Fitness Kick Start: Workout Routines.
Over the last few months my workout routine has been all over the place. I attribute this to getting bored quite easily, and having a “been there done that” attitude about most strength training routines.
But then I did yoga this morning instead of waiting until this evening, and I fell in love.
I adore yoga, but used to practice much more regularly than I have. And I almost always used to do it in the later afternoons and evenings.
This morning, doing yoga made me feel alive. I loved the bit of meditation before starting my day – I felt more calm, more at peace, and more positive than most days.
I want to share with you my current workout routine, which I am loving:
Mon: cardio, yoga
Tues: strength training: upper
Weds: cardio, yoga
Thurs: strength training: upper
Fri: cardio, yoga
Sat: strength training: legs
If there is anything I’ve learned after 10+ years of strength training, it’s that in order to see results, you must do something you love every single day. Or… something you can at least tolerate.
I am loving this routine!
And I’m curious – what is your current workout routine like? Are you loving it?
In in the process of creating a FAQ page, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, ask me through the Contact form, or ask anonymously (but kindly) here.
29 Comments on “Fitness Kick Start: Workout Routines.”
Love this post and couldn’t agree more that loving what you do is fabulous! I adore yoga and while I thought I would hate it, it’s just what I needed in my life!
That sounds like a real complete workout!! I used to be a big fan of yoga. I tend to slack off though the more physical work I do. I come home with achy feet and barely any energy I’d rather just skip working out lol
that sounds like a good workout to me! i haven’t tried yoga or pilates in years, but i am thinking that i should start to incorporate some of the more “gentle” and stretch-y types of workouts into my routine. currently i run 6x/week, and strength train 3x/week.
i just found your blog somehow (isn’t perusing blogs and stumbling upon them part of a bloggers job?) today and added you – i love your penchant for sweets and may need to try a few recipes!
My current routine mixes up three cardio days a week with two days of CrossFit. And I do love it! I alternate days so I don’t get bored. It works for me, though every once and a while, I have an itch for something else: hiking, yoga, or spinning.
I’m having such a hard time getting started. I know if I got into a routine for a month I’d be able to continue. I appreciate your encouraging posts about your workouts! I start…again…tomorrow!
I am loving my current routine! In fact, i actually get EXCITED to go to the gym. Not a hassle–love it!!
I have to change my routine CONSTANTLY so that I keep loving it, but I agree that it is the key! You’ve gotta love it.
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My current workout plan involves a lot of sitting on my ass! <= I am sure this is the EXACT response you were looking for :)!
I also love waking up with yoga. Currently my routine is mon- total body circuit: light cardio tues- plyo + abs wed-circuit steady state run thur-yoga + sprint intervals/ abs fri- circuit + cardio sat- long run sun- rest. I do love it. I love making a plan and being successful with it. Little daily victories. Love your blog!
I totally abandoned working out for like a week. I think this is perfect time to get re-motivated!
Wei-Wei
Dancing my friend!! Zumba, Hip hop abs, belly dancing…..sooo good!
Also running down and up stairs at work during the day.
I like your schedule. I’ve scaled back my workout this week to a 5k training plan. It has me running less, but I think it’s what my body needs right now. It feels good to be building my running base from scratch rather than going balls to the wall, running 4 or 5 miles a day.
I actually posted a similar work out plan to try this week. :) I’m hoping mixing it up works for me. So far so good! :)
I love your blog and finally getting around to commenting. I am very similar to you, LOVE sweets and LOVE to work out! I am currently doing mostly cardio 5x a week due to tennis elbow (not from tennis, but from overuse and carrying my 10 month old!). I’ve had it for the past 3 months and it has inhibited my strength training routine, arh!! I run 6.5 mi 2-3 days a week, do the elliptical, and then workout at home on my bosu ball. I have lots of great exercises on the bosu that really get your heart rate up. I usually alternate running days and the bosu ball. I agree, you really need to love your routine to stick with it!
Also, I loved your posts from Northern Michigan. My parents spend the summers on Torch Lake, just south of where you were. I was up there the month of July and did not want to come home! Isn’t it the most beautiful place ever?!
I wish I did yoga more regularly, I love it but can never seem to make time for it.
I love yoga but have fallen away from it since I had my daughters. I wonder if doing it in the morning, when everyone is asleep and no one is in need of my attentions, will bring me back to it (and some sort of peace!). My question to you is, what sort of cardio do you do along with it? I have a limited amount of time early and I wonder if I can just do the yoga in the morning, then get in a good walk/jog in the afternoon?
I get bored really easily so my cardio is always changing! It is usually either elliptical, intervals or HIIT. Do what works for you – there is no right or wrong way. If you like and can stick to yoga in the morning and cardio in the afternoon, go for it!
Yoga & Zumba are the few exercises that I don’t have to brib myself to attend. ;-) Morning yoga sounds delish!
can you believe it, i have NEVER done yoga.. not a once! i love the split you have going here. i alternate cardio & strength day to day as well.
Jessica, it’s like you read minds :) Been wondering myself how to incorporate more yoga into/around strength & cardio workouts. So on your cardio/yoga days, 1) how much time are you spending on each and 2) re: your answer to mommabean – aren’t intervals & HIIT the same thing? I find I burn more fat on steady state than HIIT but of course SS takes longer … perhaps there’s a compromise I’m missing? Thanks!
Hi Karen!
It depends, but I usually do cardio anywhere from 20-45 minutes, and yoga for just about 30. Overall I try to fit it in to 60-70 minutes total.
And no, intervals and HIIT are not the same thing, though many people think they are. HIIT is just one form of intervals. I describe the difference here:
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2009/11/17/what-am-i/
Let me know if that helps!
Thanks, you’re the best. Loved the article about HIIT vs. Intervals, especially the part about running. I completely relate! I am so NOT a runner either. Ran a 5K once – I would rather stick a fork in my eye than do it again, but while “training” for it (1/2 hour steady state 3x’s week, no weights) I learned I burn fat like wild woman on SS. Dammit!
Bahaha I knew I loved you for a reason. Running makes me want to do things WORSE than stick a fork in my eye!
Try the HIIT! It is hard but if you do it 1-2 times a week, I can almost promise you will see some results!
I’m currently using the Seventeen six-week workout. It’s probably not a very good workout… but I’m a lazy teen who hates to follow a workout unless it changes weekly and is mapped out for her on a calender. :)
I love your blog! I’ve been a reader for a while, but this is my first comment. Your writing is so funny and easy to relate with. My sister lives in Pittsburgh (well Mt. Lebo), and I was actually just visiting this summer. Totally beats Houston.
I recently changed up my workout schedule and actually do LOVE it now. I added 2 days of strength training with light cardio for warm up/cool down instead of more training runs. My fitness and happiness are much improved :) And I always get ideas from the workouts you post about.
– Nell
Do you use a yoga video or go to a class? If you use a video, which one?
Recently I have just been using the yoga’s On Demand. There are like 10-15, that way I can switch it up. I used to do yoga at my gym, and years ago (like 10 years ago) I used a DVD called Yoga Sculpt. I tend not to buy DVD’s because I bored really easily. It is rare I do the same workout in one week.