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

[naturalooks15]

@WinglessOne  OMG I hate treadmill sunning too. I call it ‘dread mill’. We bought one this year for my spouse. I am yet to get on it. I do not like high impact workouts and wont do it on my own hence the motivation to join Orange Theory.

What I enjoy most is dancing (though I have two left legs) I was in best shape of my life when I was doing Jazzercise. But I need to get stronger before doing that again (side to side movement impact my knees and pelvic alignment). I also really like yoga & Pilates and have restarted my Yoga.

[scott1201]

Have you guys tried a barre class, @naturalooks15 @WinglessOne ? My first foray into group fitness was through pure barre (and there are MANY a great options that are different franchises) and it is super low impact but a very difficult workout. It’s great for flexibility and toning the small muscles that, I think, HIIT and cardio miss

[naturalooks15]

Yes, I used to do barre regularly couple of years ago (for about 4 months), planning to try a class again.

It is doable but what I was trying to say above is that dance is what I enjoy most and look forward to, rest of the classes... I still have to push myself little bit. Also depends on instructors I guess. In my earlier Pilates classes, I used to be eager to go. Currently I look forward to go to yoga because it makes me calm and I feel at peace after the class.

I should try to find a dance based fitness class close by.

[WinglessOne]

@scott1201  Barre is a great idea! I haven’t tried a class (memories of childhood ballet classes still haunt me 😂) but I’ve considered it. Might have to at least try an at-home workout soon. 

[scott1201]

Haha, I feel you on that @WinglessOne! I am definitely no ballerina 😂

[WinglessOne]

@naturalooks15  Dancing is one of the best exercises everyone overlooks. I hope you’re able to do it again soon! It’s a good fitness goal to aim for. 

Those are the kinds of goals I like to make for myself: “I wanna be strong/healthy enough to do [activity],” instead of “I wanna lose X pounds.” When I bought my Fitbit a few years ago, my only goal was “I wanna be able to climb 3 flights of stairs without getting winded.” Now my goal is being able to run 15 miles a week again, with the understanding that I might need some serious work done on my knee before that can happen—but that shouldn’t stop me from rebuilding stamina in the meantime. 

I’m going to get back into tabata workouts, because I can easily incorporate lower impact moves. It can include things as simple as high leg kicks, which are no problem for my knee. I can also do single leg deadlifts in that kind of workout. I like to remind myself that “high intensity/HIIT” doesn’t have to mean high impact. 🙂 Depending on how strong your core is, certain yoga poses are high intensity. And I can do those kinds of workouts alone at home, whenever I want, instead of heading to a gym. 

[Brutalitops]

@naturalooks15 I love this idea! I also keep falling off the wagon, it's hard when my schedule was so chaotic. My current goalsare

-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

I don't think I'll be able to check in daily here, but weekly is a reasonable amount for me probably. I'm looking to up my goals each month, but I'm setting the bar low at the start here so it doesn't feel too daunting on days that I'm feeling drained so I don't feel guilty for feeling like I'm not doing enough- and then end up not going at all because I feel bad about myself

[MissPuff]

@naturalooks15  Great idea! Isn't it amazing that it takes FOREVER to get into a regular workout schedule/habit but just like one or two sessions to fall off the wagon? Happens to me all the time, even more so when there's no one around to comment on my slacking 🙂 

I already lift three times a week and I swear, I've been using washing my hair too much (daily shampoos are murder on my color-treated hair) as an excuse to not also run, I'm the worst 🙂 I'd like to add back in some mileage, so maybe writing out my goal will motivate me to actually do it! 

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

Proof: Selfie or run stats screenshot

Go go and good luck!

[naturalooks15]

@MissPuff  exactly. It takes 3-4 months to build up but just goes away if we miss a week )or even less). Hope we all can use each other's support here. 

I also used to take hair into consideration (even though it's not colored). Now after last years issues, I have short bob so I don't have to worry about it as much. 

Do you use any app? Wondering if I should connect with few of us in the app

[greeneyedgirl107]

@MissPuff I'm glad I'm not the only one that takes hair into consideration re workouts!  🙂  It's a major concern for me!

