what's your current exercise regime?

[kjb]

Biking is my main aerobic work-out, too. A couple of times a week I head over to the stadium at the high school and run the stairs. It's great for the legs and the mind, as well as for adding some variety. I don't walk nearly as much as I used to. I like biking everywhere I can instead. I have my eye on some indoor rock climbing for the winter. It's something I've always wanted to try, but I finally feel strong enough to try it. I'll probably also add a cheap gym membership, just for the winter, for weight training and (possibly) some group classes. I'd like to think I'm hardcore, but I don't think I'll be doing much biking in the Chicago winters.

kjb

[deeaimond]

my current exercise routine is called 'wielding the red pen' (endless grading. guess my occupation! )


in a more normal state I engage in a mixture of 60% biking, 20% jogging and 20% swimming at least 5 exercise days a week. However due to my work schedule now, I'm lucky if i get to fit in a 20 mile ride on Sunday.

I cycle to work everyday, but its like a 2 mile commute. i try to make up for it by riding faster and using the heavy bike. 20 mins on the bike each day (unless i have something on that day then i just hop on a taxi....) I know i'm bad. been looking for a pilates class to attend but i live in the suburbs and pilates hasn't reached here yet. I need to work on my core. I think it doesn't really exist right now... I try to squeeze in some running now and then, but it hasn't happened in about... 3 weeks. sigh...

[Brandi]

Let's see I shovel sand, play tennis twice a week and bike.

[GLC1968]

Since I started biking, it has become pretty much all I did and I've done nothing but gain weight in that time frame.

This past year, we added 'farm work' into the mix - so when I'm not at a desk at work, I'm shoveling, hoeing, building, carrying, milking, weeding, etc. And I was *still* gaining weight.

A month ago, it occurred to me that when I was a 'normal' body weight, it was back when I used to lift weights regularly. I decided to pick it up again. Now I lift heavy 3 days a week, do one mixed cardio (kick boxing, step, etc) once a week, still do the farm work and I ride when I can (about twice a week now). It's making a HUGE difference on how I view my body and my abilities. And the scale is starting to move in the right direction, too.

I have no idea how I ever let myself drop the weight training, but I'm SOOOO glad that I'm finally back into it.

[Chile Pepper]

We're still in winter, so my cycling time is down. I'm going to the gym three to four days a week, doing the treadmill and weights. I cycle when the weather is decent. Once spring arrives, I'm hoping to keep up at the gym three days a week and ride three days (two short, one long), with Sundays off for recovery.

[DarcyInOregon]

During the winter months I am at the gym 6 days a week, doing cardio, weights and core. However I can't get the sustained heart rate at the gym that I can while cycling, so when good weather arrives I am on the bike again, and I just visit the gym a few times a week to do low burn cardio, weights and core. I also walk and hike.

On the bike my average heart rate on a distance ride is over 130. At the gym, even doing running intervals on the treadmill I am lucky to get an average heart rate of 125. The bike is a more effective cardio exercise for me.

Next summer I am thinking about taking up kayaking, in addition to the cycling.

The weight gain while cycling happened to me too, and in a serious way, back in 2007. I burn over 35,000 calories a month with cycling during the good months, so I was in shock. It turns out I had gotten an inflammation of my intestinal system, most likely caused by food chemicals, which slowed down my digestive system and metabolism. Anyone reading this who is gaining weight and might not know why, to put it delicately, if your bowel movements are not normal, like when you were a healthy child, then you should suspect internal inflammation as the cause of your weight gain. I focused carefully on my nutrition and minimized processed foods in my diet, cleared up the inflammation, my bowel movements are now incredibily healthy, I lost the weight I had gained plus a bunch more, and I feel great.

[shootingstar]

The weight gain while cycling happened to me too, and in a serious way, back in 2007. I burn over 35,000 calories a month with cycling during the good months, so I was in shock. It turns out I had gotten an inflammation of my intestinal system, most likely caused by food chemicals, which slowed down my digestive system and metabolism. Anyone reading this who is gaining weight and might not know why, to put it delicately, if your bowel movements are not normal, like when you were a healthy child, then you should suspect internal inflammation as the cause of your weight gain. I focused carefully on my nutrition and minimized processed foods in my diet, cleared up the inflammation, my bowel movements are now incredibily healthy, I lost the weight I had gained plus a bunch more, and I feel great.

Re: Bowel...I tried starting up a topic thread on this with a few responses. Just a few days ago, I chatted up with another cyclist. She agreed that regular BM is another way how she informally assesses healthy bodily functioning..aided by exercise. My gut feeling tells me that BM matters both healthy and not so good, tend to be noticed when we get into our 30's and beyond. Younger people may not notice certain patterns nor care at that point in time.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=32936

During cycling season, I do cycle a significant amount. Then near end of day, I try to do some simple Pilates, yoga, etc. more to keep myself flexible, stretched, etc. Winter is not great 'cause other than the floor stretching exercises, I only do snowshoeing occasionally if weather is too lousy/not safe for cycling.

