Kicking off the week with another 4:20 a.m. wake up! Thankfully they’re getting less and less brutal.
This morning, I arrived at the gym before it opened to work the early shift. I have a brief reprieve right now until I meet up with a client. I’m hoping to sneak in my own workout at some point as well.
A few of you have asked me how my workouts have changed – or if they have at all – since I started working at the gym. You would think the intensity would increase since I’m surrounded by people kicking their butts in the weight room or on cardio machines all day long, but to be honest, the opposite is true. Once I am done working and training clients, I feel less than motivated to work out myself and my workouts seem to be less intense and shorter. I feel like I’m just going through the motions. I miss early morning work outs!
Last week I made an effort to try to motivate myself again with some interval workouts and a boot camp class which felt great. I think that trying out a new work out or looking for a new fitness-related goal might help invigorate my workouts. Sometimes I just need an extra push!
I’m actually starting to feel the half marathon itch again, but since I have to work the early shift at work quite frequently, running when it’s cooler outside in the mornings is out and running in the afternoon or evening would be pretty miserable in the summer heat. I’m open to fitness goal suggestions!
Breakfast
Breakfast this morning was prepared last night. As I cooked dinner yesterday, I made myself a batch of scrambled eggs with spinach, onion, mozzarella cheese and chicken sausage and brought the eggs to work with me this morning.
Ever since I started working the early shift at the gym, my breakfasts have been primarily oatmeal or yogurt-based, so it felt good to have eggs again!
Question of the Morning
- Are you currently working toward a fitness goal of some sort or following a workout plan?
- Any suggestions for a new fitness goal to help me feel more motivated in the gym again?
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You should try barre! It takes all your focus and feels great to be in the zone for an hour!
Just started Pure Barre classes and I love the new challenge! Highly recommend.
Have you ever thought about a figure competition?
I’m I’m the process of this right now!!! Yay figure (:
I can imagine how hard it would be to motivate yourself after motivating other people for a good portion of the day 🙂
My fitness goals were actually inspired by you. After reading all the workouts you posted, I decided I need to break away from my standard treadmill/elliptical/stairmill workouts and do some functional training workouts. I’ve used many of yours! My goal is to try a new one every week.
If you have the running bug, you could so SOME training on the treadmill. Maybe aim for 3 outdoor runs a week and do the rest inside…You can try signing up for a half marathon in a place that you’ve always wanted to travel to. I’m sure if you reached out to the PR people, they’d love to have you as an ambassador 🙂
so glad you’re loving the functional workouts! they’re my favorite!
yoga challenge!!!
I’m trying to maintain my running habit, as I’m going to be doing a half-marathon (my first!) in October. I’m really busy with work right now so my ultimate goal is to stay active!
As for a suggestion; try something you’ve never done before!
Maybe you could start a new program. We’ve been doing the Insanity program for the last few months, and I love it!
Did you actually cook the eggs last night? I’ve been wanting to try this, but am unsure about reheated eggs.
I’m about 90% sure I’m signing up for the Raleigh Ironman 70.3 and freak myself out everytime I think about actually doing it!
Ooooh fun!! That race looks awesome! :):)
good luck, laura!!! sounds incredible!
My current fitness goal is qualifying for the Boston marathon at the Space Coast marathon in December. I just finished week 1 of my new training program!
The half marathon is a great new goal but you’re right about the summer heat! I’m a triathlon nut so recommend trying one of those. You’d still have to run, but there’s also the swim and bike portion which aren’t as hot. 🙂
What about a sprint or Olympic distance tri? That way you could do your running workouts when you don’t have to work super early and do swimming and biking later (since they tend to be more forgiving in the heat.)
I hear ya on the early wake up calls … I have a 4:30am wake up call for a run before my flight on Mondays, and somehow it’s always SO much rougher than my usual 5:15am, even if I go to bed earlier! I am ALL about races, but I find it pretty hard to train for a race in the heat (I’m in TX, so it’s probably similar for you). Instead, I would recommend a pre-made challenge like the Barre3 one (I just started the workouts, and although I’m not doing the challenge yet I love them! Burns so good 🙂
The Barre3 Challenge sounds really cool. I’ve never heard of it before. Thanks for sharing!
Sure! http://www.barre3.com/28-to-great … if you do it and post about it maybe I’ll do it too!
Maybe set a goal of trying every class your gym offers! Especially since you’ll have certification soon, experiencing all of the classes would probably be beneficial to your body, attention span and career! I’ve made it a goal for myself to incorporate spin twice a week into my cross country training and it feels great!
