Yeah, my gym does stuff like that, but I’ve never worked out in a group environment like that. Is there something they do that I wouldn’t be able to get done on my own? I guess maybe they could show me some techniques I’m unfamilar with, but I’d rather learn from a video or something.
I highly encourage you to try a group class. Theoretically, you can get the same workout on your own, but it depends on your motivation level. I find I work out much harder and more effectively in a coached setting. I get more into a mimic state of mind. If the instructor says to go harder, I go harder. When I work out on my own, I don’t really do that. I tend to get into a groove and stay there for the whole time. Plus, I get bored when working out on my own and tend to stop sooner.
So it’s not so much that the technique is different in the class, it’s that someone is guiding and encouraging you. The benefit comes from the motivational aspect. For me, an hour in a group class is much more enjoyable than 20 minutes of running on my own. I end up working out longer, harder, and enjoying it much more than working out on my own.
I also get mental encouragement from the other participants. When it gets tough, I find it easier to keep pushing when I see those around me pushing through it. Not only am I working harder because of what the instructor is saying, but also because those around me are working hard.
I encourage everyone to try working out in a group environment. I find it makes working out more enjoyable, so I go more often and for longer periods of time.
From what I read in your other thread, I would think you would enjoy the higher level of exertion in these classes. Also look to see if they offer BodyPump. It’s a weight-lifting type of class which is beginner friendly. You may also enjoy that.
You know, people have been telling me that for years. So, I tried a few classes. I got a good workout and they were interesting but it really only reminded me about the one truth in my life:
I hate people.
Seriously, going to the gym for me isn’t just about getting healthier physically, it’s a mental exercise for me, as well. Almost like meditation. I am 100% focused on me. Group classes don’t give me that mental release.
So, I am sticking with my solo outings. (Every once in a while I get a personal trainer to go over my program to make sure I am headed in the right direction, though. Expensive but worth it.)
What do you guys do to keep from getting bored during workouts? I normally listen to podcasts or audiobooks or sometimes music during most activities, but for the immediate future I’m going to be swimming a whole lot. And I spend long stretches - 90-120 minutes in the pool, which can get boring. I’m thinking about getting one of those waterproof mp3 players, but I’m wondering what else people do. I’ve been trying to work in doing mental math problems while I’m doing it - try to give my brain a workout too, but I find that my concentration can get disrupted. Sometimes I try to reach an almost meditative state and focus entirely on the physical movements, which is interesting but not exactly fun.
I suspect I will be mostly lurking in this thread, but I have partially read and partially skimmed, and I think it will be in my best interests to “out” myself here.
I’ve been diabetic and had high cholesterol for a few years now, but generally not at a level that had my doctor panicking or anything. My doctor had also assigned me to a cardiologist a couple of years ago because my family history works very, very much against me. When I did a stress test back then, I was told I had a strong heart and was generally OK.
A couple of weeks ago, after some blood tests, my doctor decided that she still didn’t like where my cholesterol was (just cracking 200) combined with the diabetes, and she decided to increase my meds. My cardiologist wasn’t crazy about the increased medication, so she decided to have me do an ultrasound and a full nuclear stress test so they could firmly say where I was.
So, yesterday I learned that in addition to having some slightly thickened heart muscle (which I already knew about from a prior ultrasound), I am also already showing signs of diseased arteries. I’m 37, by the way. My cardiologist’s words were that I am “ten to twenty years ahead of” where I should be. Given that my father died of a heart attack when he was 49, that is obviously the last thing I wanted to hear, although not the most surprising thing, either.
The good news is that my large arteries are apparently fine for now, but that the smaller ones are what are showing disease. My cardiologist said that that issue can be healed by the medication, but what is preventing that from happening is my weight. So I’ve been told that my absolute #1 priority is to lose weight, and I have an appointment with my GP on Monday to discuss nutrition.
I know this is going to be an incredibly difficult process for me already. I am a fairly picky eater, and there are only a couple of vegetables that I am able to take any pleasure in eating. I like fruits, but I can’t eat a ton of it because of being diabetic. Eating is one of my greatest pleasures, but almost nothing I eat is healthful (particularly in the quantities I tend to eat). I don’t know how this is all going to work out for me, but I feel like I have to. I have a wife that I love very much, and that I’d like to be around for as long as I can be. So I need to figure this out, somehow.
In the meanwhile, I appreciate the existence of this thread, and I appreciate reading stories of people’s successes, both small and large. I hope I can be one of them at some point.
Beef I’m going to tell you for the 12th time to get yourself a waterproof iPod case! 
I’ve used that brand so long (H2O Audio) that they’ve changed their name already (X-1). I’ve never, ever, ever had a problem with the cases leaking.
Asimovian let me know if you want any help with low carb. I’m picky too but I’ve made it work. Good luck! (Now you have me worried that I need a cardiologist because of my family history too)
Yeah, every time I’m just about to get one, I end up switching to different excercises or just get lazy and trail off. Money is kind of tight at the moment, and I was thinking of buying some other stuff like a bike and bike rack for excercise, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to squeeze it in soon unless there’s a relatively cheap option.
I would have given up by now if exercise machines didn’t have TVs attached to them. Seriously, that’s what gets me through a workout. Or group classes, because if other people are doing it, I have to too!
