As you already know if you follow me on Twitter (and why WOULDN’T you, since that is where I give updates on how irritated I am by the high price of shipping a few rolls of address labels?) (NINE DOLLARS WTF!!!), I’m bored with my usual exercise routine and looking for a change. I don’t usually talk about exercise here because it doesn’t occur to me as a topic of interest (but SHIPPING costs! THAT’S entertainment!), but I wonder if that’s why whenever I write on the topic of fatness I get some “Fine, don’t exercise or eat right, BE fat” feedback—as if that’s the natural opposite of “Everyone can have the same results with the same effort.”
So. Fine. I will try to remember to talk about exercise more. (Also on the syllabus: how much broccoli and spinach I eat, and how little red meat.) Currently I exercise in the evening, right after the kids go to bed, because that’s when it’s been working best: the kids wake us up around 5:30, and I know I COULD get up earlier but so far haven’t been motivated to. In the evening I’m less likely to be interrupted, and some of my routines let me watch a movie while exercising which makes it not quite so “ack I’m cutting into my limited slice of free time.”
BUT. That’s not working for me now. I used to get a second wind in the evening, but now I feel worn out. I used to be willing to cut into that limited slice of free time, but now the idea makes me feel sullen. Also, I’m bored with both the Wii Fit and with running, so that makes me feel even MORE sullen: not only am I using up free time, I’m doing something I HATE.
Well, so clearly that means an adjustment is in order. I asked for suggestions on Twitter, and 30 Day Shred is now on its way to me (hey, I finally read Twilight, this is the next natural step), despite the fact that the mere FACIAL EXPRESSIONS of Jillian Michaels make me want to punch her in the teeth, and this is without ever hearing her voice, which reportedly is unpleasant and mean. I also have several other people’s suggestions on my Netflix queue, and I wish I’d thought of Netflix before I paid money for 30 Day Shred, but there it is and I can always donate it to the library if I don’t like it.
The other adjustment, and to me this is far more radical, is I’m going to try exercising in the morning, before and while Paul is showering. Aaaaaaaaacccccckkkkkkkk. But if it WORKS, it means it’ll cut into my sleep time instead of into my free time, and may make it easier for me to get to sleep at night in which case it would in fact be cutting into my lying-awake-wishing-I-could-sleep time, which would be awesome. ALSO, it would mean I could shower right after, which would mean a reduction in the part of exercising I hate most, which is the part where I have to change clothes! and take ANOTHER shower! and change clothes! which seems like no big deal but can add another big chunk of free time to the process. ALSO-also, it would mean getting it over with first-thing rather than dreading it and/or making it dependent on what kind of day I have.
BUT, it also means I can’t go running (because if a child needed something, which is likely, Paul would be in the shower and I’d be out of the house). And it means an increase in the possibility of a hugely annoying mid-exercise interruption (such as child waking up soaked). And it means I’ll have to argue with my half-asleep self, and she’s even more sullen than my evening self.
Another potential problem is this: Evening exercising significantly decreased EATING, because I didn’t want to exercise on a full stomach and afterward my appetite was suppressed. I’d do ZERO snacking all evening, and by the time I started feeling hungry it was too close to bedtime to eat anything. If I’m exercising in the morning, though, it opens the evening up for snacking, and it also may mean I’ll have a mid-morning eat-everything-in-sight time.
So we will SEE, is what I am saying.
I tried it for the first time this morning and it went okay. The novelty of the situation made it easier to get out of bed, and it was very pleasant to be able to take a chilly shower afterward and know it could be the ONLY shower of the day. My new workout DVDs haven’t arrived yet so I did one of my old Tae Bo DVDs. Gosh, I’d forgotten how much I hate the girl who acts like she’s about to fall to the ground and start twitching with bliss. Yes, we all know you find this workout so INCREDIBLY STIMULATING it makes you want to SHOUT WITH JOY, but the rest of us are sweating and counting minutes so could you please shut your Teacher’s Pet trap, kthanx. Hey, I just thought of a new awesome product: a workout DVD in which NONE of the participants make you want to smack them! Imagine such a world!
If you have a Wii Fit, and you haven’t tried the Wii Active, I highly recommend it! It has all kinds of exercise….40 pre-made workouts and you can customize your own! Everything from running (bleck) to dance, to basketball drills!
– Mon
I have that same problem–working out in the morning means a bigger gap of snacking time and even more justification for a goodie–after all, I got up early and exercised!!!
