SoWell Work Out Support Thread

[Paula]

OK Paula, I have the answer.

You need to change trainers . . . you need a young good-looking MALE trainer.

Hah. That might stop me from watching the clock but it wouldn't necessarily make me want to work harder! All the trainers at this place are 30 something women in great shape. It's a perky place where you feel like you're treated very special. About 3/4 of the people who go there are women and about 1/4 are some very lucky men.

 

[Paula]

As in "A Bike" ;-)

Oh. OK.

And I hope some of the people in SoWal who have health business (isn't there a new gym in Grayton Beach?) join in. I'd definitely consider going to training once or twice a week when in SoWal (probably earlier in the morning before the family wakes up - oh, I just remembered, it doesn't matter when I go because it's a priority!).

 

[barefootguy]

I sometimes need caffeine to help me get through a workout, but I've learned that the main fuel my body needs is just good food. The caffeine is like the gas thrown on the fire to get it blazing. If I've been eating a lot of junk, my workout tends to be pretty worthless. One thing that I found to help me focus on the good food was this list of foods. I found that if I stay filled up with the good stuff I don't crave the junk as much, and I have a ton of energy.

 

[Paula]

Great list, Barefootguy. I do everything on that list regularly now (in fact, my super home-made low cal granola bars have many of those items in them, and I add flaxseed as well - I have a feeling those granola bars have done something to increase my metabolism or something good for the weight. You can see the recipe on the SoWell on SoWal thread), except the whey powder and I'll ask my trainer about that today.

I assume the no-fat refried beans in a can are fine, right? And oily fish like salmon are important twice a week, too, though I don't know what they add for a workout.

I'd love our yoga and work-out trainers in SoWal to chime in, too.

 

[Jdarg]

Ipod. Although you need to reember to keep it charged.

One day, I arrived at my walking spot, tried to crank up theIpod, and it was dead. I really wanted to bag the walk, but I made myself go anyway. After about 15 minutes, I thought I would just try running part of it to make it go faster since I didn't have any music. After I didn't die, I figured this would be a better way to get more out of a walk here, since there are no hills and I was up to 4 miles without any real effort. I am up to loping/jogging 2 miles and walking the other 2- and it's not too hard!

I'm starting a new thread about Ipod exercise tunes.....

 

[KISH7374]

I work out Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday. I got into the routine about 7 years ago and it just stuck. Usually every 5 or 6 months, I switch the days to keep my wife happy. This way I am not tying up her schedule on a consistent basis. I was laid off from my previous job and needed something to pass the time at that point. I was always fit but needed something to burn off the stress of job hunting and it works great.

 

[dbuck]

Ipod. Although you need to reember to keep it charged.

One day, I arrived at my walking spot, tried to crank up theIpod, and it was dead. I really wanted to bag the walk, but I made myself go anyway. After about 15 minutes, I thought I would just try running part of it to make it go faster since I didn't have any music. After I didn't die, I figured this would be a better way to get more out of a walk here, since there are no hills and I was up to 4 miles without any real effort. I am up to loping/jogging 2 miles and walking the other 2- and it's not too hard!

I'm starting a new thread about Ipod exercise tunes.....[/quote]

Grayt idea! I was getting ready to ask you what music is best for exercise.

 

[Smiling JOe]

There are so many different thoughts on what to do. Are you totally confused, yet? I, like barefootguy, find that I have no energy if I have been eating crap foods. A good balanced meal will go a long way, providing good energy. Many of the energy drinks are filled with sugars, so be sure to read the ingredient labels.

As for coffee, if you are not used to drinking it, I would stick with the tea which you are already drinking. If you are eating correctly, a few push ups or deep knee bends will get your blood pumping and energy level increased rather quickly.

You mentioned eating prior to the workout. You might find that it works best if eating that protein meal within two hours after your workout and skipping it before the workout. I don't do the protein shakes or bars. I simply time my workouts to end around lunch time and I am always sure to get my protein in my lunch.

 

[Paula]

Yup, I've felt much better since I started eating mostly healthy foods and much more moderately. More physical and mental energy. I think the new healthy diet has done something to my metabolism that's very good. And buying a whole new wardrobe and getting rid of most of my old clothes has been very inspiring as well!

I tried the coffee today (had coffee around 9:30 AM and worked out with trainer at 11:00) and it seemed to work well. I think I'll only drink coffee on the Tues/Thursdays before my workouts and one cup seems to do the trick). Also had a small snack (oatmeal/peanut butter granola bar) before working out but I always do that. So, the coffee may be the biggest help. I can't imagine not having some kind of snack before working out (but not a lot). The trainer said I could probably mix whey protein into my snazzy home-made granola bars (or I may try a smoothie with it). We also talked about getting some of the probiotic kefir because I tried the probiotic Dannon yogurt and that stuff sure is too sweet. Anyway, the session time passed more quickly than usually and I felt I had more strength/energy and was a tad less whiney.

Any other motivational/practical tips? I'm such a novice at this workout stuff, but definitely a true believer at this point.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Any other motivational/practical tips? I'm such a novice at this workout stuff, but definitely a true believer at this point.

A couple of things. Have someone take your swimsuit photo today. Study the photo of yourself and envision which physical attributes you want to change about yourself. Keep that vision with you at all times. Place the photo in a drawer and forget about it. After 90 days, take that same swimsuit photo again. Dig out the older photo and note the difference.

Also, when you are working out, forget about reading a book or watching tv. (Listening to music could be okay.) When exercising, focus your attention on the muscles which you are stretching, relaxing, and contracting. See through your skin into your mind and muscles, and really focus on your muscles burning, creating new muscle tissue and burning fat.

I think it is really important to be able to see the future you. Don't expect to stand in front of the mirror and note immediate changes after working out. The truth is, that you will most likely notice your increase in strength prior to seeing a change in your physical appearance. Generally speaking, you need to work hard through the first 90 days before you will notice much of anything, other than pain, but when you do begin noticing the change in strength and looks, the changes are more noticeable, more often. One last bit of advice is to forget about the scales. Muscle weighs more than fat, and muscle burns fat, even after you finish working out. IMHO, way too many people focus on weight, rather than health. If you want to measure something, measure your strength -- keep a chart of how much you lift or how many reps you completed. Measure how your pants fit. Measure your percentage of body fat. These are far more important than your weight.