As far as long term fitness goals go, I signed up for the NJ Marathon, which will be my first!!! Not until next April, but I’m already nervous/excited!
I think I’m in need of a new goal too! I was pushing myself really hard to get ready for prom (AKA my 8 week Operation Prom Dress). Then prom came and went (May 31) and now I’m really unmotivated! It’s a problem!
Setting goals and entering a race or having something specific to train for I find really helps me.
I’m interested to try Barre as there were so many comments about it 🙂
I was so happy to read your post today because I too have been in the so called, “slump” and making my workouts shorter and shorter. I use to do about 45 to 50 minutes of cardio daily, but lucky now if i can make it past 20 minutes. I found breaking things up helped, 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes in the evening or say 20 minute ellipitcal followed by a barre class or yoga class. I think the key is mixing things up so you dont get bored anymore. I hope you get back in the groove of things, just as I hope I do too 🙂
Maybe sign up for an adventure race or triathlon, do whatever Ryan’s does for his workout, master a hard yoga pose, pullups, swim laps.
I enjoy changing things up regularly when it comes to my fitness routine. I have 4 children, so working out at home works best for me. We have an elliptical that I use a little, but my favorite is to alternate between different fitness programs. I use P90X, Insanity, and Insanity the Asylum Volumes 1 & 2. I’m thinking next I’m going to try out Les Mills Combat!
maybe more strength training emphasis? Obviously, we need our cardio. But I know when I’m feeling tired and I have to work out in the afternoon, a weight training session seems much more inviting for some reason than sprints, long run, or cardio circuit work!
Have you ever done the Insanity program? I know it is all the hype right now, but I am doing it and it really works and pushes you. It also helps that there is a calendar that you follow so you always know what you have to do.
I am also currently training for my first half-marathon, using Insanity for cross training on my off days. It keeps me moving for sure!
I guess it makes sense that your personal workouts have changed quite a bit. Hmmm I don’t know what you would think of this type of workout, but throughout my pregnancy I’ve been doing Leah Sarago’s ballet body DVDs about 2x a week and it’s been amazing! It seems easy and really “tame”, but it’s actually brutal and gets me more worked up and perhaps more sore than weights. 😀 I’m definitely excited to dive into the world of fitness even more seriously after I give birth this week! (well, after recovery) It’s really nice to not have to worry about “what happens if I jump too much? Or if I strain my muscles with heavy weights?” etc. 🙂
My current fitness goal is to be able to get through the rehab process (ACL repair) and start running again! God I miss it!
As for fitness goals you could consider training for a triathlon? Swimming and biking shouldn’t be too bad in the summer?
I’m the same way. I need to have my early morning workouts! If I go later in the day I’m just not motivated, resulting in a less than great workout!
When I have no choice but to workout later in the day, I make sure I go in with a plan, so I don’t give up early, whether that plan be an interval workout, as you said and/or a weight lifting plan. New music also helps to motivate me.
I would also agree with the Barre recommendation, if you have access to those classes. I’ve been doing some of the Physique 57 online classes ever since I took a class there after the Fitness Magazine’s Meet & Tweet. You could also try crossfit. I’m starting that in a few weeks, and I’m really excited about it, but also really freaking nervous!
Good luck! I know it sucks being in a fitness rut. :/
You should switch it up and try power yoga!! It’s not your typical slow-moving yoga class (those kind of classes drive me crazy because I get bored easily). It’s fast paced and challenging, it gets your heart pounding, you sweat buckets (heated room), and definitely feel the burn! Such an incredible workout and you leave feeling like a new person. I would encourage you to try at least 2 or 3 classes before forming an opinion about it because it can be intimidating and feel really intense if you’re not used to it. Also, one day it might awful but the next feel amazing. Happens to me all the time! But it is so nice to finally have a form of exercise that I genuinely get excited about and doesn’t feel like a chore or obligation!
Those eggs look delicious!
I’m trying all kinds of new things to get past a major motivation stall. I’ve started running again and I’m planning on trying some baby crossfit workouts at home to mix up my strength training. I feel like I’ve hit a plateau with my lifting and I need something to push through so I can keep making progress.
I have been thinking lately about doing some kind of 5k challenge. Like maybe do 5 races for meaningful charities this summer, do a 5k each month for a year, focus on fun races (color runs, races with great parties, holiday weekend races, etc.), etc. Would your husband be up for a challenge? Might be fun for you guys to train for something together. : )
I’m feeling unmotivated lately as well… I’d love to hear a round-up of the suggestions that you get from readers as a future post! I can’t seem to scroll through them all. 😉
I know what you mean about needing a tangible goal to stay motivated!! Like some others have mentioned in the comments, barre-type workouts are a fun new thing to try. And if you’re not all gym-ed out, maybe you could try to take the different group exercise classes at your gym? Working out with other people is always more fun!!