But if I work out in the late afternoon or evening, I am way less apt to eat more junk. However, yeah, the 2 shower thing and the dreading all day waiting to finally get the exercise out of the way.
I feels ya!
The morning workout rocks if you can do it. It’s a rare occasion that I’m willing to give up the sleep, but having it over and done with is lovely. I’ve done The Firm tapes forever…they’re pretty good.
Good luck. I love morning exercise. I get up before everyone else and I love having that time to myself AND having the rest of the day feeling free. But it’s always a juggle, that’s for sure. Hope it works for you.
try the biggest loser workout dvds – i like those because they are getting tired and have a hard time doing some of the moves, too :)
I do a lot of Exercise on Demand, which on my cable is free and plentiful. Jillian Michaels is on there and I did the 30 Day Shred for a long time, but then I started going this competition with my mom’s group and we were doing 1000 minutes a month, and I had to do longer workouts. I do think that 30 Day Shred is effective and it’s so freaking short, it does go by so fast, but she is very, very unpleasant, in my opinion. PLUS she threatens you with BATHING SUIT shopping, which – oh Lord, just shut UP, Jillian.
Anyways, I wanted to say that there is someone named Chris Freytag on my Exercise on Demand and she has a Cardio Sculpt workout that’s around 45 minutes long and I really like it. She’s extremely pleasant, and she’s by herself, so there’s no one to hate except her. It’s 4 sections each of cardio and sculpting.
I also, personally, really like Chalene Johnson and Turbo Jam. It has the time for the whole workout at the bottom of the screen AND the time of the particular part you’re doing right then, which is good because I sometimes think “I can do FIVE more minutes of ANYTHING”. It’s like cardio kickboxing, I guess. I bought the DVD off half.com, for like $10, and it’s got the Cardio Party (where you burn calories as party favors!), an ab workout, a 20 minute workout, and a Turbo Sculpt, which is a weight lifting thing.
Shipping is insane. I ordered floor mats for my van this weekend and it was $15 for ground shipping, which seemed reasonable. If I wanted Saturday next day, it would be $106! Who pays that?
I got bored with my Wii too until I got the More Active workout…LOVE.IT.
I work out at night too. I have accepted that I am just not someone who will ever get up earlier than I have to for any reason that doesn’t involve fire.
Cancel your name label order! Abort mission! Here is a link to a great name label deal. I didn’t even read your entire post yet because I had to tell you about this post I just saw this morning!
http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/06/office-depot-250-custom-address-labels-for-1-shipped.html
I started back on the 30 Day Shred last week (beach vacation in a month with NO BABY) and day 3 is about as bad as it gets. Just watch your knees, especially in the 2nd and 3rd workouts.
I too work out at night, but that’s mostly because sleep is a huge commodity with an infant in the house. And sleeping in the morning is somehow way better than going to bed at 8.
I tried the morning workout thing once, and it did NOT work for me, because the whole “you’ll feel so energetic and ALIVE!” thing never happened, and I just felt tired. But maybe that’s because I don’t have kids and was completely unused to waking up so early. It sounds like this could go either way. Fingers crossed that it turns out to work!
I’ve recently transitioned to working out in the morning and I LOVE it. I love getting it done so early in the day and not having to worry about/dread it all day. Also, I love having my evenings back. I can get home and not have anything that I MUST do. Once you get kind of used to getting up early (I mean no one REALLY gets used to it but it does get less sucky) it’s really not that bad.
Morning workouts are tough. Netflix is good to try the workout dvd’s. My library also has a selection of workout dvds. Also, if you have an ipod there are many good apps.
Today was day 18 on 30 day shred for me. I haven’t excercised in years and have been doing really well with it. I do mine in the mornings before work and it has been working great for me. It is quick enough to feel like the time commitment is small. I still have the hesitation when my alarm goes off about dragging myself out of bed, though. Usually it helps for me to think that, even if I go back to sleep, it is only 20-25 minutes extra sleep. I’ve been able to convince myself that the feeling I’ll have after I work out is much better than the 20 minutes extra sleep which probably wouldn’t be quality sleep anyway.
Also, I only listened to her voice for my first workout. After that I muted her and played IPOD. Then, I decided to set up my laptop on the coffee table and use hulu.com to catch up on tv shows I’ve missed. You don’t have to keep your eye on Jillian all the time. For me, she is merely there to keep me on schedule — I’ve got all the excercise sequences memorized, I just need her there to tell me when to move onto the next one.