Of course, not having a car, I must walk, etc. as my other transportation alternative.

[Dogmama]

Since I started biking, it has become pretty much all I did and I've done nothing but gain weight in that time frame.

A month ago, it occurred to me that when I was a 'normal' body weight, it was back when I used to lift weights regularly. I decided to pick it up again. Now I lift heavy 3 days a week, do one mixed cardio (kick boxing, step, etc) once a week, still do the farm work and I ride when I can (about twice a week now). It's making a HUGE difference on how I view my body and my abilities. And the scale is starting to move in the right direction, too.

I have no idea how I ever let myself drop the weight training, but I'm SOOOO glad that I'm finally back into it.

I'm a big proponent of lifting weights. It makes an amazing difference in body shape. When I cycle only, I get "skinny fat" - meaning that I drop some weight and I drop A LOT of muscle, so I get the flappy underarms, etc. I don't feel good either - seems like my coordination is off and I just get grumpy - probably hammering too much on the bike & overtraining. "The only time I see middle ground is when I am running from one extreme to the other" (joke!) I noticed that some TdF guys actually had some flabby arms too - not a lot, but you'd think that holding that position would firm up triceps more.

Crankin - my hand-eye coordination sucks too. I was recently out of town & the hotel gym had a bench, a couple of exercise balls & free weights. It's pretty cool what you can do with a bench, free weights & a little imagination!

Oakleaf - I get tired just reading your post!!

Kelly, I did some running on vacation & forgot how nice it is. Do you run inside/outside or both? I just got some new Sauconys - boy I love those shoes!

It's been a week since I've been on the bike & I"m ready to head out early in the morning!

[pfunk12]

I usually do 200-225 miles on the bike per week since I commute every day and try to do longer rides on the weekend. I try to do core work 2-3 times per week and weights 2-3 times per week. I just canceled my gym membership since I never went so anything I do (core work, weights, balance exercises, flexibility exercises, etc.), I do in my home. When I was a runner, I was much more disciplined about doing some type of exercise every night but I think it was because I was competing and I knew that anything extra that I did helped my performance. Now? After an hour ride on the bike home and cooking dinner for myselfand my 2 kids...I am sometimes too tired to move!

[KnottedYet]

I don't exercise. (I just make other people do it.)

[Kelly728]

Kelly, I did some running on vacation & forgot how nice it is. Do you run inside/outside or both? I just got some new Sauconys - boy I love those shoes!

I run outside. Treadmills equal complete misery to me and you will only find me on one if it storming or there is ice on the ground!

[nscrbug]

Currently, I'm cycling about 200 miles a week (3 days, all fairly long rides) weather permitting. In addition to that, I'm at the gym M-F...doing 60-90 minutes of cardio (running, elliptical, Stairmaster), 60 minutes of strength training, and 30-45 minutes of abdominal/core work and stretching. I also do a 45-minute spinning class, 2 mornings a week. And I was also swimming 2 days a week for 1 hour at an outdoor pool, but the pool closes for the season this weekend so I'm done with swimming for now. Unless, I can find an indoor pool that I'm comfortable with (I despise swimming in an indoor pool).

Once the colder weather sets in (I'm in Chicago), the cycling outdoors will stop, unless the temps are in the 40's and no ice on the ground. I will then switch over to my winter workout, which is basically my gym routine, 7 days a week.

[redrhodie]

Let's see I shovel sand, play tennis twice a week and bike.

This all sounds fun!

I have recently gotten a frisbee, and that's REALLY fun. My dbf is really good, won tournaments way back in high school. I'm surprisingly okay. I'm pretty much afraid of anything flying at me (any kind of ball), so it's great that I don't feel that with the disc, and I can both throw AND catch!

Does anyone play any sports?

[Crankin]

I consider what I do as sports! I suck at team things that require eye hand coordination. I liked field hockey in school, but I haven't played it since I was 15. Things like golf and tennis are out for me, as are baseball and basketball. I think I would have been OK at soccer, but it wasn't played when I was a kid and while I understand the point is to get a goal, I don't really know the other rules (yea, I faked it when my kids played). I sailed for a few years as a kid, as the crew for a friend, but my parents decided not buy me a boat when I couldn't learn the knots (see above about eye hand coordination!). We have a canoe, too, but we only do flat water pond canoeing. I don't swim well, either; I can swim, but not efficiently and tire very easily when swimming. And I don't really like not being able to touch my feet on the ground.

[GLC1968]

I love just about all sports (except field hockey...man I hated being forced to play that in gym!)!! Unfortunately, most team sports require a commitment and I just can't do that right now.

We have been scoping out tennis courts in our area...and I'm thinking about joining in with the group that plays volleyball at lunch here at my office (we have a new sand volleyball court outside). I'm too old for rugby any more....and probably for soccer, too. I gave up snowboarding permanently, but I do hope to get in some skiing this winter. I don't think I've skied since our honeymoon over 6 years ago!