New workout
August 12, 2013 10:57 AM Subscribe
I have come to love and need regular, intense exercise and I'm looking for a new routine. Help?
I trained in a boxing gym for the last 3 years, but I've recently petered off because my work schedule makes going to the gym difficult and I reached a point where I kind of had to spar more to advance, and I don't really want to spar because I'm not into getting head injuries. What I liked about it (after about a year of training myself to like this stuff!) was the physical intensity, the presence of a personal trainer (very affordable in a traditional boxing gym - but I know not so in other gyms), the emotional intensity of the fighting part of it, and the full-body, full mental immersiveness of it. In other words, the thing that is the opposite of sitting on a treadmill watching TV.
I'm looking for a new type of workout routine that will be as compelling to me and as physically exerting.
Some stuff I've done a little of and liked:
Rock climbing: fun, liked the building skill levels part of it, didn't like the people there very much and don't like having to have a partner to do it. Also kind of pricy membership.
Brazilian Ju Jitsu: liked the fighting, skill building, good full body workout part.
Kayaking: Have only done a little. I liked being outside a LOT, and the upper body workout. But I get seasick very easily, even in the little protected estuary I took a class at.
Home HIIT: I tried doing a modified version of the famous NYT 7 minute workout, only in 3 sets so like 25 minutes, and I like the intensity and will probably keep doing this, but frankly it's a little boring or hard to motivate to do this three days a week alone at home. It's very nice in that it's quick and intense though.
Hiking: Love being outside alone in nature and will keep doing this, but it's not as aerobic and intense as I need.
I'm not interested in:
Running. I tried couch to 5k two or three times and the sad fact is I just hate running. I find it tedious and uncomfortable and it just never clicked for me as any kind of positive, fun experience.
And I'm not into anything where the primary focus is on developing a conventionally attractive body. Especially not into stuff that is really negative about any body type. I like the emotional and cardiovascular strength that comes with exercise but I don't want a body-negative, weight loss only kind of atmosphere. Hope that makes sense.
I'd love suggestions of general types of exercise to consider getting into, and then also if you have specific workout videos or "programs" or whatever, I'd love to hear that too.
I trained in a boxing gym for the last 3 years, but I've recently petered off because my work schedule makes going to the gym difficult and I reached a point where I kind of had to spar more to advance, and I don't really want to spar because I'm not into getting head injuries. What I liked about it (after about a year of training myself to like this stuff!) was the physical intensity, the presence of a personal trainer (very affordable in a traditional boxing gym - but I know not so in other gyms), the emotional intensity of the fighting part of it, and the full-body, full mental immersiveness of it. In other words, the thing that is the opposite of sitting on a treadmill watching TV.
I'm looking for a new type of workout routine that will be as compelling to me and as physically exerting.
Some stuff I've done a little of and liked:
Rock climbing: fun, liked the building skill levels part of it, didn't like the people there very much and don't like having to have a partner to do it. Also kind of pricy membership.
Brazilian Ju Jitsu: liked the fighting, skill building, good full body workout part.
Kayaking: Have only done a little. I liked being outside a LOT, and the upper body workout. But I get seasick very easily, even in the little protected estuary I took a class at.
Home HIIT: I tried doing a modified version of the famous NYT 7 minute workout, only in 3 sets so like 25 minutes, and I like the intensity and will probably keep doing this, but frankly it's a little boring or hard to motivate to do this three days a week alone at home. It's very nice in that it's quick and intense though.
Hiking: Love being outside alone in nature and will keep doing this, but it's not as aerobic and intense as I need.
I'm not interested in:
Running. I tried couch to 5k two or three times and the sad fact is I just hate running. I find it tedious and uncomfortable and it just never clicked for me as any kind of positive, fun experience.
And I'm not into anything where the primary focus is on developing a conventionally attractive body. Especially not into stuff that is really negative about any body type. I like the emotional and cardiovascular strength that comes with exercise but I don't want a body-negative, weight loss only kind of atmosphere. Hope that makes sense.
I'd love suggestions of general types of exercise to consider getting into, and then also if you have specific workout videos or "programs" or whatever, I'd love to hear that too.
