O is For Open

O is for Open

….Open to change, that is. When it comes to my workouts, I admit I can be stuck in a rut, or stubborn about changing things up. There are a lot of reasons for doing the same thing each time: it’s comfortable and familiar, sometimes I worry about not doing what worked to lose 100 pounds, and sometimes I’m just lazy and don’t want to be creative at the gym.

Lately I’ve realized I needed to be open to change in a lot of ways. I need to be open to opportunities around me and not just stay stuck in my rut because it’s what I know. I need to be open to trying new things with my daily diet. I need to be open to changing up my workout routines.

The biggest “success” in terms of changing things up for me has been Spin class. For years I scoffed at Spin class. I didn’t think it was the same as riding a real bike. I didn’t “get it” and didn’t think it would be a good workout. I am SO glad I changed my mind and tried it. I cannot express just how happy I am that I’ve been able to keep a cycling base throughout winter. Even if I’m only doing 15-20 miles a week, that’s mega compared to previous winters where I did NOTHING.

So what am I finally open to changing in my routine? A lot. I’ve stated before that I am a cardio junkie and prefer to do the long, boring cardio workouts when I SHOULD be doing HIIT interval training and weight lifting. I know that my habits tend to be zoning out on a treadmill or elliptical. It’s time to step out of the habit and be open to doing something else.

My current routine is: 2 swim days, 1 spin day with a run before class, 2 cardio days with weight lifting. That’s a lot of cardio. Spin is staying because I need to train for Spring cycling. Swimming is staying because I love it. So what about the two cardio days with weights? I can certainly give up at least one cardio day. Dare I say, maybe two?

Instead, I should be focusing entirely on weight lifting.

It’s scary. It’s freaking me out to drop a cardio workout. Will I gain weight? Will I miss it? Or will I LOVE IT? Either way, I need to figure it out. So I’ve decided this:

• 2 Swim days a week will remain as normal, but I’ll try to do more sprints in the pool
• 1 spin day a week until the weather is nice enough to start biking to work again
• 1 cardio day with running and weight lifting
• 1 weight lifting day–ONLY weight lifting!

Eventually, if this works, I might drop another cardio day and make it entirely weight lifting as well. I won’t know if this is the trick I need unless I try it. I need to be open to changing things up. Besides, if I don’t like it or don’t see a change, I can always go back to the same ol’ same ol’….

QUESTION: Are you open to changing anything in your life right now?

A-Abstinence * B-Balance * C-Calories * D-Vitamin D * E-Emergency * F-Fast Food and Fine Dining * G-Gym Bag * H-Happy Weight * I-Intervals * J-Jumping * K-Keeping Sane * L-Losing Weight * M-Measuring Mistakes * N-Nemesis *