The only negative I can say for 30 day shred is that I haven’t lost weight (actually gained a bit) — but my body FEELS and, I think, LOOKS much better. It is the heavy muscle that does it :-).
Also, I made your coffee frap recipe this morning – YUMMY!
Laura
Too bad your orderd the Shred. I would have mailed you my copy for free. It was not even one little bit fun and I wanted to smack the crap out of her when she is mooning over that other woman’s perfect abs. Shut up, Jillian.
Never thought to just turn off the sound though…
Know what I always liked? Richard Simmons workout videos. Because there are all kinds of people in them. Big people. Little people. In between people. And frankly, I would rather “sweat to the oldies” with someone chirpy and encouraging rather that someone who you think “no wonder you’re pissed off, you haven’t had a cheeseburger in 8 years” about.
Good luck with your morning workouts! Exercising before work would be ideal, but I’d have to get up at 5:00 a.m. and someone would get stabbed.
I run after I get home from work around 6:00, which means a later dinner and a shortened evening, but I don’t have kids and I eat less then because I’m just not as hungry. WIN.
I don’t mind Jillian, but I need a lot of variety, so I switch things up pretty often so I don’t get bored (or want to punch the perky people on the exercise DVDs).
Totally feel you on when is the best time to exercise. Mornings are so hard but I also hate to change and take 2 showers a day… Anyway, I have a suggestion for a video that won’t make you want to punch anyone (I hope…). I like the Biggest Loser with Bob. I borrowed it from my library first and once I decided I liked it, I purchased a copy. Bob is way less annoying than Jillian and the other people in the video are real contestants. That means that they are struggling just as much as you are and it frankly does a lot for my self esteem to see other people working hard and struggling to do the move. It also has multiple workout options so you can mix it up. Good Luck!
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Shipping Lables, $1 shipped!! But it’s today only, I think. http://www.spoofee.com/index.php?section=deal&did=682539
I enjoy TurboJam, it takes longer, but the music is decent and they exercises are ok. I also do 30 Day Shred and spend most of the time cursing JM, which is it’s own form of entertainment. I do TJ when I have more time and 30 Day when I have less. The really the only thing to recommend 30 Day is that it is so short I can force myself to do it whenever I have even 1/2 an hour.
I did the 30 Day Shred and was sort of shocked that I actually liked it (I prefer running and only reluctantly tried the video to get some cross training in). However, Jillian’s voice does tend to make one want to drop-kick the television, hard. You can use this extra adrenaline surge to fuel your workout, or you can do as I did, and utilize the handy setup feature that allows you to keep the background music on but MUTE JILLIAN COMPLETELY.
Stephanie- OMG! Going there now!!
Depending on your cable provider, you may be able to get some variety with the on-demand feature. We have Verizon, and the 30-Day Shred is available on demand as well as a TON of other workouts. That may keep you motivated and give you some new stuff for FREE! Hooray!
I promise I did not skim through the part where you said you hate running, but if you WANT to be a runner(ish), I really recommend the Couch to 5K program. One reason is that it’s not boring like just running until you feel like dying. It starts out running 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds, etc. for 20 minutes, which goes by quickly. Gradually you increase the running time and decrease the walking time. You can see real progress in your stamina, which is motivating. For some reason, I was really motivated by printing off the schedule, posting it prominently, and crossing off each day as I did it. I signed up for a 5K about 2.5 months from when I started C25K, so that kept me going. Running an actual race is SO FUN – so much energy and people cheering for you, even if you’re just chugging along. Once you do your first, you’ll be hooked. I am a slow and steady runner, will never win a race, but I went from my first 5K in September to two half marathons in February – all while finishing up treatments for breast cancer. Aside from your shoes and race entries, it’s free, which is a bonus too!
One other thing to consider – on whether your goal is to improve your health or lose weight (or both). My doctor told me that you exercise to improve your health but to lose weight you have to diet – burn more calories than you consume. I love http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/ . I set a daily calorie goal (usually 1500) and enter what I eat or anticipate eating, as well as the exercise I do, to keep me on track. Similar to the idea of WW’s points but also free!
30 Day Shred=hard, but effective. Also, only 20 minutes, which is a definite bonus. Jillian is annoying and a little mean at times, but mute her and turn on music once you get the moves explained the first time. I’ve actually slacked off of the Shred and this may motivate me to get back on it. My knees gave me trouble in it, but I just did the squatting parts a little less deep. Let us know what you think!