Edit: I have to note that the gym TVs have cable and I don’t have it at home, so it’s like a treat to choose from all those channels.
So I got my one-on-one with a nutritionist specializing in diabetes. Surprisingly enough, I was told to get more carbs in, since I wasn’t hitting the 45-60g recommended per meal. I have problems with feeling full, so they told me to throw in a cup of quinoa or whatever with my supper.
I have also been told to increase my protein and decrease my salt.
I also need to figure out what to do with chickpeas, lentils and beans. None of those were part of my diet growing up. Cooked veggies were potatoes, turnips and weird mushy carrots. Beans went into chili, but that’s about all. Going to try cooking some quinoa or chickpeas and throwing them in with my supper salad.
So I saw my doctor today for my annual checkup. My labs and everything look great. But I moved the goalposts, so to speak, and asked for a note to give to Weight Watchers so my goal can be set at my current weight. I’m exercising and minding my diet, and I honestly don’t know what changes I can still make that will make a difference. My doctor did make the observation that I have a lot of loose skin. I really don’t feel like I’m giving up. I’m so frustrated with not being able to hit that magic number that I sdidn’t know what else to do. I can still try to make it to my goal weight, but at least the pressure’s off now.
While I am exercising I focus on exercising. I also listen to music but that’s more to keep a steady rhythm. I try to make it just hard enough that I can’t really do much else.
But as I said before, for me it’s kind of like meditation. Mind-body connection and all that.
Well, it’s been a hellish stressful 2 weeks, with a few more weeks of the same to come. But the good news is, that I found time yesterday to work out, and damn, stress is good!! Down 5# more–busted the nasty plateau I’d been on for a whole month!!
And if I put one of the protein drinks in the freezer at work, 45 min. before lunch, then I’m good, only the very lightest lunch needed, and tons of energy, which believe me, right now I need it!!
I just posted this in the MMP, so forgive me for repeating myself. I am so upset right now. My big, important appointment with the knee doctor to see if I’m going to have surgery or not has been pushed back from tomorrow to next Friday. 
I am so damn tired of this. It was last freaking January when I injured it originally. I want this to be resolved one way or the other.
My coach is making me do things I wouldn’t ordinarily do. I was sick as a dog on Monday, and spent the entire day in bed. He convinced me to work out anyway. I surprised myself by making it through the workout, and then was on my feet from then on and back to work the next day.
Today my assignment is to do 300 jumping jacks. This might be my toughest assignment yet.
I am not a super fit person. I am still fat. I didn’t know fat people could do stuff like this, but apparently we can. Through this process I’ve been challenged to question a lot of the assumptions I make about what I can and can’t do.
For example, I’ve been having low back pain because I commute 3 hours a day and work sitting down. My thought of course was, ‘‘Nothing I can really do about that.’’ But it turns out there is. I started doing some work and daily activities standing up. I decided to learn how to relax standing up. I’ve played board and video games standing up. And the back pain has diminished significantly.
Had morning from hell. Someone put cake in front of me. I ate it. Damn it.
I had the night from hell. Drowned my sorrows in ice cream.
Let’s get back on track! Gym bag is in my car so I can go to the gym after work. I have a super-healthy packed lunch!
Boo! I’m sorry to hear things have gone so badly and hope ya’ll can find it in you to get back on track soon.
I think I’m losing weight. I don’t weigh myself, but I can usually tell.
I cancelled my gym membership due to cost plus I’m bored. I’m taking a break for 2 months but when I get back from vacay in June, I’m going to immerse myself in yoga and do a fundamentals course followed by at least 2 weekly practice sessions. In the 2 month interval, I’m going to focus on walking outside since winter finally seems to be loosening its grip. Went for a 30 walk in the forest preserve today and it felt good.
I turned in my note to WW today, so I’m now on maintenance. I get 29 points a day instead of 26. Of course, when I stepped on the scale this morning, I lost 2.6 lbs. damn troll body. :mad:
I was a competition swimmer back in the days before waterproof mp3 players (or, well, mp3’s period). 3-4 hours a day in the pool. I went through a wide variety of mental exercises while swimming. I’ve never been much for math, but look up riddles and contemplate them, plot out things (I write fiction), excavate my memories, list things (like, say, all the countries I could remember), sing songs to myself (99 bottles of beer on the wall kills a lot of time), count in sequences, narrate things to myself, etc. It’s totally okay to let your mind wander and zone for a while, and then start over in your mental exercise-- in fact I think that helps.
(Note: all of the above works just as well for distance running, but I found swimming is the perfect sport to get totally lost inside your own head. There’s no road to pay attention to)
I’d also suggest varying your strokes if you’re able. Breaststroke and backstroke will change your view and add some variety (and stroke practice provides something to focus on as well).
You know those little pkgs. of fruit “candy”; I call them fruit leather; Welchs’ makes them? 70 calories little bags of fruit “stuff”. I tried them to keep for the times when Ms. Sugar Jones comes calling, but they weren’t very satisfying.
Today I found an old package in my desk. I think it’s probably a couple of months old. Stale as hell. But I tried it anyway, and Yahoo, it’s Juicy Fruits!!! Good chewing working, and I thought I was having candy, but it chased Ms. Jones right out of the house!