Workout Accountability/check-ins

[naturalooks15]

Hi All,

Hoping people would be interested in this. 

I want to work out regularly and have a group of people who can keep each other accountable, just do daily check IN’s. I keep falling off the routine and then get into inertia and then it takes few weeks to couple of months to start back up. I am still not fully recovered after last years health issues and excercising is imperative to my health and everyone’s health. 

Please let me know your ideas !! We can structure it how everyone wants it.

I was thinking a check in and any tips people have, every day. This is the social group I interact most with and love the company of you kind and fun ladies. 

Also let me know if we need to move this thread in any other group.

Some tips I learned for athletic/ athleisure clothes -  I used buying new workout clothes as my motivation incentive for being consistent for 1 months rather than any food incentive. Used points to convert to gift cards and then bought 2 sets during sales. Before this I just had 1 legging and 2 Costco shirt. I didn't want to spend any money till I convinced myself that I would consistently use the clothes. Now I do so did some shopping 🙂

Leggings (criteria not rolling down on tummy fat, not needed to be pulled up a lot during the workout) - 

• Old Navy compression leggings - Very highly recommended and affordable
• Athleta Contender Leggings - Mid range, they have sales (semi-annual and general)
• Zella Live-in leggings from Nordstorms (people stock-up during anniversary sales)
• Sweaty Betty Power Leggings
• LuluLemon Fast & Free - High price but people love these
• Reebok Cotton 7/8 - I love these for yoga. These are my most "roll-down-proof-during-downward-dog" on my tummy since I gained mass in mis-section after surgeries. 
• Nike Dry Fit etc. from big box sporting goods store (name starts with D)

Shirts -

• I like short sleeve so most of mine are from Costco (Tuff brand or Kirkland)
• Tanks from Athleta. They have most of their styles in all sleeve length (from Tanks, short sleeves as well as long sleeve shirts)
• Tanks from Old Navy
• Calia by Carrie Underwood - I have been eyeing some but waiting for them to go on sale
• Nike Dry-Fit
• Under Arrmer compression shirts

How to take care of your workout clothes - I learnt about these recently. I always bought workout clothes from clearance racks in the past so used to just wash with regular clothes in normal cycle. That can cause them to fade soon. If investing in pricier/ better clothes, better take care of these 🙂

• Wash in cold/ delicate/ "activewear mode" if your machine has one
• If not washing immediately, let them air out if wet and not put it in hampers
• Line dry or tumble dry WITHOUT heat
• If too sweaty/ too stinky soak in a bucket full of water with 1/2 cup white vinegar overnight and then dump in the wash

*****Goals ***** <<still updating>>

@naturalooks15  Excercise 4 x week. still get to 7000 steps on off days. PT specific exercises 4 x week

@Brutalitops 

-Exercise at least once a day, no matter how little

-Go to an (easy) yoga class once a week until I can do it without muscle soreness the following day

@RNGesusPls 

Weekly goals: 

Run 30+ min on at least 1 weekday, 6 miles on a weekend

@scott1201 

• Exercise class 6x a week
• At least two long walks around the neighborhood 
• Try out all the trials from local studios (1st class free! One week for $10, etc) before committing to a new studio contract
• Make myself talk to a person at each class

@MissPuff 

Goal: 6-7 miles a week, split into 2 or 3 evening runs

Proof: Selfie or run stats screenshot

@gonerogue 

personal training/weight lifting 2x a week

add in a 3rd day of boot camp (class) and

a 4th day of just cardio (running)

@jen143xo 

Exercise 5-6 days a week (Lifting and cardio)

add more HITT cardio in approx 2x-3x a week

Hit my macro numbers everyday

Drink more water

[ShortErica]

Oh @makeitup305 I can understand that. Gradual increases with weights and reps are the way to go. Keep doing what you are doing. It takes time. You're motivating me to do something rather than the nothing I am doing now!

[makeitup305]

@ShortErica I hope so! Did you use to go consistently? I’ve only been a consistent gym attendee for short periods followed by long periods of slacking off. 

[ShortErica]

I was never a gym person @makeitup305. I did sports in school. Pre-pandemic I'd play frisbee at least 3 days a week and soccer once a week and run some days too depending on if I signed up for 5ks or half marathons. Prior to family I used to do groupons for fitness classes all the time, crossfit, boxing, yoga, whatever looked cool to try and a decent price.

[makeitup305]

@ShortErica Sounds like you kept really active! I have always been terrible at sports and never really enjoyed playing them. I love yoga though, so I’m hoping places open up soon so I can get to a class. I could really use one right now! I actually don’t mind lifting weights most days even if it’s not like I really enjoy it. I do like the feeling of accomplishment when I realize I can lift more than before so that’s been very rewarding over the past couple of months. Have you tried doing an at-home workout? there’s some really interesting ones these days.

[ShortErica]

@makeitup305 I did lift weights in high school and have a couple free weights at home. They've collected dust to say the least. Oops. I hope you can get to a yoga class too. Is there a particular type of yoga you prefer? I did the Chloe Ting 2 week shred but have only scanned through other things. I probably should do something with more cardio. I used to do Zumba so maybe some type of dance workout would be more motivating.

