| cortcase
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I have to preface this post by saying, I know this is all going to sound like a lot of excuses, but I promise it's not. I'm just hoping to get veterans' opinions on how to not lose progress this week.
I've been exercising religiously six days a week for many months now. I have a Cardio Blast class on Saturdays that incorporates cardio, abs and weights. Throughout the week, I typically do Couch to 5K (jogging/walking program) 2-3 times, my own kickboxing/aerobics/cardio routine 1-2 times, my Prevention 3-2-1 circuit video, etc.
Last week, I could not seem to force myself onto the treadmill. It's been 80-90 degrees here lately and of course my exercise room faces south on the second floor, so the heat is unbearable even though we have the air on full blast (the rest of that house gets cool, just not that room!) I've trained two different fans on me, but it's not helping at all. I already sweat like a fiend when I jogged, so now it's to the point where I'm almost getting sick because I'm sweating so much. I'm considering moving the treadmill downstairs to the basement, where it's much cooler, but our basement is just basically cement, so I'm wondering if that will only dampen my enthusiasm more. To be honest, I'm getting very tired of jogging. I don't enjoy it AT ALL. But I want to keep doing it because I think it's beneficial.
So, last week, feeling very unmotivated to get on the treadmill, I did a lot of exercise bike, which I rarely did at all before. Everyday I went in that room and said, I'm going to jog, and then looked at the bike and thought, but I could read if I go on the bike, and I won't feel like I'm going to melt! The temptation was too much to resist. But now my knee is beginning to bother me.
Also, to compound my issues, I got sick on Thursday and am fighting a sinus infection. I can't even dream of jogging when I can barely breathe. So last night I went on the bike again and I'm hoping to do aerobics tonight, but if I can't handle it because I'm sick, should I just do weights and abs until I'm feeling better? I don't know whether to push myself or rest while I'm sick.
I apologize for the rambling, but basically, I'm hoping some vets who have been through these issues can tell me: How do you stay motivated doing certain exercises? If you're sick or have mild joint discomfort, should you rest or push yourself? If you have to stop working out for a few days, how do you avoid losing progress?
Thanks in advance for your help! :) I really want to get as fit as I can be... |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:22 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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Here's a link to a short article on exercising when ill.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/AN01097
The gist of it is if your symptoms are above the neck, you're good to go, if they're below the neck, it's a no-go, and don't exercise if you have a fever.
Amazingly, and I know this is true from personal experience, exercising may actually temporarily clear up your nasal congestion. |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:32 pm |
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| PapaBanucci
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I could give you lots of practical tips here and there. Such as trying something different, moving the treadmill, or going outside or working out earlier in the morning or later in the evening in the summer months but frankly it really looks like your just looking for excuses. I mean, you covered temperature, knee, sinus, and more.
Me thinks you're just looking for an excuse for yourself and justification from us.
However you asked an important question about what one should do in these emotional times and whether one should pull back or push through injury. Over time you develop aware of good pain vs. bad pain. You probably are already developing this and know which it is.
However, in the motivational duldrums I personally find the most important thing is to do something. Get on the workout gear, go to the place of workout, or go to any place of workout (the park?, anywhere), and do something active in the workout gear for the designated period of time.
Your asking about "losing progress" but I think when the challenge is a challenge of will, progress is all about the will, not about the body. "Progress" in this context means yet another day where I did something, where I worked out. Another day marked off on the calendar where I chose to workout though I didn't want to.
In fact I'm feeling a bit of this myself this morning. I didn't get to workout until 8:00PM last night. And it's now 5:30PM where I am. And I really don't want to workout. I'm tired. I have these horrible bags under my eyes. But I'm up. And I'm going to get on my gear. And go run intervals which I really don't want to have to find the will to do this morning.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into your post for what's going on in this moment of my own life. I could be completely wrong about my guess about what's going on with you. But from what I can see we're both right now in a similar spot and we both need to do something today and make ourselves proud and add another day to the calendar where we each chose to do something and correspondingly increase, just a little bit, the ease at which such decisions will come in the future in the increased positive trend which we create today.
So, last week, feeling very unmotivated to get on the treadmill, I did a lot of exercise bike, which I rarely did at all before. Everyday I went in that room and said, I'm going to jog, and then looked at the bike and thought, but I could read if I go on the bike, and I won't feel like I'm going to melt! The temptation was too much to resist. But now my knee is beginning to bother me.
Also, to compound my issues, I got sick on Thursday and am fighting a sinus infection. I can't even dream of jogging when I can barely breathe. So last night I went on the bike again and I'm hoping to do aerobics tonight, but if I can't handle it because I'm sick, should I just do weights and abs until I'm feeling better? I don't know whether to push myself or rest while I'm sick.
I apologize for the rambling, but basically, I'm hoping some vets who have been through these issues can tell me: How do you stay motivated doing certain exercises? If you're sick or have mild joint discomfort, should you rest or push yourself? If you have to stop working out for a few days, how do you avoid losing progress?
Thanks in advance for your help! :) I really want to get as fit as I can be...[/quote] |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:41 pm |
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| cortcase
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Papa, I wasn't looking for an excuse. I'm not one of those posters who comes on and says, "I ate a cookie, make me feel better about myself." I just was detailing the multiple factors that were affecting my exercise routine this week and I'm afraid that I'll lose progress while I hack and sneeze my way through a disgusting sinus infection. By progress, I meant, I don't want to lose muscle or the speed/distance strides I've made on the treadmill lately. I truly do not know enough about exercising to know if a week spent on the bike instead of the treadmill would damage my treadmill progress or if continuing to ride the bike even though my knee is bugging me is the best option.
