Walking for maintenance/workout boredom

M

MindiK

New member
I've been working out five days a week since July 31, 2007. Generally, other than a few instances where the gym was closed, I have pretty much stuck to the same routine (recumbent bike and weights MWF, elliptical trainer Tues&Thurs).

It's taken me a year, but I'm SO bored with the routine!! It's gotten to the point where I'm considering skipping days (which is VERY bad for me, even though I haven't done it yet. )

I want to put in a workout video during the week, like Turbo Jam (which I've read good things about) but we're tight on cash right now so it'll have to wait. I've got a yoga video I'm going to try today, just out of curiosity.

I'm also interested in walking/jogging. But every time I've gone...wow. SO sore I can barely function for DAYS. Like the last time, I did two miles. I walked an entire lap, then jogged/walked a lap in 100 meter intervals, walked one, walked/jogged one, then jogged an entire lap and so on. I could barely move the next day, or the second day, or the third. Maybe too much at one time?

Any advice on what to do to make this better?

Also, I'm at my maintenance point right now. Will walking/jogging burn enough calories to help me maintain (along with eating appropriately, of course) if I did it a couple of days a week, instead of the bike or elliptical. Just looking at the calorie burning totals, it doesn't look as if walking gets anywhere NEAR as many calories off as the recumbent bike, and certainly not as many as the elliptical.

Any help would be appreciated!!!!
 
I would say after a year you definitely need to mix it up a bit. If you are at maintenance, find a new goal. Are you doing the same lifts with the weights? Throw in some circuits or tabatas. Challenge yourself to do 100 pushups, or beat a 400m time. Join a local boxing or martial arts gym.

If you want to get into running, check out the couch to 5k plan.
 
Thanks, Edco!

I needed to change my routine MONTHS ago, but it hasn't been unbearable until now. I'm still doing mostly the same lifts, though I throw some different stuff in every once in a while. The problem for me is availability. I can't do classes, because I live in the middle of nowhere and there are none. Equipment is severely limited, as well, since the "Gym" is a part of the hospital and has only two recumbent bikes, a Nautilus machine and an elliptical trainer. And a treadmill. And that's it as far as options go, other than the local track.

But I like the idea of challenges...I'd LOVE to be able to run an entire mile without walking. I've never, ever been able to do that, even at my most active point. So I guess I'll start with that, and the "Couch to 5K" program.

Should I still be doing something else, like the recumbent or elliptical, in addition, on the days I run to keep my calorie burning totals high? Or would the running suffice?
 
But I like the idea of challenges...I'd LOVE to be able to run an entire mile without walking. I've never, ever been able to do that, even at my most active point. So I guess I'll start with that, and the "Couch to 5K" program.
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Yeah the couch to 5k is great. A lot of experience with it around this forum as well. Even a club in the club section.
Should I still be doing something else, like the recumbent or elliptical, in addition, on the days I run to keep my calorie burning totals high? Or would the running suffice?
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Depends on your goals and your diet I suppose. If you do the couch to 5k they advise to take a rest day. You say you have problems running so that may be a good idea. If you feel like another challenge though try this one
 
The machines at your gym are probably spitting out incorrect calorie burns anyway, so I wouldn't really worry about that. If you like walking/jogging and it relieves some of the bordem, go for it!!

Also, you can usually get workout DVD's at the library for free.
 
If you walk more often your stamina for walking does improve.

Walking is my main form of exercise (although I do walk a lot) - and it has certainly been central to my weight loss project. It may burn more calories than you think - because I am pretty pleased with how much weight I have lost in 16 months.

I will be in maintenance soon myself.

I think that exercise DVDs are a good idea. I have thoroughly enjoyed the exercise / aerobics classes that I have attended.
 
MindiK said:
It's taken me a year, but I'm SO bored with the routine!! It's gotten to the point where I'm considering skipping days (which is VERY bad for me, even though I haven't done it yet. )
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You need to find exercises you enjoy! Your going to get VERY bored of that routine quickly, so find something that you ENJOY doing, then you will be more likely to stick to it.

MindiK said:
Also, I'm at my maintenance point right now. Will walking/jogging burn enough calories to help me maintain (along with eating appropriately, of course) if I did it a couple of days a week, instead of the bike or elliptical. Just looking at the calorie burning totals, it doesn't look as if walking gets anywhere NEAR as many calories off as the recumbent bike, and certainly not as many as the elliptical.
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The calorie counters on the machines at the gym are most likely incorrect, you really should gage your success by miles or by how you feel. You said you were really sore, which usually means it was a pretty hard workout! Running and walking outside will also give you a better workout than a treadmill, because a treadmill provides motivation because it is moving.

Jogging will probably burn more calories than the elliptical, some people swear by the calories on the machines but I know I am MUCH more tired after a run than on the elliptical, the elliptical does nothing for me.

Like others have said, try the Couch to 5K program, lots of people have had success on that.
 
I know the calorie counter on the elliptical is WAY off. It says I burn only 50 calories in 35 minutes, so I've never really known WHAT I've been burning. Just that I've lost weight...

But walking is seeming more and more appealing. I think I'm going to start on the Couch to 5K program Monday morning! Whoo hoo!!

Edco also suggested a challenge to do 100 pushups. Well, I think I've never been able to successfully do a pushup in my entire life, so yesterday I tried. I did two before it freaked me out that I COULD do them, and then stopped with a smile. It's amazing what a little work can do... :coolgleamA:
 
MindiK said:
I know the calorie counter on the elliptical is WAY off. It says I burn only 50 calories in 35 minutes, so I've never really known WHAT I've been burning. Just that I've lost weight...

But walking is seeming more and more appealing. I think I'm going to start on the Couch to 5K program Monday morning! Whoo hoo!!

Edco also suggested a challenge to do 100 pushups. Well, I think I've never been able to successfully do a pushup in my entire life, so yesterday I tried. I did two before it freaked me out that I COULD do them, and then stopped with a smile. It's amazing what a little work can do... :coolgleamA:
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WooHoo go you! Do 100. I dare you. You could start both programs and in 8 weeks you could run a 5k and do 100 pushups. How awesome would that be?
 
MindiK said:
I'm also interested in walking/jogging. But every time I've gone...wow. SO sore I can barely function for DAYS. Like the last time, I did two miles. I walked an entire lap, then jogged/walked a lap in 100 meter intervals, walked one, walked/jogged one, then jogged an entire lap and so on. I could barely move the next day, or the second day, or the third. Maybe too much at one time?

Any advice on what to do to make this better?
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Jogging is hard on one's body. Everything bounces, knees and muscles absorb the shock of hitting the pavement... It also sounds like a little too much too soon.

Walking is my main method of exercise. I bike, too, but not as much since it drains my energy so much I can't function well the rest of the day. I walk no less than three days per week, usually five. I do a brisk one-hour, four-mile walk each time. I walk through neighborhoods, up and down hills, by the lake, so there is some scenery for me to look at. Sometimes I even walk through a graveyard. I would get bored senseless exercising indoors every day. A treadmill can't offer the visual stimulation as a walk on a beautiful summer day. The sun, clouds, breeze, cute squirrels running around, etc.

Perhaps you should start by walking a mile one day, resting a day, then increasing your walk by 1/4 mile each day.
 
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