So nice to hear someone else say this. Everything you said explains the struggles I’ve had in sticking with exercise, especially the cutting into limited free time stuff. But when I try to explain it to people, it really does come out as YAWN, and I don’t think they get it. They just think I’m making excuses for being lazy, which isn’t (always) the case.
So… the annoying perky blonde on the TaeBo videos – that’s his DAUGHTER! Shocking, right?
The best way to handle Jillian is with your mute button. After doing the workout once or twice, put her on mute and play your own favorite music.
I just went back and read the other comments. Susannah, I did a similar diet/exercise log in Excel for three months and lost 20 lbs before I got tired of giving up free time for exercise. I figured why pay to join some program when I could keep track of my intake and exercise and get motivation and support from friends?
Even after I quit the exercising, I kept the weight off because I was so much more aware of my eating habits and how much exercise I needed to do to compensate for a special treat.
Are there any pieces of exercise equipment you have or have been longing for (craigslist! people don’t sell them because they’ve been using them TOO MUCH, IYKWIM). Anyway, I am most loyal to my exercise routine when I’m really loving whatever I’m watching (As Time Goes By! Various series I missed the beginnings of!), and I do not love watching fitness instructors.
The two-shower thing is the WORST. That is the Number One reason I never end up going to the gym even though I am on maternity leave and (theoretically) have nothing but time. Once I am showered, that is IT for the day. (And I don’t like getting dressed without showering and then waiting until I go work out later on).
So morning workouts or runs are it for me, and if I miss them, then I try again the next day. I also love that I can feel like I got that out of the way and don’t have to think about it for the rest of the day, AND I can feel sort of virtuous all day about having done something active early in the morning.
OH, and I think I know JUST the woman you’re talking about on the Tae Bo DVD! I used to do that a ton, and the one who says, “You tricked us!” always made me want to scream.
I have the same problem with working out in the morning. I workout in the afternoon. I insist the kids have “quiet” or nap time in their rooms for at least 30 minutes. Then I let them watch a tv show so I can finish. It works for me but I can’t run. I have an elliptical machine I love and I also do the 30 Day Shred. The Shred does give you results which is encouraging. Hopefully you can get by Jillian’s voice. LOL.
It’s like you’re in my brain.
I have NO motivation to work out before my kids wake up. I mean, the kids are WHY I get up in the first place. Why would I do that to myself? So (when I was actually working out), I’d do it after I got home from work. But that’s exactly the time that I (a) want to collapse and (b) can’t collapse because I have to get four kids fed and bathed and bedded. Plus, it’s my free time – closely, closely guarded free time. Blech.
If I could watch tv or a movie or something at the same time, I’d be all over it. But I think that would require a treadmill or something. I’ve been thinking about getting one, but haven’t yet.
After my first baby, I got “skinny” with Tae Bo and really liked it, but just thinking about it now exhausts me. I bought Shred six months or so ago and did it for awhile, but ugh. See above. Tired. So tired.
I just want Peggy Olson’s electriciser.
Bethsix — The Wall Street Journal rated stepping machines and liked a mini one from a medical supply house. It cost less then $100. Plus, it’s only good for exercise. You can’t hand your clothes on it.
I can only do morning workouts once a week, for a long run. Or if I am training for a race and the husband’s schedule is sketchy on getting home before 8:30 p.m. Other than that, I just can’t seem to make myself do it. But! I do think it is sort of pick your poison. Because since I work out later at night, then I don’t go to bed until later, which means of course I can’t get up in the a.m. I think if you just shift the schedule it works.
I do think 30DS is a good cross training thing. When you are about ready to give up on an exercise, you change to the next one so that is a nice feature. And also quick as others have said.
This is completely unrelated but I nominated you for Babble’s Top Mommy Blogger list because I searched to vote for you and you weren’t there. After I recovered from my shock that a blog I look forward to reading every day wasn’t there, I hit submit. Have people vote at: http://www.babble.com/babble-50/mommy-bloggers/nominate-a-blogger/
2Forgetful- What a happy way to start my morning!
I hate exercising to video tapes, I hate exercising at the gym. The only thing I have ever been able to stick with is walking. Its just put on my shoes and go. I get up in the morning around 6:30 and go for a walk while my husband works out with videos/gets ready for work.
