Today’s post is a continuation of Monday’s post on how I eat. Today’s topic: How I move! If you’re curious about the Non-Hunger Diaries title, see this response.
A Chillax Workout Routine
I’ve been talking up my new gym a lot lately, but I haven’t turned into your typical gym rat. Update – I have actually quit the gym. I tend to stick to milder workouts like yoga, pilates, ballet, and Nia (my new favorite workout). Not to say that these things are always “mild” – but they’re definitely customizable. You can work at the level that you’re comfortable with for that day and not feel guilty about not giving it your all.
I like to fit in some kind of movement each and every day so I’m never hesitant to take a step back in class and stick with the lower level option. In yoga I always take a few extra child’s poses; in Zumba or other cardio classes I never go full intensity for the whole hour. It’s not what feels good for my body so I just don’t do it. On the other hand if you do love giving it your all in class, go for it! (Just make sure you take a break sometimes.) For me, I enjoy moderate exercise every single day. It keeps me healthy (body and mind).
I walk for exercise anywhere from 1-4 miles a day. It’s so important to listen to your body and give it rest. I will always think that walking is the best form of exercise (as long as you have proper form) but in a city of smelly streets, sometimes it gets to be not so fun, and it’s also getting cold. For most of history humans did lots of low intensity “exercise” all day long – we were not built to go full out for an hour and sit on our butts the rest of the day. (This is why I love Nia.)
Other linkies on exercise:
- 30 Days of Yoga (ends Wednesday)
- My yoga page
- My exercise page (lots of free resources)
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That’s all, folks.
I love your balanced and intuitive approach to fitness and food. It’s why I read your blog! Thanks for being a fantastic example to us all.
@Betherann: Thank you! I try 🙂 Anytime that I fall off the balanced wagon I remember that part of being balanced is being okay with not always being perfect too.
my workout routine varies depending on how i feel that morning. i try to workout then so i can shower and head to work afterwards. i never have energy after a full day of work and a nearly 2 hour round trip commute! some weeks i work out 3x, others 5x. i NEVER skip a rest day, i love them 🙂 i switch things up with yoga, bike, run, or a workout dvd because i would die of boredom if i was only having an affair with 1 method of working out 🙂
@melissa: I have been working on getting the energy to workout after work instead of before. I really like how I feel at night when I can get myself to do a workout, but it can be hard to psych myself up for it. It is especially nice when I had a bad day at work too. One thing that helps is making sure to try new classes at night 🙂 Never want workouts to get boring!
I do alternate between weights, cardio, and yoga. Since I got my wisdom tooth pulled out a few weeks ago, ive been taking it easy in yoga cause all the inversions started to hurt my head. I used to have an exercise addiction so I have a personal rule that i keep it under an hour.
I’ve been on the go all out for an hour and sit on your butt routine for a while.
It’s getting old.
(my job doesn’t help…being at home with the baby is a NO sit day)
I have been enjoying trying to find different things to do every day and also break up the intensity.
much better.
I started getting all nuts over my workouts and realized real fast it’s draining me. I love your chillax approach to food and exercise.
Thanks for the reminder!
I’m a bit of a workout nut because I do have to sit on my butt all day at work, and also because I’m used to intense training (you remember how nuts my schedule was in high school). These days I usually swim about 2 hours every morning, then I do an hour of cardio running or elliptical in the afternoon plus light weights and crunches 🙂
@Melissa: I DO remember your crazy schedule! I guess your body gets used to that much exercise? Do you know if it still burns the same number of calories if your body is used to it? I always wondered about that – like if I walk an hour a day, does my body eventually get used to it and not burn as many? I think it must 🙁
ah…so true. i’ve read SO many times that resting is just as important as training. (unforunately, it’s something i’m still learning to do. :p) running is my happiness, but i’ve found i can’t do it 2 days in a row, no matter how much i want to 🙂
Thank you for posting this. For some reason my body never responds well to hard training- I never lose weight, even when carefully monitoring my intake. But walking an extra 15-30 minutes a day always makes an enormous difference- maybe my genetic makeup is more paleolithic than others’:).
@Yvonne: That’s so interesting! Yeah, walking tends to help me maintain my weight more than anything else. When I do intense cardio I just get really hungry and overeat – and even when I don’t overeat it just doesn’t make me feel that good.