work out at the right speed

Hi all!

 

I actually have a little time today, so I will try to keep the grammatical errors and typos to a minimum.  There was an article in the last issue of Transylvania Times that absolutely fired me up.  They did not disclose the author or contributor, but I sure would like some face to face time with the individual to discuss "actual" research, medical/sports medicine studies.  The last sentence of the article entitled, Work Out At The Right Speed For You, could sum the ridiculous piece pretty well.  Here it is:  "You are exercising too vigorously if you are so winded that you can't carry on a conversation while you work out."  The article states that "you should be able to.......(.haha.... get this.....) SING while exercising."  I'm betting the "wellness" advocate that sent this in to the Times as a "helpful" piece is one of the majority that ride around in the parking lot of all health clubs in search for the closest spot in order to walk on the treadmill while reading their favorite new novel.  Or, maybe this would be one of the individuals that claim to "work out" every day because they spent 30 minutes on the elliptical while watching their favorite show.  They leave and reward themselves with a cookie, ice cream, or whatever empty calorie junk because they "worked out".  They probably burned 100 calories on the elliptical, but consumed an extra 1,000 as a reward for their effort of doing little more than making it to the gym.  You all know I could go on and on with this one, so I'll let it go, for now.

(I agree that we should not work out at a high intensity every work out, and I also know that the level of intensity/percentage HR is different based on current fitness, age, and other factors, but give me a break...........This is not how the article read.)

 

I know you all know better than that, and I hope stuff like that fires you up a little as well.  More often than I care to admit, I simply wish people would use some common sense.  New diets pop up every day.  New 5 minute work out videos pop up on line.  A magical 6 pack producing ab machine hits an infomercial.  A new pill......on and on........  Use your common sense.  Eat natural, unprocessed, and fresh foods in moderation throughout the day while keeping a check on calories.  Stay away from sugar and processed everything.  Don't allow your metabolism to dip by skipping snacks and light meals.  (I just saved you the time of reading through the next "diet" book and its 300 pages of crap)  (And I really don't care how much "weight" your friend lost on the whatever diet........ By the time I finish typing this email, they will have gained it all back and are less "healthy" than they were before)

 

"Working Out" is NOT sitting in the lobby of a health club socializing with friends or reading a book while hanging on to the front rails of the treadmill.  "Working out" is time devoted to IMPROVING your physical/mental condition.  Its specific, should be planned, periodized, and taken as seriously as your life is to you.  It should be adopted as a lifestyle, but not to the point where you are so complacent and lazy you resort to calling a ginger walk to get the mail a "work out".  I've commented before how important it is for you to enjoy exercising, the people you do it with, and the reasons WHY you're doing it.  That doesn't mean every work out is happy fun time full of giggles and singing.  The reward and enjoyment could come AFTER the "work out", and I truly believe THAT joy and satisfaction of not settling for mediocre with a challenge to actually push to get better is far sweeter.  Its time to stop saying things like: "I came to the gym.  I'm doing something.  That's more than my neighbor.  That's more than I was doing last year..... or any other comparison with a lesser whatever that makes you feel better.  Its time to stop focusing on losing "weight" and focus on being healthier.  Its time to get fit.  Its time to grow as a person.  Its time to compare yourself to those that are doing more.  Its time to set goals that you don't think you can accomplish only to discover after a little work and elimination of excuses that you can.  YOU CAN.