Switching it Up

A big part of my focus in my weight loss journey has been trying to find ways to work out consistently. My biggest problem in the begining was that I would go to the gym 2-3 times a week and do the same thing over and over again.

I don't need to tell you this, but it gets boring.

It was a major reason why I couldn't get into a grove. I would dread going to the gym, and when I got there (if I got there) my workouts were half assed, and I wouldn't really try all that hard.

Two things changed this, and I really consider these two things instrumental to my success in this weight loss journey. They are:
1.Starting the C25K
2. Utilizing work out videos

The great thing about running is that it is never the same workout. Every run is completely different for me. So while It was doing the same thing 3x a week, it was different than busting it out on the eliptical 3X a week. I was working towards something, and every time was more challenging, or a better run, or a worse run, depending on the day. It was great, and got me to want to go to the gym, and more importantly, actually like going.

When I first started to work out consistently, I sucked it up and went on amazon, and bought the 30 Day Shred, the video that I was constantly hearing about on the boards. I didn't actually follow the system, went at my own pace, but used it once or twice a week, when I didn't feel like making it to the gym. It got me to work out on those days that I didn't want to work out, which was awesome.

I've hit road blocks in my quest to get healthy. Last fall I had excessive knee pain (which thanks to large amounts of squats and lunges I've completely rid myself of) which made me not want to work out at all. Thankfully this summer instead of just skipping the gym, I still went, did the eliptical (which now that I have some endurance isn't that bad, and I can actually get a decent workout on), and utilized hiking and videos to supplement my workouts, since my runs weren't working out (hopefully this is a thing of the past). I love that I don't just focus on one thing though, and I'm so glad I found a way to mix it up regularly to help keep my exercising fun and not a thing I dread doing 4X a week.

Unfortunetly, yesterday was one of those "Ugh there is no way I'm going to the gym" days. I forgot my headphones and sneakers, which meant I was going to have to drive all the way home, and then to the gym. And it was raining. And I had to work late, so it just wasn't happening. I talked myself out of working out at all but by the time I got home I decided to do a video. I tried one that I had bought a while back, but never used:

I had bought a bunch of biggest loser videos a few months back, but haven't really used them. Two of them I wasn't a huge fan of, and I just didn't bother to try the best. They were on sale at Marshall's, and I figured, I liked the 30 day shred, I loved Bob's bootcamp video, and the last chance workout, so why not?

So last night, to "switch it up", I tried this one. I did the warm up, level 1 and 2, and the cool down.

And honestly? It was a great workout! My back was bugging me so I didn't want to do much strength, but this was great for that, as it was almost all cardio. By the end of the 40 minutes (level 1 was 20, level 2 was 10 and then warm up/cool down) I had burned 457 calories, and was a sweaty mess. That is a full 157 calories more than I normally burn doing the shred, btw. I think I may have  found my new alternative to the gym :-)