It’s been ages since I last posted about anything fitness-related…8 weeks to be exact. Between then and now, I’ve still been working out plenty. The only difference is that I’ve taken a less formal approach to exercise. Due to travelling and then my gym in Mumbai being shut for renovations, I am just staying active whenever I can.
Although High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is touted as the most effective form of cardio, I’ve been enjoying longer sessions of steady-state cardio in the form of walks outdoors. Because I am not confined to a gym machine, longer sessions don’t seem tedious at all. I think I mentally burned myself out with running last year, and hence have only recently done so a handful of times- I’m sure the urge will return soon enough.
Other than walks, I’ve also been trying out group glasses. Along with Monday’s spinning class, I went to a yoga class on Tuesday at a nearby fitness studio. My adductors have been uncomfortable tight over the past few weeks and this class did just the trick to loosen ’em up. Although I should probably add that it left me unexpectedly sore the next morning. Note to self: I am not as flexible as I thought & yoga counts as a legit workout.
My gym finally re-opened yesterday and I was actually psyched to return. I was slightly nervous to lift weights after such a long hiatus but it felt SO good. Here’s hoping that muscle memory kicks in and my strength builds back up ASAP. Till it does, I am going to go easy with the weights and instead focus on proper form.
So yeah, that’s me on the workout front lately. Rather than set a rigid schedule as I did for the majority of 2012, I plan on taking a more relaxed approach for now at least. So long as I get my heart rate up 5-6 days a week, I’ll be satisfied.
How have you been staying active lately?
I love, love, love your approach to working out this year!
I’m honestly worried of burnout with running and pushing myself too hard when I think I need a break. You’ve reminded me to CROSS-TRAIN and simply do other things to stay active!
Happy Weekend girl!
It’s so awesome that you’re training for a marathon but good call on adding in the cross-training- it’ll definitely make you stronger as a runner :)!
Sounds like a really balanced approach to it all! I love long walks! They are easily my favourite workout! HIIT can be great, but it is not easy on the body. I hope you enjoy lifting again! I’m sure muscle memory will kick in! 🙂
2 days back with weight and so far so good- although it has been a rude awakening to my body ;)!
I do longer cardio in the summer too because I love being outdoors then! It’s easy to get carried away but it’s fun and if you enjoy it, keep doing it!
I’ve been back at the gym full-swing.. focusing on a lot of weight training. I want to get super strong and lean by summer!
I agree- isn’t having fun part of the reason why we exercise? And lean by the time summer comes round sounds like the plan!
It sounds like you have a great balance on the workout front! I’m still waiting for that ‘urge’ to run to return, haha 😉
Bahahah I’m being optimistic about it returning but who knows ;)!
I used to be super structured in terms of my workouts – strength on certain days and cardio on the others. Now, I pretty much decide what I want to do the night before. It really helps to take the pressure off. And walking?! That’s my favorite way to exercise. But you already knew that!! 🙂
It’s too bad we don’t live closer- we could be walking buddies ;)!
Sounds like you have a great balance with your workouts right now! I’m fine with HIIT and shorter interval work, but since I cut out distance running I haven’t missed it. I’ve been all about the weights lately, but I should try to squeeze some more yoga in.
I hope I can keep up with the yoga- the thought of it isn’t always too exciting but I always feel great afterwards!
I’ve been having a very similar approach lately! Staying active and trying to get to the gym (when I’m healthy), but not scheduling runs or anything like that. I may want to train for a race at some point this year, but I don’t have anything in the books quite yet so I’m enjoying the freedom!
As motivating as racing can be, having a free agenda is also kinda liberating right! 🙂
That sounds like a great approach. so many people go too rigid and then give up. Says the girl on the insane weightlifting program. LOL!
Hahah better you call yourself out than someone else ;)!
I’ve been trying to get to the gym when I can, but like you, I’ve just discovered yoga! I totally know what you mean, I didn’t realise I was so inflexible until now. Definitely got to work on that in 2013!
Flexibility is one part of fitness which I definitely need to work on this year :)!