He showers while I’m gone…and I shower when he’s gone. Anything the kids need during that 10 minutes? Gonna have to wait. (I’ve got a 4.5, 2.5 and a 1 yr old.)
Pfft, forget Jillian – it’s Natalie I wanna smack on the Shred! Big fat cheater-pants! I growl every time Jillian says “They’re so good – they don’t even cheat when I’m not looking!” Yes. Yes, Natalie does.
Seriously, WHY hasn’t anybody done this yet??? “a workout DVD in which NONE of the participants make you want to smack them! Imagine such a world” I have about 50 (okay like 5) workout tapes and I want to kill every instructor on them.
As for the “when to workout” issue: I too have the same problem. And I only have ONE kid. Seriously, I don’t know how you get ANY time to yourself AT ALL. So props to you for figuring out a way. And yes, I’ve been more of an early bird since giving birth but you would still have to put a gun to my head to get me up one millisecond before MY regular wake-up time of 6am, so uh, 5am? NO WAY JOSE.
I would like to say that I am SO IMPRESSED with ANYONE who exercises at home and does not flake out.
I am a YMCA member and get 2 free hours of childcare in the morning and could have another 2 hours in the afternoon and THAT is what gets me my workout. I love my fitness classes.
When my youngest is sick/snotty and can’t go in the childcare, I FUME and then I do some interval training in front of the TV/computer or do some ZUMBA! videos that my instructor recorded (Swistle, if you want to see the site, let me know. Not sure if you’re into dancing). But I HATE giving up our quiet time/my computer time for exercise. I like to get it done between 9-11 am except for when my husband works late and I go to a 5:30 pm ZUMBA! class or my 7 pm kickboxing class.
Also, I have the 30D Shred but it is a last resort. Some workout videos have Option 1 where the exercise is explained and then Option 2 where you just do it without all the extra comments about form. I wish Jillian had that option.
I don’t think you are going to like the Shred. It does work and it I saw results faster than anything else I ever tried. She is incredibly annoying and not at all encouraging. But it’s QUICK and EFFECTIVE, so if you can stand her blathering on, or like myself are able to funnel your anger into energy to finish up the workout, it is good.
Start out doing Level 1 with Anita (the modified versions) and then when you can do all of Level 1 with Natalie, you are ready to move up. Although Natalie does cheat when Jillian isn’t looking at her, which amuses the hell out of me.
I just finished a book on stress physiology, and the author mentioned a study that showed exercise only relieves stress if you WANT to do it. Otherwise, it RAISES cortisol levels! Which makes sense, I guess. Anyway. I thought of you. (Was that rude? I did.)
Uch, I do hate Jillian. BUT. You can always turn off the sound and play your own music.
And I agree that home worker-outers are most impressive.
Can I just start by saying I hate exercise? I know I need to do it and all, but I tried Couch to 5K…ugh. I have never liked running/jogging, and although I kept it up for a whole summer, I hated it, it wrecked my knees — I’ve accepted I will not ever be a runner.
Tried 30 Day Shred. Again with the knee pain, plus I have the weird problem of trying to keep cochlear implant processors on my head, so anything jumping up and down (jumping jacks) or lying down (sit ups, Pilates) means I’m holding my hands to my head to keep my “ears” from falling off. Plus it was just not enjoyable, past the novelty of the first day or two of trying it.
What I do now? I walk. I like to walk. I know it’s not going to make me all lithe and muscular, but at least I’m moving my body and I don’t make excuses not to do it.
If you are at all like me, I can highly recommend the Walk Away the Pounds DVDs by Leslie Sansone. They don’t kick your ass. She’s not annoying. I can do them, look forward to them, and feel like I at least got some exercise in today…yay!
My kids are older/out of the house so I walk outside in the morning if the weather is cooperating. If not, I do a DVD in the house.
Sorry for the looong comment but you and I sound so much alike with the weight loss/exercise stuff that I figured I’d throw the suggestion out there. :)
~ Wendi
I’ve been doing the “30 Day Shred” long enough that now I do it with the narrative turned off. That’s one of the settings you can choose, and I find it much more agreable to not hear Jillian’s spiel.
Do watch out for the knees though. When bending at the knee, make sure the knee does not extend past your toes. The video mentions this, but I think only once.
Even if I don’t do all the repetitions that they do on the video, I still find that this is a great, quick, whole body workout that leaves me feeling taller and stronger
afterwards.