thebuttertomybread asked: can you do an update of your exercise/fitness routine? i feel like we are about the same height(i'm 5') and body shape(also asian) and could really use the help/inspiration!
My advice is to find something you really, really like and to use that as an “anchor”. For example, I do NOT like running, so if my everyday exercise consisted of running, I would probably not keep up that routine for too long. I’ve found that I really like more rigorous forms of yoga, so I go to power yoga a couple times a week and do other stuff on my own. After attending classes for several weeks, getting to know the instructor, and reaping the mental and physical side effects, yoga just seems like part of my schedule now. Sort of like how I got used to waking up everyday at 8:30am to go to Intensive German classes senior year. (Okay, not quite — the latter was MUCH more painful, believe it or not.)
A while back, the Roomie suggested that I start logging each time I exercise and jot down notes about how I felt mentally/physically before, during, and after the activity. He used to do this when he was training for crew, but I’m not a competitive athlete and I’m prone to obsession, so I was a little skeptical at first. Here’s an example of one of my logs (I’ve removed all personal comments to myself, because y’all really don’t need the details on my running speed or my inability to kick into a headstand):
Sunday - Run on the river (4 miles)
Monday - Jog to the museum (2.5 miles)
Tuesday - 75 min Power Yoga class
Wednesday - 30 min weight training & 30 min biking
Thursday - 75 min Power Yoga class
Friday - None
Saturday - 45 min at-home Power Yoga, plus walking (4 miles)
I feel like the above is pretty representative of my current week-to-week routine: two or three yoga sessions, a run, weight training (which I usually pair with interval training), and walking/jogging about town for errands, etc. If my yoga class is full or if I miss it, I just dim the living room lights, put down a mat, and play a YouTube video lesson. Seriously, there are a million free yoga videos online.
I always thought calorie counting made me think about my body in unhealthy ways; wouldn’t an exercise log do the same? In my case, at least, I’ve found that it’s been helpful and motivating and also just sort of handy (in terms of remembering how much I can bench press). This is going to sound really stupid, but there are days when I think, “I should really exercise so I don’t have to write ‘no exercise’ in my log again!” I mean, I keep this thing on my iPhone and only look at it once a day, but there is some sort of reinforcement mechanism working here and I’ve TOTALLY fallen for it. That said, I don’t feel guilty on days of inactivity, nor do I log the calories burned when I do exercise (I pretty much don’t deal in calories at all, because it’s just not a good habit for me); it’s totally just about my performance and mental state. I’m sure that people have similarly disparate experiences with counting food calories — some folks use it to track their nutritional intake; others go overboard and freak out over the number of fat grams in a scoop of ice cream. Since this has worked for me so far, I’m going to keep doing it and see if it makes me more aware of how exercise affects my mood and whether the yoga has an impact on things like posture, sleep, and stiffness*.
Anyhow, this is just stuff that’s worked for keeping me active. It hasn’t led to outward body changes or weight loss, but I also am not looking for either. Please read this for requisite disclaimers on not modeling your body/diet/fitness regimen on someone else’s :)
* When I did this for my migraines earlier this year, it didn’t take long before I was able to identify triggers. Seriously, it’s really weird what you’ll start to notice when you start paying more attention to your body …
More burning questions? Ask Lena.
P.S. Please don’t submit questions about how much I weigh, guys! I know I’ve answered stuff like this in the past, but I don’t want to anymore because specific numbers can be very triggering for people. Plus, I just don’t think it’s very helpful or relevant for other people to know.
Throughout October, I’m competing to win my own web series on SHAPE.com. I’d really appreciate it if you supported TheChicktionary.com in the Best Blogger Awards. (It’s super easy to vote, just a click!)
