Fall Fitness Challenge Week 7 : My Three Favorites

Fitness can sometimes feel like work, but its easier to stay motivated if you are doing something that you like. Thats why I do each of these things at least once a week. I plan them in advance, writing them in my calendar at the beginning of the week. This way they are just part of my schedule and its easier to stay motivated to do them.

1) Pilates

For the past year I’ve taken a weekly Pilates class. Its my one fitness splurge that I really have, spending about $250 for three 9-week sessions of weekly classes. But its worth every penny. And because I pay up front for each session, it keeps me motivated to go every week, even when it is snowing outside.

It helps that I also love taking the class. The instructor is fantastic and really pushes us to try harder each week. I’m not the most flexible person, or have the greatest core strength, but I notice a significant improvement from when I started a year ago. I just started back up with the Fall session a few weeks ago, and already I’m seeing an improvement in my core strength.

2) Biking

About two years ago I signed up for a gym membership at a popular downtown gym, but within one month I hated it. The place was always packed. The classes were never at convenient times. It was out of the way from my route home. They were constantly doing renovations (lots of construction noises). In other words, it just didn’t cut it for me. When I went to quit they charged me $160! After putting my foot down with the gym manager, they reversed the charges. I took that money and decided to invest in a stationary bike for my apartment. Its one of the best decisions I ever made. Usually the bike is tucked behind a corner in my bedroom, but on mornings that I bike, I pull it out in front of the desk.

What motivates me to get up and hop on that bike? Watching my favorite TV shows. Some mornings when the thought of getting out of my warm bed is just too draining, I remember that I have an episode of something saved on my computer. Before you know it, I’ve got my runners laced up and I’m ready to go. Some nights I even set everything up in front of the computer before I go to bed, making it more difficult to say no to a little cardio in the morning.

3) Swimming

I’ve been a life-long swimmer. I started a little baby, did it all through my childhood and then was a lifeguard and swim instructor through high school and university. I still like to fit in a lane swim once a week. It only takes 50 minutes to swim 2km, but man does it make you feel alive afterward.

The rush of the water as you pull through it and the absence of sound really helps to clear my head. Some of my best thinking is done in the water. I’m actually off to go do that today during my lunch break, and maybe brainstorm some Halloween costume ideas.

So, now I turn the tables to all of you:

I’d love to hear what gets you motivated to get up and get going! Post a comment below!

Exercise Log:
Wed, Oct 6: Morning Run (4.6 km in 35 minutes), Lots of Stretching + 15 minutes Abs
Thurs, Oct 7: Day Off
Fri, Oct 8: Indoor Bike + Intervals (Arms + Abs)
Sat, Oct 9: Run (4.2 km in 28 minutes)
Sun, Oct 10: 3hr walk through hometown
Mon, Oct 11: Bedtime Yoga + 6 Girlie Pushups
Tues, Oct 12: Indoor Bike + Intervals (Arms + Abs)
                      Short Version of Bedtime Yoga + 6 Girlie Pushups

Despite being a week of Thanksgiving indulgences, I kept up the fitness this week and tried to focus on lean proteins and fiber-rich veggies. It seems to have paid off because all my numbers are down this week and my lean muscle mass is increasing. I also have noticed a significant difference in how flexible I’m getting, which is encouraging!

Stats
Body Mass Index: 24.1
Waist-to-Height ratio: 0.44
Percent Body Fat: 26.9
Lean Body Mass: 113.9lb

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