Hello, friend! You sound like a perfect candidate for the cult of fitness! Crossfit is very intense and gets into your head.
Downsides: it's expensive, you would have to find a gym with a class schedule that worked for you, and there are a lot of assholes who do Crossfit.
However, I love it--it is very focused on strength and mental endurance in a way that sounds like it might jive with you.
posted by gone2croatan at 11:04 AM on August 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
Downsides: it's expensive, you would have to find a gym with a class schedule that worked for you, and there are a lot of assholes who do Crossfit.
However, I love it--it is very focused on strength and mental endurance in a way that sounds like it might jive with you.
posted by gone2croatan at 11:04 AM on August 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
Can you get across the bay early in the morning? If so, the best thing I've ever done is START Fitness bootcamp. Super friendly people, super intensive workouts -- different each day M through F but a lot of emphasis on HIIT. First thing in the morning.
posted by janey47 at 11:06 AM on August 12, 2013
posted by janey47 at 11:06 AM on August 12, 2013
If you liked rock climbing, maybe try to find a bouldering gym? You don't need a partner for that, but it uses similar skills to climbing with a rope.
posted by karbonokapi at 11:12 AM on August 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by karbonokapi at 11:12 AM on August 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you like climbing but not partnering what about bouldering? It's very safe to go solo in a gym if you're on low walls and you can get one on one coaching if need be. It's also very intense and 'whole body' and skill is built incrementally over a long time so it's great for keeping motivated.
posted by freya_lamb at 11:14 AM on August 12, 2013
posted by freya_lamb at 11:14 AM on August 12, 2013
You could try indoor rowing. Find someplace nearby that's got some decent C2 machines, and then shoot for your 1M meter t-shirt. Few things are better for the core, back, arms, etc.
posted by jquinby at 11:19 AM on August 12, 2013
posted by jquinby at 11:19 AM on August 12, 2013
Picking up on the home HIIT: used DVD sets of the Insanity workout are pretty readily available and cheap (I bought a set off Craigslist). Not the same as a real-life personal trainer, but I find that having Shaun T yelling at me, and telling me when to switch to the next exercise really does help motivate me, both in-the-moment as I'm doing the workout, and it also helps motivate me to get up and do it again day after day. And there are several different routines varying in duration and intensity, so you can mix it up, and dial the intensity up or down as needed. And the convenience of doing this at home whenever is convenient for my schedule, and that it's do-able no matter what the weather are both big pluses. (For outdoor stuff I play soccer and volleyball, and the workouts have really improved both my games.)
Not necessarily an endorsement of Insanity; there are plenty of other options out there. Maybe preview some (there's got to be clips on Youtube of various workouts), and see if any of those interest you.
posted by fikri at 11:20 AM on August 12, 2013
Not necessarily an endorsement of Insanity; there are plenty of other options out there. Maybe preview some (there's got to be clips on Youtube of various workouts), and see if any of those interest you.
posted by fikri at 11:20 AM on August 12, 2013
Maybe hot yoga? I've always focused on cardio type work outs, but I was surprised by how a) hard and b) different from aerobic the routine can be.
posted by skrozidile at 11:21 AM on August 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by skrozidile at 11:21 AM on August 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I just remembered -- Living Social has a month-long deal for START Fitness going on right now.
posted by janey47 at 11:25 AM on August 12, 2013
posted by janey47 at 11:25 AM on August 12, 2013
Capoeira? It is a cross between fighting and dancing. The idea is to *not* hit your opponent, but to get very very close to hitting them, and for your opponent to juuuust miss being hit. If you actually land a strike, you are considered a poorly skilled "player" for not properly judging the limit. As you advance as a player, you end up doing crazy gymnastics and flips.
Trampoline sports? Ballroom dancing? Swimming? Surfing? Gymnastics?
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:53 AM on August 12, 2013
Trampoline sports? Ballroom dancing? Swimming? Surfing? Gymnastics?
