what's your current exercise regime?

[redrhodie]

I've been thinking about my fitness regime, and how it's changed over the years. Right now, and for the last several years, cycling has been my main aerobic activity. Once a week I take Pilates class for my core. I also walk every day, most often to the store, and I consider carrying groceries part of my weight bearing work. I like this current mix, but I know if I ever get bored, I'll try something else. I could see myself trying 'cross someday for some excitment.

In earlier years, I was into ballet, yoga, and rock climbing. Walking has been my most consistant activity over many, many years.

So, what's working for you? Is there anything you're thinking about trying that you haven't yet?

[ny biker]

Weight training 2x/week. Cardio on other days, totaling 5-6 days exercise per week.

Cardio in warm weather is bike or long walks. In winter it's a machine at the gym or a long walk outside if it's not too cold. I should ride my bike on the trainer more, maybe this year I'll do that.

I walk to/from the gym which is 15 minutes each way, down a big hill to get there and up the big hill to get home.

[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.

[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!

[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.