I think those kind of breaks where you rediscover what you love about fitness are so needed. Now you can go back in and kick butt even more
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, eh 🙂
I absolutely love walking, too! Sure, you can complete a HIIT session in ten minutes, but an hour walk? There’s nothing more calming, plus it gets you outdoors! I have my first walk in ages planned for this afternoon (thanks to a freaky mid-winter heat wave), and I can’t wait. Ready to bail out of the office and go home already…and it’s not even noon yet.
Blame it on the Friday Feeling ;)! Hope your walk was as good as expected!
This approach is both fantastic and admirable, and one I can certainly relate to at this point as well! I have been beating myself into the ground for far too long now and of course it has taken a toll on me… last year was just awful as far as constant fatigue goes, yet also continuing to push myself no matter what. I am sooo done with that, and now stick to much easier ways of exercising.. walking being a main one! At this point I also don’t have much of a choice which is a bummer in itself, but I have learned that your body can only take so much.
Ah I’m sorry that your body has burned out but the good news is that it’s only temporary- so long as you nourish it and workout at a level which it thrives at, it’ll be up & kicking before you know it :)!
Oh girl, you know I’m a big fan of the casual approach to fitness 😀 As long as I’m doing my best to stay active every day then I don’t really bother with trying to come up with a set schedule – I don’t even really feel like I need to break a sweat as long as I’m up and moving around – and honestly, I’ve never felt better. Working out used to be about burning as many calories as I could, but now it’s about being healthy. I find that keeping active makes me feel a lot happier and more energized, so ‘m a big fan of daily walks and randomly dancing around my apartment 🙂
Randomly dancing around my apartment sounds like a great cardio alternatives- add in some heels and we’ve got calve strengthening going on in a way that weights couldn’t measure up to ;)! On the real though, exercise is SO much more enjoyable without stressing about the overall calorie burn!
haha I live in workout clothes, I should be the skinniest bitch alive. I have stayed active, I go to my gym a few times a week and I run. I need to do more weights and long walks though!
You & me both, my friend….you & me both 🙂 !
I was super active on vacation…walking from one end of London / NYC to another. But now that I’m back at work things are a little less active. I hate that!
One of my favorite things about London is the freedom to just walk…miss that!
Love this! I firmly believe that the key to maintaining a healthy body throughout the course of our lives is adopting a balanced approach towards fitness. We don’t need to commit to anything extreme; rather, we should simply commit to moving! 🙂 I also believe that as we pass through different phases in our lives, we’re compelled to exercise in different ways and at different intensities. It’s all part of the journey! Right now, I’m committed to a plan because I have a specific goal I want to achieve. However I realize that in a year or two (or even just a couple of months), my body and mind may lead me in a different direction. I think what’s most important is that we stay true to ourselves, and resist external influences that go against our own internal cues. 😀
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! <3 xoxoxo
You summed it up perfectly- different stages of life calls for different goals! Our exercise plans need to evolve accordingly :)!
I’ve been choosing nice long walks over running as well! I guess I got pretty sick of it, and the last thing I’ve been wanting is to wake up before the sun comes up just to run. It’s virtually impossible to exercise outdoors at any other time of the day here 🙁
Ah tell me about it! Although one of my favorite memories of Singapore is running through Botanic Gardens in the evening- first time I ever ran in the dark! 🙂
Such a lovely photo of Mumbai with the birds. Well, I walk a decent amount for work and then I go to the gym twice a week.. I just hate working out K, and I don’t have a workout buddy since my gym is associated with my building. 🙁
So long as you’re staying active in your day-to-day life, I don’t think it’s essential to formally work out :)!
I LOVE group classes! I miss them. I’ve never tried HIT, as high intensity workouts are not in my books right now. Enjoying nice long walks sounds lovely…esp with a view like that! Hello, Mumbai! And yes, I agree with you. Yoga IS a legit workout 😉
Glad you agree about yoga :)!
My approach to working out lately is pretty similar to yours… I just take it day by day and don’t plan anything in advance. And I’m still loving long walks on the treadmill (not outside – too cold!). As long as I have some good reading material, I’m set!
Along with good reading material, podcasts make time on the treadmill fly by!
Yoga is TOTALLY legit! My body screams at me (and then takes a good nap) after yoga.
Also, that ecard about workout clothes made me bust up laughing. Seriously, I would totally be a supermodel by now if that were true.
A nap after any workout sounds ideal :)!
Pingback: Four for Friday | Khushboo's Blog