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:53 AM on August 12, 2013
Gymnastics and/or circus aerials! It's super addictive, because you're learning new, cool things all the time, and it really builds strength and stamina, along with flexibility.
posted by Kurichina at 12:12 PM on August 12, 2013
posted by Kurichina at 12:12 PM on August 12, 2013
Yoga - I love vinyasa flow classes (in a hot room). You sweat a lot, build strength, and depending on the teacher they can be pretty fast-paced.
I also bought a bike and now I ride it all the time just for fun - it's not a fancy road bike, just a hybrid, but I go out and ride pretty fast/up hills to work up a sweat.
posted by amaire at 12:25 PM on August 12, 2013
I also bought a bike and now I ride it all the time just for fun - it's not a fancy road bike, just a hybrid, but I go out and ride pretty fast/up hills to work up a sweat.
posted by amaire at 12:25 PM on August 12, 2013
I am the last person to recommend Crossfit to people for so many reasons, but if you can find an intelligent affiliate (unfortunately that's a BIG if) you would probably love it. It's expensive as hell, but then again boxing gyms are usually expensive too. You really really really want to make sure your affiliate is smart though because there is so much potential for injury if your coaches are idiots. Also unfortunately there is no real ratings system for whether or not coaches are idiots, since you only need to complete a two-day certification to open up your own Crossfit gym.
Of course, if you have access to a gym with appropriate equipment you can also follow a program on your own. There are many online Crossfit websites who publish workouts-of-the-day ("WODs"), Outlaw Crossfit, Crossfit Football, and Crossfit Invictus all offer good programs. Outlaw and Invictus are probably more heavy on the Olympic lifts (the snatch and clean & jerk) than you might be ready for if you have no experience with them.
Also: attendees will make a lot of noise about it not being about physical attractiveness, but you'll probably notice immediately that being shirtless and wearing tiny booty shorts and sports bras are the uniform. So, um, I guess just ignore the hypocrisy there.
posted by Anonymous at 1:01 PM on August 12, 2013
Of course, if you have access to a gym with appropriate equipment you can also follow a program on your own. There are many online Crossfit websites who publish workouts-of-the-day ("WODs"), Outlaw Crossfit, Crossfit Football, and Crossfit Invictus all offer good programs. Outlaw and Invictus are probably more heavy on the Olympic lifts (the snatch and clean & jerk) than you might be ready for if you have no experience with them.
Also: attendees will make a lot of noise about it not being about physical attractiveness, but you'll probably notice immediately that being shirtless and wearing tiny booty shorts and sports bras are the uniform. So, um, I guess just ignore the hypocrisy there.
posted by Anonymous at 1:01 PM on August 12, 2013
Sworkit - it's high-intensity circuit training (that you can do in increments starting at 5min) but unlike the 7-minute workout it's randomized so that the routine changes every time and you don't get bored. There's a website and free/pro App versions.
posted by atlantica at 4:07 PM on August 12, 2013
posted by atlantica at 4:07 PM on August 12, 2013
Look into CrossFit. You can sometimes get a handle on how the gym is going to be by looking at the workouts they post on their websites. Gyms that have a focus on strength programming will usually have some work on some major lift (deadlift, squat, bench, shoulder press, snatch, clean/jerk, etc) before you do the conditioning workout. Gyms that are pretty bad will tend to have straight up conditioning until you puke.
posted by astapasta24 at 6:36 PM on August 12, 2013
posted by astapasta24 at 6:36 PM on August 12, 2013
I don't know if you have these classes where you live but I use BodyAttack and BodyPump for my endorphine blast (google Les Mills, sorry for not linking- on the phone now)
posted by coffee_monster at 12:48 AM on August 13, 2013
posted by coffee_monster at 12:48 AM on August 13, 2013
Cycling? Depending on the hills and the traffic, it can definitely feel like a fight out there. Can be as social as you want.
posted by kjs4 at 4:49 AM on August 13, 2013
posted by kjs4 at 4:49 AM on August 13, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
You might not think that watching pine trees go by is significantly less boring than watching buildings go by, but for some reason, for me, it definitely was. YMMliterallyV.
posted by ftm at 11:03 AM on August 12, 2013 [1 favorite]