How to improve my workouts while visiting family?

July 17, 2009 10:54 AM

What's the best way to take my workout routine to the next level while spending ten days with my family?

As it is, I do cardio six days a week and perform a very basic weightlifting routine every other day. I've seen gains and I'm getting stronger and more muscular but I know there's more I could do.

Since the chances of eating poorly and working out less while visiting family on Long Island are great, I've decided this visit would be a good time to push myself more than ever.

I'm considering: crossfit, a personal trainer, a revised, more difficult workout routine, an increase in my weights and time on the elliptical, etc.

What would you recommend?

posted by mizrachi to health & fitness (5 answers total)

The recommendation would be determined by what your goals are.

If you just want to keep your gains and not lose strength or cardiovascular condition during your ten days with your family, all you need to do is work out every day.
posted by dfriedman at 10:57 AM on July 17, 2009

I'd share your awesome progress with family members and make sure you carve out some time every day for it, and that everyone knows that it's mizrachi's time to go weightlift or whatever. Perhaps in the morning when everyone else is showering or reading the paper? That way you get your workout time in, and when you catch the tail end of breakfast, you've still got the whole day to hang out. The public-voicing thing may also mean some very gracious family member asks you what would work best for you to have for dinner - if everyone else is having barbecued burgers and dogs, perhaps they can pick you up a couple of lean steaks at the market too.

You could also take various members of the family on long walks, trips to the beach if that's close...essentially bring them along on your Journey to Fitness as well.
posted by mdonley at 11:07 AM on July 17, 2009

Without knowing your goals, I'll toss out an idea. Heavy up on your lifting.

Heavy lifting days require some recovery time. You could lift one day and take the next day off. That might work more easily into a family vacation than a daily workout.
posted by 26.2 at 12:30 PM on July 17, 2009

What are you trying to achieve, what is your height and weight, and what are you lifting now?

The things you're considering are all different things, even different categories of things.
posted by ludwig_van at 3:40 PM on July 17, 2009

To echo the other responders: It's hard to make a recommendation without knowing specifically what you're trying to achieve. If you want to get stronger, then I'd suggest something different from if you wanted to lose fat, etc.

Having said that, here's what I would do to start...

Instead of increasing duration, increase intensity. Do sets of 5 squats with as much weight as you can handle. Add more weight every time you go to the gym. Forget the elliptical and do HIIT burpees until you can't anymore.
posted by tipthepizzaguy at 8:58 AM on July 18, 2009