[Ispend2much6]

Great idea for a thread @naturalooks15 .  An acquaintance of mine works at an all-in-one nutritional, fitness coaching, and behavioral modification coaching organization. 

She shared some tips from their Facebook page, which includes a LOT of helpful material (this is one of the services they provide.)  A lot of the clients they help are over 50, as are at least a few of the coaches, which I find encouraging since that is the most difficult time in life to lose weight and get fit.  Anyway, their philosophy towards fitness is 80 percent weight lifting and 20 percent cardio is the magic ratio.  That, along with following a macro nutrient diet, is the foundation for all of their services.  If anyone is interested in it, message me and I'll give you their name.  I bought a "Macros for Dummies" book and really need to dig into it.

One thing that has helped me jump-start my metabolism (which is almost non-existent), helped my digestive system, and seems to help level my blood sugar levels is intermittent fasting.  Allowing 14-18 hours between the last meal of one day and the first on the next, is how I do it.  Some people allow themselves a strict time limit on the hours they can eat, but that way didn't work for me.  I stopped this method and I could tell the difference in how I felt.  I don't do it every day,  maybe 3-4 times a week.   

[naturalooks15]

I have been hearing quite a bit about intermittent fasting lately @Ispend2much6  3-4 years ago eating every 2-3 hours was a thing to jog your metabolism and longer gap was frowned upon and believed to cause slowing down of your metabolism. Will have to read up more on intermittent fasting.

Macro nutrients sounds interesting.

i will message you to get the name of their service.

[naturalooks15]

Anyone here does Orange Theory Fitness?

Check-in 6/23 : Did an “Orange Theory Fitness” trial class, 1 hr.

Class was really good in the sense that I wouldn’t push myself that much if I was doing things in my own. One drawback was that with so many people in the class instructors have no time to focus on the form or correct you much.

it is expensive though. Contemplating if I should join for once a week or twice a week?

Thank you @yankeefaithful @faeriegirl @Anonymous @quspork @GG84 

[GG84]

@naturalooks15 Orange Theory in my area makes you do Social Media posts and I’m just not about that. I had a really great gym that I belonged to buy when I moved and found the same chain and joined, I found it was the people in that gym that kept me motivated and not the actual gym. So I invested in my own equipment- and well now I have lots of clothing space 😕 

[MissPuff]

@GG84 I totally agree with it's the people at the gym and not necessarily the gym/class itself. Seeing the same friendly faces over and over again gave me the extra little push to keep going with some classes and ignore others. 

@naturalooks15  The OTF's in my area also strongly encourage (but don't require) social media posting and depending on the location (there's 4 in my immediate vicinity) some are more INTENSE/cultish than others. I have friends that swear by it, but I also think it's because they go together. The workouts feel too similar for me to justify the price and/or to go more than once a week, but I also do prefer working out on my own 🙂 

[yankeefaithful]

@naturalooks15  Great idea!! I've always been active with team sports, but because of injuries, have gone to yoga and pilates. Love daily walks with my dog and free weights, but hurt my shoulder a few months back, so I'm slowly getting back into the habit. So hard to get back after taking time off, so this would be great!! Good luck to everyone!!😊🧘‍♀️

[faeriegirl]

Awesome thread idea @naturalooks15! I have gained 20 pounds since last fall and I really need to get motivated. I will be more active at my new job but I really need to get back into yoga.

[Anonymous]

@naturalooks15 I've gained 20 pounds over the past year, so I really need to get back into some healthy routines too. This thread is a great idea 🙂

[quspork]

I love this idea, @naturalooks15! I have been so bad about actually hitting the gym over the last year and am very out of practice with yoga and everything else. This is a nice idea for keeping some accountability. 

[GG84]

Great idea! I have a spin bike, stair climber and treadmill and don’t use them. They just take up space and I end up hanging my clothes on them, yeah it’s embarrassing. Either I use them or sell them and I’d rather use them. 

[Anonymous]

@GG84 our youngest cat sits on our exercise bike more than me >_>