[ShortErica]

So I've been feeling bad about my body. My weight tends to fluctuate and being short, every pound matters. I was a couple pounds more than my normal weight range when quarantine hit and without my normal activities (ultimate frisbee and soccer) I've added even more.

I saw the Chloe Ting 2 week shred challenge and decided to give it a go. I wanted to try just adding it without changing anything else like my diet or other exercise. I've now gained two pounds. I feel like my stomach and posture look better but I did not lose inches anywhere. I am able to do the workouts much more easily than before which is a sign of some progress. I know weight loss doesn't happen overnight but I'm disappointed that there was no difference around my waist. I figured I'd share and hopefully I'll find something that motivates me to move more.

[pocketvenus]

@ShortErica @blackkitty2014 I'm very short too so I know what you mean about more pounds making a difference! Please don't be discouraged! Not to suggest you believed her but I find Chloe Ting gives her audience unrealistic expectations. Two weeks is not a lot of time at all for both weight loss and losing inches from measurements, especially if there have been no changes in diet. Plus the videos I've seen from Ting are pretty light, they don't employ weights or resistance. Nothing wrong with that, but the vast majority of people are not going to see the results she promises.

[ShortErica]

@pocketvenus oh yeah, there needs to be a time commitment and diet changes for results. I just figured while I'm bummed about my body I'd give it a shot while changing nothing else to see what happens. More experimental than anything. For me I know I need a lot more cardio than body weight exercises to actually lose pounds and inches. It's just motivation and heat that are stopping me. Come on November, such a better time for running!

[pocketvenus]

@ShortErica ❤️ I hear you, this summer heat makes me feel very sluggish!! 😪 

[blackkitty2014]

@ShortErica Please keep me posted on your progress. Ugh, I’m supper short too. Since this darn Covid thing hits, I gain 5-6 lbs. Blaming on baking 😘 I think part of it I’m just lazy. I only tried to do 30 min exercise per day. Time to back to my goal of at least 15k steps or more per day. 

[ShortErica]

Baking is so fun and tasty @blackkitty2014! I should just spend some time walking too. Anything to be away from food. 😉

[txcatx]

I just wanted to pop in to see what everyone's doing during the pandemic. 

Before the pandemic, I walked a couple miles at a park by my office during my lunch break and I jogged at a park near my apartment during the weekends and took lots of yoga classes. Unfortunately, mosquitoes near the park tested positive for West Nile recently, and between that and Covid, I'm not going anywhere! I've mostly been doing YouTube workout videos, and I'm loving the belly dance workouts by Leilah Isaac, though my hips will definitely never be able to move like Shakira's!

[pocketvenus]

@txcatx The bellydance workouts look pretty fun! Holy ab work!! I'm pretty uncoordinated, the closest dance workouts I've done are Madfit song challenges 😛

[ShortErica]

@txcatx pre pandemic I did a lot of group sports like ultimate frisbee and soccer. Obviously I can't do that now. I have run but haven't found the motivation because of the Florida heat and I was just stressed with life and work stuff. I've gained weight, probably needed to lose 5 pounds prior to pandemic, so now I feel even worse.

But in good news I'm on Day 10 of the Chloe Ting 2 week shred. I'm embarrassed about how hard I was and am finding it. I will share if I see change in my body measurements. 🤞

[pocketvenus]

@ShortErica a new routine is always a good way to challenge yourself! 💪

[ShortErica]

Thanks @pocketvenus, hopefully I'll keep motivated with lots of options online.

[eshoe]

@naturalooks15 @pocketvenus Also want to breathe a little life back into this thread⛈ Without this motivation I might not have started.

Also, whomever suggested Alo for clothing, thank you. I am loving their bra tops. The Upside has amazing second skin leggings I’ve discovered. Like old school spandex, but it looks good.

[pocketvenus]

@eshoe Alo has YouTube channels too if you're into yoga 🙂

[eshoe]

Ahhh good to know, @pocketvenus! I bought a top there online recently, and received a promo for a 30 day free trial. I will have to check out their YT channel. 

[pocketvenus]

Thought I'd revive this thread! I'm clocking in anywhere between 20-70 minutes of exercise per day though I'm trying to push it more toward the higher end to offset all the walking I have lost due to not leaving my apartment much. I was feeling so-so about not getting in all the moderate cardio I'd do in the summer but today I checked my resting heart rate: 66 bpm, still good 🙂

My current routine is

• morning 6x/week: 10-15 minutes of yoga 
• afternoon 6x/week: 15-40 minute HIIT cardio and strength workout + targeted weight training OR 20-60 minute yoga or barre class 
• night 1-2x/week: yoga or stretch for however long feels good
• if I take a rest day, I do morning or night yoga

My goals are

• drink waaaaaaay more water
• work on legs, especially quads and calves for a minimum of 2x/week.
• work on back, especially lats. Always tough to work out the back at home but I finally have tension bands, higher weight barbells and a bench! Really excited to use my new bench which just arrived last week!

[eshoe]

@pocketvenus are you doing everything online? Curious what app you are using. It’s so nice to have a workout that’s actually fun, gives me something to look forward to in the afternoon.