborhood, do push ups, crunches, lunges, squats, calf raises, chest presses, shoulder raises, tricep dips, bicep curls, etc...
Remember to try to make time to exercise as it will really help your stress level.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