Considering some people on these boards can't even seem to get themselves to exercise for five minutes, I didn't think it was unreasonable for someone who works out consistently six days a week to wonder if it's more beneficial to work through illness or rest so as not to prolong it.
Is there an emotional component at work here, separately? Sure. I'm not feeling like doing the treadmill. But I didn't say I wasn't working out. I was just wondering if I was going to lose progress (which, again, I meant, my speed/distance progress and muscle progress) on the treadmill if I took a few days and did the bike or something else instead.
I don't mean to sound bitchy. I'm just a little sensitive today, I guess. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I guess I'll just try to ignore the cough/sneeze/eye watering and keep on. |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:22 pm |
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| cortcase
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Papa, I wasn't looking for an excuse. I'm not one of those posters who comes on and says, "I ate a cookie, make me feel better about myself." I just was detailing the multiple factors that were affecting my exercise routine this week and I'm afraid that I'll lose progress while I hack and sneeze my way through a disgusting sinus infection. By progress, I meant, I don't want to lose muscle or the speed/distance strides I've made on the treadmill lately. I truly do not know enough about exercising to know if a week spent on the bike instead of the treadmill would damage my treadmill progress or if continuing to ride the bike even though my knee is bugging me is the best option.
Considering some people on these boards can't even seem to get themselves to exercise for five minutes, I didn't think it was unreasonable for someone who works out consistently six days a week to wonder if it's more beneficial to work through illness or rest so as not to prolong it.
Is there an emotional component at work here, separately? Sure. I'm not feeling like doing the treadmill. But I didn't say I wasn't working out. I was just wondering if I was going to lose progress (which, again, I meant, my speed/distance progress and muscle progress) on the treadmill if I took a few days and did the bike or something else instead.
I don't mean to sound bitchy. I'm just a little sensitive today, I guess. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I guess I'll just try to ignore the cough/sneeze/eye watering and keep on. |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:32 pm |
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| A-Rod
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i think "do something" was good advice ...
if you're not feeling completely up to snuff, it's okay to back off on your normal intensity for a few days. get rid of the cold, give your knee a few days rest and then get back to it within a few days. in the mean time, maybe get up in the morning and go for a brisk walk for 30-60 minutes [or do it in the evening with your hubby once it's cool out]. at least you're burning some calories and being active.
sometimes i get a little burnt out with exercising most days every week ... every few months i take a little 4-day hiatus and by the end of it i'm itching to get back to my routine. as long as you don't let that snowball, it's sometimes necessary to avoid getting completely burnt out.
in the heat, do you draw the blinds in your exercise room? i find that if i close my blinds in the morning and don't open them until sunset, it stays cooler. could try that to keep the room cool. get a fan and position it straight at the treadmill, or hook up a small TV and DVD player in your cooler basement so you have something to watch while you work out. |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:21 pm |
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| A-Rod
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i think "do something" was good advice ...
if you're not feeling completely up to snuff, it's okay to back off on your normal intensity for a few days. get rid of the cold, give your knee a few days rest and then get back to it within a few days. in the mean time, maybe get up in the morning and go for a brisk walk for 30-60 minutes [or do it in the evening with your hubby once it's cool out]. at least you're burning some calories and being active.
sometimes i get a little burnt out with exercising most days every week ... every few months i take a little 4-day hiatus and by the end of it i'm itching to get back to my routine. as long as you don't let that snowball, it's sometimes necessary to avoid getting completely burnt out.
in the heat, do you draw the blinds in your exercise room? i find that if i close my blinds in the morning and don't open them until sunset, it stays cooler. could try that to keep the room cool. get a fan and position it straight at the treadmill, or hook up a small TV and DVD player in your cooler basement so you have something to watch while you work out. |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:25 pm |
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| Doc_plus25
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I didn't think you were looking for excuses at all - just some advice. I'm not sure I'm the one to be giving it, though - I'm definitely not an exercise expert and I'm only a year from my couch potato days. However, I can relate to your setbacks, and however you deal with them, it is important you consider them temporary setbacks. In the past year, twice I have gone over a week without running. Each time I worried about losing fitness, but even more so I worried about getting out of the habit of running and turning one week into two, then ten, and you know...
I do agree with Papa on two points. Doing _something_ is important. I think you're doing that, though. You're looking for alternatives. I think that as long as you keep moving, you will get through these aches and pains and soon will be ready for the dreadmill yet again. Will it set you back a week? Maybe. But in a month, will that really matter, as long as you get back into it? I also agree about establishing the positive trend. But I think you're doing that, too.
Is there a reason you don't run outside? Maybe you're getting bored with the treadmill. I know I would be.
I hope you're feeling better soon! |
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Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:41 pm |
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| cortcase
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Thanks for the advice, guys! I'm sorry if I sounded bitchy in my earlier post. I'm just a little stressed out over here about unrelated stuff. Hope I didn't offend anyone.
You guys are right, I do definitely need to keep moving so I don't get out of habit. I should remember to close the blinds in the morning, maybe that will help. I have two fans aimed right at the treadmill, but it gets so stifling in there that they really just blow hot air around.
I've been trying to get up in the morning to exercise so hopefully that will help a little, heatwise. I found I felt like I had absolutely no time at night anymore so getting up earlier was the only feasible option. But of course, when I wake up, I feel more like doing the bike or aerobics than the %&*&*%@ treadmill! :)
I tried jogging outside...once, LOL. I immediately realized it was a lot different than jogging on the treadmill, which I still suck at. I don't think I'm at the outside level yet! :) Hopefully I will be someday though!
I'm also hoping to get some money toward an elliptical machine for my birthday. That'll help me switch it up even more. I LOVE ellipticals, I'm dying to get one...
Thanks again, guys. :) |
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Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:27 am |
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