How to Plan Your Workouts

Problem:  I was overweight, I was sedentary and I wasn’t sure how I could incorporate physical exercise into my daily routine.

Now, I know my friends, who know me in person, will say.

Hilary, you’re overweight — who are you to write a post about working out?

And yes, that’s true.  I am.  It is my BIGGEST struggle.  I’m sure this new year has plenty of resolutions about my eating, but I must say that working out is something I have under control.

If you liked this post, be sure to check out my post about my course Family Routines:

When I get into a system that works for me, I stick with it.  This post will show you How to Plan Your Workouts, or at least how I plan my workouts.

I detailed what I am doing right now in my Core post, but here’s the gist of it (and it is altered when I get a bee in my bonnet to do something else):

Mondays:  Video (see below for some of my favorites)

Tuesdays:  Garden — because I call this a “workout” I feel like I should do something bigger than just go pull some weeds in the garden.  Time to get out the blower and wrestle up some leaves or something like that.  This has allowed me to actually garden, and get something done while getting some cardio in.  I also often walk with friends this AM.

Wednesdays:  Video or a run (which I hate — see below)

Thursdays: off (I usually work on Thursdays, and I am just not the person who can pull an 11 hour shift PLUS a workout — hats off to my friends who do it, you know who you are).

Fridays:  Video

Saturdays:  Try to get active with the family

Sundays:  Off (I am in charge of the children’s group at church so I pretty much just sit around eating bon-bons). 🙂

I have a pedometer on my new phone, it makes me WAY too happy to count my steps and see how much I’m walking each day.

I tried running, for a solid 6 months and just hated it.  I just think my body isn’t meant to do it.  I can’t think while I’m doing it, I start to worry I’m having a stroke.  It’s JUST not my thing.  I do add it in every now and then.

SO, that’s MY system.  What are the tips for your own system?:

• Decide if you need a gym.  I knew that getting out of the house and getting my buns to a gym would be one more obstacle in my way.  Perhaps it’s a reason to GO for you, I think everyone needs to figure out themselves and if that’s going to help or hurt.
• I really like the “class” feeling — hence, I like videos.  If you hate videos, don’t do them.  BUT, I would recommend trying a few. I often see decent ones at Goodwill — so check it out!
• At what point in your day, can you workout and get it done!  I know my body and my morning is my most awake and active time.  So, I do it RIGHT when I get up, usually around 5:30.  My body just gets up at that time, I don’t actually have my alarm set until later, so if my body NEEDS more sleep, it will get it and I will workout after the kids go to school.

Anyway, that’s my system, maybe it will help you get into a zone of your own.

I’ve tried a LOT of workout videos!

Here’s my top 5 (not in order):

1.  Jillian’s 30 day shred — Yipes, this is a toughie, but it gets it done FAST.  Don’t let her fool you into thinking it’s only 20 minutes (it’s just shy of 30).  She lies, and is a horrible person who give you a good workout.  I hate her, a lot.

2.  The Firm — I love these purple ones.  They give you a GREAT workout in just about 20 minutes.  You do weights and cardio, which is  a big thing for me (doing weights for women is extra important to help build up your bones).  I’ve done almost all the Firm videos.  I’m always on the lookout for them at Goodwill.  I think they’re well done and give you a good workout (and usually not quite as hard as Jillian).

3.  New York City Ballet Workout.  This is long (probably too long) but I really like how long and slender I feel when I do these.  it REALLY works your core and your legs (and my arms are’t big fans of being held out at my sides for long periods of time).  I don’t do it often, but I do enjoy it when I do it.

4.  Lindsay Brinn — she is OBSESSIVELY happy, but I still like her workouts.  I have linked to her pregnancy videos, as I think they are some of the best out there!  You can stay active and feel good about yourself even while carrying a watermelon around in your abdomen. 🙂   I am also mulling over her new series.  Anyone done it?

5.  Booty Ballet — is this a crazy hard workout?  No.  But sometimes I just need to have fun, and cheer the HECK UP.  So, I do one of these.

I’m not going to lie and not mention that about every 4 months my body just CRAVES me not working out.  It seems to happen t the same time as the kids are off of school for a bit, and so I let it go — but I always pick it back up.  I think that’s the key, that working out is your “norm” which you sometimes deviate from.

I am in the market for some new videos.  I’d love to hear what you love over on our Facebook group.  What keeps you into a good system of working out?

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