Wellness

[151949]

Well, we are back in our home and finally all is put away and we are settled, so I went to my water aerobics class this AM. It is called turbo move and is heavily concentrated on core strengthing. All summer I have been a real slug except for walking and this morning was killer. A whole hour of strengthing  exercises. Some are pretty complicated and are done in the deep water so you are required to tread water while you do the exercises.The most difficult one - you have to "fall over" in the water and catch yourself and straighten up before you go under. We probably did 10 of those and I went under twice. I come up sputtering and everyone laughs at you.WHEW. BTW - before they allow you into this class they require you to be able to swim 10 laps and demonstrate you can tread water, so safety is always foremost in the program.

So how is everyone exercising? What do you like to do? Beside the water aerobics I like to work out on  the resistance machines in the gym a couple days a week. Gets us out of the house - meet and socialize with our neighbors, keeps us healthy and doesn't cost us anything because we have silver sneakers.A win/ win all around.

[HULAGIRL]

I do at least 4 hours of Jazzercise every week......it can be grueling at times, but there are women of all ages in the class and I'm grateful to be able to keep up.......it includes all aspects incluing core/strength and it's fun!!

[Laura14]

My go tos are Pound, Power (60 minute weight lifting class), and Ride/Cycle.  

Great job with the water aerobics.  I know how hard that is.  I used to do that back in the day until the gym got sold.  New gym doesn't have a pool.  I miss it.  

[HappyDaze]

I work out pretty much every day. I do 40 minutes of cardio using a variety of things, dependind on my mood. Elliptical, treadmill (fast walking, not running), stair stepper, etc. I do intervals at least a few times a week and then steady state cardio the other days.

Then I do weights and other toning type exercises, including floor exercises, exercise balls and pilates. I alternate days of upper body, lower body and core exercises. One day a week I only do cardio. I will sometimes incorporate the weight/resistance machines, mainly for my upper body (triceps and biceps mainly)  but I prefer free weights and weight bars instead of machines as I think they do better in terms of toning and core strength. And studies have shown they don't produce as good of results as free weights and weigh bars, mainly because most people use momentum more than they realize and it is hard to do that using free weights.

I would love to swim more too but I don't know, something about a public pool kind of skeeves me out a bit.

I love to work out. I am pretty hardcore and am covered in sweat by the time I'm done. It makes me feel so much better and a great stress relief. I always laugh at those that don't even break a sweat when "working out". lol.

[SeaMaiden]

@151949  I am so impressed with your workout! Good for you taking good care of your health. I walk everyday....but need to start up my strength training program again.  No excuses right?

[151949]

@SeaMaiden Walking, much like swimming laps, is great to build up endurance but, unfortunately, it uses the same muscles every time. You need to vary what you do in order for all your muscles to get some workout. I don't have any fantasy that I will become svelte and look like I'm 40 again - I am just trying to stave off the crippling affects of arthritis and aging. 42 years of pounding the concrete hospital floors has had it's effects on my bones. As my rehab doctor says "There is a reason we don't see 70 year old nurses at the bedside - they are worn out."

[Lipstickdiva]

When I exercise, I walk.  Sometimes I walk an outdoor track at the local hospital, sometimes I walk around my neighborhood and sometimes I do a Leslie Sansone walking tape which incorporates upper body work including using either hand weights, weighted balls, etc.  I also have a Gazelle which I periodically get on.

But I'm going to be honest and say I hate to exercise.  HATE IT!!!!  The experts say to find something you love and it won't feel like exercise.  Bologna.  No matter what I have tried, it feels like exercise and I hate every stinking solitary minute of it.  I will come up with every excuse in the book not to do it. 

I used to do Leslie's walking tapes 5-6 days a week religiously and I griped every time before I put the DVR in.  Sometimes it was 11:00 at night when I was doing a tape because I had put it off that much during the day.  LOL  I don't feel better after working out and I don't even enjoy it while I"m doing it.  The entire time I just want it done and over with.

I had a dog that I walked every day unless the weather was too bad.  He was my saving grace.  We walked a minimum of 1 mile, usually  more.  No matter how much I wanted to plop down after work, I couldn't resist that face and he was adament about his walks.  And he walked rain, shine and snow.  He didn't care.  Once he died, my exercising went downhill pronto.     

[CANDLEQUEEN]

I ride my stationary bike 45 minutes a day, 4 times a week. I plan to start back up on my XLGlider and alternate between the two......I really wish I had a pilates machine or pilates chair. I may end up giftin one of them to myself after the holidays....... 

[sandraskates]

I tried water aerobics several years ago at the city pool. It was a lot of fun but there were many people that were obviosly just there to socialize. So this "clump" seriously impeded any notion of getting a good workout. On the plus side, I always felt at least 1" taller after getting out of the pool; it really helped my back.

Now I'm back to ice skating and teaching a few classes a week. My clothes feel much better although the scale is the same!

I also walk the hills around my house when I'm ambitious, or drive down and walk the flatlands when I'm lazy. We got a dog so that is some extra incentive. And I take a lunchtime walk every day unless it's raining sideways.

[Pook]

Weather permitting I walk with my dog 3 miles daily.  I do a Zumba tape every other dayand the other days I do resistance training at least 45 minutes a day with body blades, 5-20 lb dumbells and other devices.  Throughout the day I use a spin gym, or a wonder core exercise or 2 while watching tv