First, I need to apologize for the infrequency of my posts as of late but life has gotten away from me. And thus this post.
I have made many attempts throughout the short life of this blog to keep it impersonal and objective. Perhaps this is just a by-product of my research journalism work-life, perhaps it's because I feel the need to be an example of diligent fitness or maybe it's my way of shielding myself from the trolls of the internet. Here's a secret: I think it's all three.
Let me tell you why my posts have been so sparse the past few weeks and how it has effected my workout. This is, after all, a fitness blog.
I spent the first week of January on a cruise in the Bahamas. Which was spectacular. But the problem really started there despite the fact that I lifted 3 out of 7 days in the on-board gym.
The difficulties continued when I came home. I arrived back in New York on Sunday the 8th and Wednesday the 11th, several of my close family members experienced medical emergencies. The subsequent week has been a blur of work, errands and hospital visits.
But I'm not complaining, merely painting the scenario for you. The point of this story is this: Before I left for the cruise, I was lifting 6 days a week. Since the cruise I have been lifting a mere 2, sometimes 3 days a week.
I think it's important that everyone out there knows that, despite all of my lecturing about how important it is to maintain a workout routine, I also know how difficult it is. But I also have solutions. Ok... maybe not complete solutions but at the very least we'll call them "work-arounds." These are strategies that I have used in the past and will be employing going forward that have never let me down.
Circuit Training - Consolidate your workout to cut down on the total weekly time taken up by exercise. Instead of doing isolation days, one day for chest and another for arms etc. etc., work your entire body each time you workout. Utilize compound lifts like squats and bench presses to make sure every muscle gets worked. Generally, a well-designed circuit can be done in about 30 minutes and, depending on your goals, can be done 3 times a week. For contrast, a typical routine of isolation days requires 5 days for a total of 2.5 hours per week while circuit training will only demand 1.5 hours per week.
Add It Up - Even when you're running from one place to another, your small decisions can really add up. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, don't succumb to the allure of comfort foods and take frequent walks. Of course you won't get bulging muscles with this approach but it could go a long way in stopping you from developing another kind of bulge, if you catch my drift.
Spin It - We tend to underestimate our influence over our own thought patterns, but the truth is that you can put a positive spin on just about anything and eventually get yourself to believe it. This can be a powerful weapon to ward off discouragement during periods of forced inactivity. So think about this: Very often a week or so off from your typical workout can give you a huge boost. If you've plateaued and progressed has slowed or stopped, a break could help you get out of that slump.
And to help you get moving and exercise despite whatever stressors you're dealing with, consider the fact that if you don't take care of yourself you're no good to anyone else. Just be balanced and don't spread yourself thin. Exercising when you're already sick or just plain exhausted will probably make things worse. Use your exercise as a way to alleviate stress, not add to it.
