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I know this is the time of year for the New Year, New Me resolutions. I get it. I love the fresh start of the New Year. I probably should eat a little better in 2017. Cook a little more. Drink less wine & I legitimately am going to try to read more. But as far as fitness goes I’m in a pretty good groove. In 2016 I ran two half marathons (the Long Island Half Marathon and the AmeriHealth Atlantic City Half). I ran countless 5Ks, the Bellmore Striders 4th of July 4 miler, and the New Hyde Park 8K. I consistently worked out at least three times a week. But it’s taken me years to get into my workout groove. And today I am going to share with you my NUMBER ONE fitness tip for staying active.
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My #1 Fitness Tip
Now I am not a personal trainer and I have no medical training. I am just a girl who likes to eat, and luckily enjoys working out. But I am also a busy mom. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, a full-time working mom and now a part-time math tutor and sub. And this trick has stayed with me no matter my life circumstance.
That’s important because there are no excuses.
When my daughter turned one, I joined a gym across the street from my apartment in Queens. For $30 a month, the gym offered unlimited babysitting during their childcare hours. Each morning we would drop off little man at preschool, come home, the baby would nap for about an hour and then we would head to the gym. I didn’t have much else to do, nor did I have any other means to workout. I had to condense it into the time when childcare was offered and it just became part of our routine. Since going was an option all five days of the week, we went when we could and if we missed, we just went the next day.
When baby girl was two, I went back to work full-time. I was logging long days. I had to drop the kids off at daycare around 7am, and pick them up by 6 pm when it closed. That did not leave me much workout time. By the spring I was craving that me time so I formulated a plan to get a run or two in each week. I would change into running clothes at work, rush to get to daycare by about 4:45, park in the lot, run around the neighborhood for 30 minutes and then get the kids. I felt bad leaving them in daycare for an extra 30 minutes a day, but I was paying for it and the reward was worth the guilt.
The following year, school situations changed and I had to get even more intentional about my workouts. A spinning studio opened by my house and in the winter months I bought an unlimited monthly pass. Now since there are only so many bikes in a spin studio, you have to book your ride in advance (or risk being wait-listed). At this studio, if you late cancel you are charged a fee.
It was then that I started to plan out my weekly workouts. I would sit down at my computer and book my rides for the week. I had to think about my other commitments and plan accordingly. Because I paid for the classes, and didn’t want to late cancel, I had to stick to my plan.
When winter rolled into spring, and I was able to head outside more to run or bike, I kept that same philosophy.
Each week, I sit down and plan my entire week of workouts.
This has been the biggest game changer for me.
Each Sunday or Monday, I look at my calendar of life commitments and plan out a realistic week. I think about what days there are classes I like at my favorite fitness studios (FITmixx, iSpin and Metrow Fit). In January 2017 I joined the local Crunch, so I can run inside, or take a class there. I think about what days I want to run and if I want to do a long (5+ miles) or short (3-4 miles). I look at the weather also – will it be cold, rain, snow, or too hot at the time of day I can get outside?
I also like to bike but for that I need at least 90 minutes. I need time to load my bike in the car, drive to the trail and then ride for at least an hour. If the weather is bad, or I have a day where I am home alone with the kids, I plan to do a workout DVD in my living room. I have the whole Pure Barre series (the Tone in 10 and the 30 minute Burn) and this 21 Day Fix DVD. I also have a friend that I will plan a workout with and we will do this Pilates video (free off YouTube) or go for a run at our local preserve.
For me, I know I am disciplined and will do what I have set out to do unless life intervenes. But if I deviate from the plan, I don’t beat myself up because there is another day, with another activity planned. Currently I do not work full-time so I do have more time than others to commit to myself. But especially when I was working, this strategy kept me focused and on track.
I plan to write more fitness posts about how I train for a half marathon and what activities I like to do to mix it up. But for now, try it. Sit down on Sunday and map out your week. Look at the weather to plan outdoor activities, look at your family calendar to balance your other commitments. I promise this one tip will keep you accountable and on track!
Do you plan out your workout week? What is your best fitness tip?
You might also like:
My review of the AmeriHealth Atlantic City Half Marathon
MY FAVORITE AT HOME WORKOUTS:
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I do meal planning, so this just makes sense to plan workouts too! Never really thought of it that way. Thanks!
but for some reason I cannot get a meal plan down. hmmm
Glad you shared how your workout time had to change as your life changed and kids get older. I believe you do have to schedule working out into your everyday life.
its an ever evolving process!
I also find that I stick to staying healthy better when I plan it out in advance. I do this for my meals and for my workouts.
for some reason, I cannot get a hold of meal planning!
Planning is huge!
Thanks for the idea! I’m an avid meal planner, but hadn’t thought of planning workouts. Maybe that will help me stay on top of them 🙂 #productivemomslinkup
Great Inspirations! I am the same way with planning my workouts, but I am doing strictly at home workouts and running, so I have to flexible when the weather isn’t cooperating. I am training for my second half marathon right now!
Very inspiring thank you for sharing. My husband and I has been doing our little fitness as well, planning our meal and did some walking. We need to be more consistent on it. Great tips.
Planning is a great idea. It makes work outs a priority. I get up every morning before the kids and staying in that routine has really helped get it done.
I used to think I was going to go early,but I realized its not for me. I love my sleep. Part of it is knowing your schedule and your self!
I’ve been planning my workouts lately and it is CRAZY helpful! I used to say “Ok, I’m going to work-out after I get home from work, every day” but that didn’t account for days I knew I had to stay late, the days we had appointments or dinner parties. Now I sit down on Sunday (while meal preppin’ 😉 ) and plan each day so I can take each day’s tasks into consideration while planning.
-Clarissa @ The View From Here
its funny because for some reason I am a meal plan failure 🙁 Im working on it though, been better in the new year.
Yes! That is so helpful. It is important to plan ahead in order to be successful.
Great tips! Not only is it good to meal plan, but also to exercise plan! I’ve started to do this same since the beginning of January and I haven’t skipped a workout since!
havent skipped, thats awesome! I rarely skip, but I am a pretty motivated person so if I do, its usually for a good reason!
I love having something to train for. It really motivates me to get off my couch and workout. My husband and I have a half marathon coming up in March, and getting back into the groove of running and working out consistently has been tough, but SO worth it! And I’m with you on planning out my week’s worth of workouts on Sunday. I know exactly what I’m going to do, and I do it.
I use the Hal Hidgeons half marathon training plan, so that definitely outlines my week when I am training for a race. But even when I am not, I like to have a plan in mind!
Love this! I used to be a competitive weightlifter, so I had a coach who wrote out my workouts for me every week. Without him, I would have been lost and never have made it as far as I did! Planning is SO important to progess!
I can’t believe that I never really thought about intentionally scheduling/planning my workouts before now. Thank you for this helpful-yet-simple tip! I create a weekly meal plan already. I think I’ll start adding workouts right to that same document!