Julie, I am struggling with this exact same thing! I used to be in the routine of getting-up & working-out 1st thing in the morning & now that I usually have clients 1st thing, I tend to work less hard on my own. I’m not complaining at all, it is a learning experience though! I’m thinking about taking up a yoga challenge as the stress reduction & meditation seems to really help me in my daily life. Good luck whatever you decide!
I’m a Physiotherapy Assistant, I watch people work out all day teaching exercises and perfecting there technique. You think it’d be a no brainer for me to workout. But I just can’t get motivated. I do work 3 jobs and am quite busy. I find in my spare time all i want to do is Relax. Got any tips for me to get motivated into working out?
I say an ironman or some kind of tri! You already have a swimming background with the diving right? (yes I’ve stalked your blog for sometime lol 😉 ) And you already run. Just get serious about the biking and you could do it!
One of my favorite workouts now is doing stadiums! I live just north of you in Gainesville, and about 1-2 times a week a couple of my friends get together to work out in the “Swamp”! Its really a different kind of work out and there is definitely nothing easy about it…we make up different workouts normally consisting of snakes and running around the stadium, gator mountains (going up and down the bleachers–90 rows!) and then a series of functional-type workouts…very challenging! so if your ever up this way you should try it! 🙂
What about some form of competition b/w staff members? Perhaps just doing “points” tied to number of workouts. It’s hard to do direct things like time on a mile run since people have different starting points (also a issue w/ weight-based things….you don’t need to lose so don’t want a competition on that), but you could do “time improved” or “amount of weight added” to specific exercises….
Heck, I’ve seen plenty of gyms do similar things for members. You could have it open to members but keep staff in a separate section (kinda got an advantage on things like “days in the gym” and extra knowledge to help on others)….
sorry if that’s way too rambly
Since it gets so hot in the summer, I decided it would be the perfect time to knock triathlon off my bucket list. The swimming is all in a pool…perfect. I’m training for the bike portion with one indoor and one outdoor ride a week. And my running is down to twice a week so I don’t get heat stroke. I hope I make it to Labor Day.
I’ve been working on some new yoga arm balances and lot of burpees! I’m going to try to beat my time of 9:22 for 100 burpees. I used to despise burpees but I’ve been trying lots of different variation and I’ve been working at them every day so now I think I really like them! (What?!) 😉
I don’t know how you do that 4:30 am wake-up. I’d be useless by the time 3 pm rolled around! I’ve really been loving pilates lately. Maybe you could try taking, or even teaching, pilates!
I don’t know how you do that 4:30 am wake-up. I’d be useless by the time 3 pm rolled around! I’ve really been loving pilates lately. Maybe you could try taking, or even teaching, pilates
I’m currently am working towards a 61 mile cycling road race. I was working towards a sprint triathlon but had a nagging injury pop up.
What about a sprint triathlon? The training is so fun and mixing it up is great between the three sports!
Hi Julie!
I am so happy to hear that I am not alone. I am also NASM CPT certified, currently working on getting my CES cert now. I work part time as a trainer at a small neighborhood gym that doesn’t have any classes or a pool, unfortunately.. When I first started working as a trainer, I was really excited that I would be at the gym a lot more and figured I would be working out everyday…and then I started getting busier. I just wanted to get home after I finished working on my clients and didn’t have the motivation to workout before I left. Halfway through my first year, my clientele shrunk and I was finding myself wanting to spend less time at the gym and stopped working out at the gym altogether. I think this is more common in the fitness industry than we like to admit. I believe that working out with other trainers at work can really help, if you can. Trainers can still have their own trainer…and some of us really need one! I am trying to go biking regularly and rowing when Chicago weather fails me (we have a rower at home.) I also bought a groupon for Yoga/Pilates classes to give me some workouts outside of work. I just realized eventually that I needed to workout elsewhere. I would do your gym’s classes to stay motivated…or take your workouts elsewhere/outside. Variety helps me. Hope you get ack on track, I know it’s hard. But I also know how I feel when I don’t workout regularly.
I think you would enjoy some type of triathlon. I did one with canoeing, running and biking and I loved it! And I have never made eggs before hand then heated them up, but yours look yummy!
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com