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I’ve talked about my eating habits, and a few of you have also asked me to share my workout routine, as I do log quite a few hours in the gym a week. Let me preface this by saying that I grew up being (overly) active in basketball, softball, soccer, tennis and track through high school and even went on to play college ball—all that to say, athletic pursuits are in my blood, were something I was raised doing.
In my 20s, I was all about those marathons. In my 30s, long tired of running distance and strapped for time, I’m more focused on a healthy mix of cardio and weight-training—basically, anything I can do to keep me moving and prevent me from getting bored.
While I typically work out five to six days a week, it’s really all dependent on my travel schedule. I try my hardest to do at least one active thing a day even when I’m on the road, but it doesn’t always work out that way. As such, I hit the gym daily (or almost) when I’m home to keep my body in a semi-regular routine.
I also started working out with a personal trainer, Cindy, once to twice a week nearly three years ago, and that’s helped immensely when it comes to varying my weight-training regimen (it’s also excellent for discipline and ensures that, nothing else, I make it to the gym at least a couple times weekly).
Here’s what a “typical” week of sweating looks likes for me:
Monday
I like to kick off my week with a real butt-kicker, which is where Cindy comes in. Monday is usually for an all-body workout where we do monster sets of arms, legs and abs, and I drench my shirt and down 64 ounces of water by the time we’re done some 75 minutes later.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, I take a R.I.P.P.E.D. (Resistance, Interval, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance, Diet) class from Cindy at my gym, which is a new obsession. It used to be Zumba, boot camp or Body Pump, and I also like Fit Factory, GetFit615 and SHED Fitness in Nashville for similar such classes.
I used to be a huge fan of Barry’s Bootcamp, as well, until I bought a five-class package $75, went to redeem the first one, and they couldn’t find record of it even though I had my receipt, then treated me as if I was a criminal trying to workout for free. Nope! Ain’t nobody got time for that. (Take my word for it, and don’t go to Barry’s if you want to keep your dignity intact.)
The underlying goal for Tuesday is to sweat a lot and also get some light weights in. This tabatas-style class does just that—and leaves me exhausted, too.
On Tuesday evenings, my friends—including my sister and my high school doubles partner (we made it to Final Four in the state)—and I have a semi-regular summer tennis league, so I often work out twice that day.
Wednesday
Wednesday is, without a doubt, my favorite day of the week—especially since I discovered AcroYoga a little over a year ago.
I’ve been going to Acro at Steadfast & True—the loveliest, friendliest, most welcoming yoga studio in Nashville—every other week or so since July 2015, and I’m hooked, y’all. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (@LunaticAtLarge), this should come as no revelation.
It is just so! much! fun!
Not only is it excellent for building communication skills, but it’s a killer strength workout, too. Plus, it’s a great way to make new friends (hi, Richard and Jess!).
I also try to go to weekend workshops when Jason and Gillian hold them around Middle Tennessee and I happen to be in town.
I think I’m getting OK at it, too.
Thursday
Personal training. This day we either focus on arms or legs—finishing up with a couple rounds of abs—depending on how my muscles feel from the previous three days, particularly acro.
Friday
R.I.P.P.E.D. again! I was so happy when Cindy started offering an 8am class on Tuesday and Friday as it started making my workout on those days a lot more consistent. Because let’s be honest: I’m much more likely to attend a class than I am to workout by myself.
Saturday
On Saturday, occasionally I’ll go to Zumba or another cardio class, but more often than not, we’re working on the house or out in the yard, which is calorie-burning and sweat-inducing in a different way. Or we’ll hike or do pretty much anything that involves being outside and on the move.
Sunday
And on Sunday, we rest. (Kidding! You know we never rest.) Earlier this summer, I purchased a high-quality paddleboard, and our new Sunday ritual includes an early morning paddle on the lake right beside our house.
I’ve been paddleboarding on trips since my first ocean paddle in Barbados in 2008; it’s always something I’ve really enjoyed but it never occurred to me to buy my own board despite the fact that we live within 50 minutes of four large lakes and several smaller bodies of water, until I was at a Nashville Paddle Co. SUP Yoga class in June, and I randomly asked the owner if she had any used boards to sell.
Lo and behold, she had one that had only been used for a year and gave me about 25 percent off what it would have been new. Sold! And now I’m hooked. If you ever want to get your feet wet (har de har har) with SUP, I highly recommend a class with Nashville Paddle Co.
I absolutely love our new Sunday morning routine of getting up early, putting the SUP in the water just 10 minutes away from our house and paddling out with Ella.
I think she quite likes it, too. She promises to update you on her new water adventures on a future City Dog dispatch.
Of course, my fitness plan is always in flux depending on how I feel and my motivation level. Summer months seem easy to keep motivated with warm weather and far more daylight; in winter, I have to workout first thing in the morning, or it isn’t going to happen. I already dread the time change in two months.
Now, tell me: What does your day-to-day fitness regimen look like?
**All fitness wear featured in this post was purchased via GapFit, Athleta or Old Navy.
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The post Work It: My Regular Fitness Routine appeared first on Camels & Chocolate.
Source: camelsandchocolate.com