Spice Up Your Relationship With Exercise
Addendum**
Help! I’m experiencing a “slumptitude” (thanks for the word, Miz!)! It’s not only just a mental lack of motivation, it’s an actual physical slump as well. Mentally, I’m on “I just want to eat crap and lay in bed all day” mode. Physically, while I can usually run 6-miles and hardly break a sweat, running just 3 miles feels like I’m running a marathon. What gives? Any ideas? While I have experienced mounds of stress recently in trying to find a new job and a whole gamut of reasons I care not to divulge, my life is only going to get more hectic in the coming weeks as school starts up again and my new job (!) begins. I cannot let the insanely hard-work I put in to losing my final 10 go to waste, right? I’m trying my darnedest to think of some creative ways to reinvigorate myself with motivation and the easiest things I can think of are…
Spice It Up
If you’ve ever read a chick mag (hello, Cosmo), you’ve surely encountered (or been bombarded with) articles on how to “spice it up” in the bedroom with your significant other. I don’t really need help in that department, thank you very much, but it sure gives food for thought. My relationship with the gym is going stale. If my gym were my boyfriend, he’d be off at Barnes and Noble right now reading, “She’s Just Not That Into You” and trying to figure out why my visits have been more infrequent and sporadic. I’m sorry gym, but we’ve just lost that spark. I can’t help it, but my eyes are wandering…to other avenues of exercise, that is. If I’m going to get hot and sweaty, I think this is one relationship that’s going to be poly-amorous – I’m seeking new options! Outdoor exercise, here I come! More beach rollerblading, more dog walking, more playing in the sand with my niece. I need to remember why being active is *fun.* Don’t worry gym, I’ll still be seeing you very often, just won’t be as committed. Can you guys relate to needing to spice up your relationship with exercise? Perhaps variety really is the “spice of life.” Or maybe just “switching things up”? (that would explain why my cat has been eating the dog food, and my dog has been eating the cat food. Strange pets!)
New Music
I need new music on my iPod, friends. All the music on my “play-list to weigh less” is no longer cutting it and we all know how important good music is for fueling our work-outs. Any suggestions? What are you favorite work-out songs? Do you give your work-out play-lists funny names on your iPod? Do you have different play-lists depending on what type of exercise you’ll be completing? p.s. Did ya see that pseudo-study that playing your music louder makes you work out harder (at least in strength training)? **Oh, sweet! Check out No Meat Athlete’s compilation of runners’ songs here! I, of course, recommended “Idioteque” by Radiohead 
In the News
- Science Daily‘s, “Parents Can Help Stop the Obesity Epidemic, Says Psychologist; Healthy Body Image is First Step” (8/15/09) here — Loved this! I am totally going to check out the books “Body Intelligence” and “Emotional Eating” by Edward Abramson, Ph.D. Do you guys agree, at least at face-value, that “healthy body image” could be our answer to the “obesity epidemic”?
Give-Away Round Up
- Win some Zevia zero-calorie, naturally-sweetened soda here
- Win a sock-gram here
- Win some Nuun hydration tablets and other loot here
Karma Police
“Karma Police” is a great song by Radiohead and also something I believe in! So, throwing the good karma I’ve received back out there I would like to say I am thankful that I got a new job doing something I actually love doing, I am thankful my mom and her co-worker returned safely from a sketchy work trip, I am stoked my gym added nice new treadmills, I am thankful for having such strong women role models (thanks for lunch, B!), and I am thankful that every morning I get up is full of opportunities.
When you guys foresee your life getting even more hectic, do you take proactive measures to keep yourself on track? In other words, do you write out a schedule or calendar? Or do you just “wing it”? I’d love practical suggestions on how all of you deal with the stressful lives you lead.
Have a wonderful Saturday, guys!
<3, The Cranky One
p.s. Are you following me on Twitter yet?!
Tags: creative ways to exercise, exercise, exercise music, fitness, gym, karma, outdoors exercise
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14 People have left comments on this post
Well, I don’t do Twitter so.. I think it is one more thing that will just make my life busier than it needs to be. I know poele love it but I just don’t get it … yet…
As for your exercise.. I say go for it! The key is to enjoy & not dread!!!! I bet you find new muscles you thought you never had!!!!
I am a oldie rock person for music so I doubt you would ne interested in my play list… BUT, I do want to say be careful of how loud you play yhe iPod.. hearing loss! Now I do sound like a 51 alomost 52 year old!!!
Good luck with all the craziness coming up!
I have also been experiencing the slumptitude… just exercise-wise though. I’m not too worried, since I’m cleansing. I take the odd walk outside and after the cleanse will resume a more rigorous program again.
i think spicing it up will definitely do the trick for ya. When i find myself in a slump i always try to switch it up — whether it be with a new pilates DVD or a different yoga flow – getting out of the same ol’ routine always helps to make working out exciting. i think outdoor exercise would be great — bike riding, tennis, walking, swimming, etc. I can proudly say i have not hit up the gym since october of last year and i do not miss it one bit!
I like listening to Britney Spears when I work out ::blushes::
You’re welcome A!
) I’m still waiting to see the photo of your lunch salad!
I’ve had multiple “slumptitudes” (I LOVE this expression!) over the many many years that I’ve been working out. There have been numerous times where the thought of entering the gym made my skin crawl. It does blow over but during those times, you definitely have to shake it up and try new things–and so what if you did eat that cookie that was the size of your head. I like to get out on the trails in Yorba Linda to change it up, and California has some fabulous hiking paths…you can make a day out of it. Get a map of the trails, pack up some healthy snacks and lunch (of course water) and go out and explore. Take in the scenery…let the crud of the city leave your body and mind. Not to mention some hills will kick your butt big time.
As for Twitter…I’m still trying to figure it out (you know me “A” … technology challenged. I need you to help me with all this stuff….
You’re looking fabulous…you are going to do great in the new job!
It’s me again…one other thing…there is NOTHING wrong with taking a break from the gym…your body is telling you to slow down…so listen to it.
))
Those are some good ideas to try! Sometimes I feel like my short runs are harder than my long runs. No idea why though!
so many thoughts:)
) there are times when nothing suffices like a trashy novel and a pint of ben and jerrys and the couch.
the overarching? listen to your bod.
always.
for me (and yes Im here to proclaim it
I ENJOY EVERY MORSEL AND EVERY WORD and am ready to hit the healthy living trail again the next day after a nice relished ENJOYED break.
can you tell Im emphasizing the enjoyed an d PLANNED treat of it all?
xo xo,
Miz.
oh my annabel…i finally caught up on your blog! i can’t believe i’d been gone that long. i also love the word “slumptitude” – i get that like 3-4 times a year. i usually take a week off from exercising, then am bored by the end of the week and am reexcited to exercise again!
hope you had a wonderful weekend…lots of love to you!
I had many slumptitudes along my journey. I’ve been in maintenance for 12 years and they come and go.
I usually try something new for a while and that gets me through it.
Have a great week!
I am just getting out of a “slumptitude” myself. Everything but the gym looks appealing to me. I thought about giving up the gym all together but then thought maybe I should do just what you are spice it up and visit the gym when the mood really struck.
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