Yes, that's right people, I decided to order Focus T25. Before you judge, I actually had legitimate reasons I thought it would be a good idea.
#1 I really want to get back into shape
#2 I have major guilt and can not possibly go to the gym if it means having to leave my kids with someone else. They already have to spend way too much time with other people as it is.
#3 As far as time goes, I felt like 25 mins was do-able for me.
I received my ill-fated workout program last week, and I was geared up to get started. I cleared out my sunroom, strapped on my workout gear, and put in the first DVD. About 3 cuss words in I looked up and realized that I still had 24 mins and 29 secs left in my workout. I thought this was supposed to be fun. Fun, my a$$. Sean T, let me introduce you to the Mexican word of the day. JULY JULY. (Say it in a mexican voice, I swear it makes sense) It wasn't fun at all. Actually, I friggin hated it. I found myself cursing Sean T and just straight up refusing to do the moves on the video. Burpee you say??? MAKE ME!
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| Me after about 54 secs of Focus T25 |
Obviously, this was not the point of the video. So here we are, 3 days in and I now have it listed on ebay. You should check it out if you are into pain or S&M, it will probably be right up you alley.
Why do I ramble on about my shortcoming with home workout videos, because I have come up with a few useful tips for people that would like to workout, but it doesn't seem to come easy for them.
Unless you are already at your goal weight and just want to add definition, all this plank, burpee, crossfit business does not need to be the mainstay of your workout. If you are like 99% of the people that I know and want to drop some weight, you need to focus on cardio. Run, if you cant run, walk. If you cant walk....well that gonna be a problem. Here is the good news though. Pretty much everyone can walk. It doesn't have to be fast, just start with a certain amount of time you are going to walk and go from there. If you stick with it, you will get faster, and be able to walk further.
I have been an avid walker for most of my life. I can walk for miles, but the moment I try to run, HELLO Exercise induced bronchspasm. I literally can not run any distance at all without feeling like I am going to die. How does that work? I mean, I can walk 5 miles and can not run 1/4 mile? WTF? Well by shear process of elimination, I have discovered some things I have been doing wrong.
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| Can't believe that whole "home fitness" thing didn't work out for ya Ma! |
1. I was trying to run too fast
I guess when I imagine people running, I was thinking of a sprint. Obviously you can only run at that pace for so long. Not long ago, I was reading a magazine article and the average individual working out. It said, if you are trying to run and you are short of breath, SLOW DOWN. Interesting advice. I mean, it makes sense, but is that really running if you are slighty more than a walking pace. Well, YOUR DAMN RIGHT IT IS! When I run now, if I get short of breath, I just slow down. Even if I am not going any faster than I would during a powerwalk, I am still exerting more energy with the jog.
2. I was running with my arms.
When I would start off running, I would move my arms and let my legs follow. It wasn't intentional, that's just the way that my body did it. Turns out, that would lead to almost immediate fatigue of the very weak muscles in my upper body. My neck and shoulders would get very tight and my head would start to hurt as those muscles tightened. Pair this with the shortness of breath, and you can see where the "I think I'm fixin to die" feeling might have come pretty quick. So, I have figured out that when I start to run, I just start moving my feet in that motion and let my upper body follow. I don't purposely hold my arms up or clench my fist. I just let the motion of my feet naturally move my upper body back in forth.
3. I was doing it at the wrong time of day
Maybe not everyone is affected like I am by the sun. But, if I try to workout outside when the sun is up, I melt like something off of True Blood. I just can't take it. I pretty much wait until the sun is almost down and start on my walk. (or run if I am feeling froggy).
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| For real, this is Me after I spend more than about 2 minutes in the sun. |
4. I was trying to do something I knew I hated..The treadmill
In a separate, yet related ill-fated adventure, I purchased a treadmill. I knew I wouldn't like it, because I have always been an outside walker. I have exercise ADHD....I get bored with the same scenery in about a millisecond. So, like most other large items that you purchase and then are too much of a wiener to move, it became an $800 clothing rack. If you know you are easily bored, either walk/run outside or go to an actual gym where people watching can keep you busy for hours.
5. I was wearing the wrong bra
I am big busted, it's not a secret or anything. That being said- I never really felt like any padding would be necessary in a sports bra. I had always bought the plain stretch cotton sports bras without underwires or padding. These are fine to lay around the house with a uni-boob in, but to run, you are gonna need something more substantial to hold the girls in place. If not, you will end up with instant boob fatigue when you start jogging. (That's where your boobs are so tired of bouncing up and down that they give you bodily fatigue and perhaps, chest pain.) I finally decided to invest in a very tight and slightly padded Underarmour sports bra that works perfectly. Honestly at first, it doesn't seem all that comfy because its kinda confining, but when you start the running business, you will be glad that the girls are locked and loaded. Buyers beware...I also tired on one of the new Victoria Secret sports bras, and it was less for exercising and more for using as a flotation device.
6. I was wearing the wrong bottoms
I generally would try to walk or jog in yoga pants or capris....don't ask me why, that's just what I like to lounge around in. Turns out, a couple minutes of jogging in those things, you start sweating in places that ladies shouldn't sweat. I always thought the running shorts with the little mesh underwear in them were kinda weird, turns out, somebody figured out they didnt like jayjay sweat either.
Disclaimer for d-bags- I am not a running guru. I obviously don't have it figured all out. I welcome any positive and helpful comments.
Any negative or douchy commentary can be placed at this site:
www.douchebagsanonymous.com
The fact that I am still trying means that I haven't given up completely, and that should count for something!
The fact that I am still trying means that I haven't given up completely, and that should count for something!
