Keeping it Fresh

Hey guys! How’s your day been?? Hope you’ve had a fabulous Tuesday 😀

I started mine off with some Perfect Protein Pancakes:

pancake

and a ride on the spin bike.

IMG00141-20100330-0834

I was super stoked to put together a solo spin sesh for you guys, but I couldn’t do it.

Mistake #1: I didn’t make a new playlist

I had a boatload of Glee songs on the iPizzle, which were fun, but I really needed some new music for motivation. My chihuahua-sized attention span kicked in, and it wasn’t my greatest spin workout.

I miss Shaun T.

vlcsnap-2010-01-16-22h05m44s132

And his leggings, heh heh 😉

I’m taking a recovery week from Insanity this week since I start Month 2 on Monday. I repeated Month 1 so technically it’s my “Month 3”, but I really miss having someone to motivate me. Note: “Recovery week” doesn’t mean “do nothing week”- it just means to take a break from Insanity and the jumping, pushups and bounding.

Usually I’m pretty dang good at motivating myself, but today wasn’t the day!

After my mediocre spin sesh, I went to the library for some books.

books

So stoked. I can’t wait to make some of this goat cheese queso from Mesa Grill

queso

I’m salivating just thinking about it…..

Made a smooooooothie and did some work:

smoothie

(Upcoming: Promo for the Glass Dharma straws on THURSDAY! Wahoo!!)

And then meandered up the the yoga room to get my stretch on.

yoga

yoga (6)

I did about 40 minutes of a 60 minute YogaDownload.com Power Yoga #1 podcast and called it good.

Self timer bloopers:

yoga (4) yoga (3)

To be 100% honest, I’m a little blah with the workouts this week.

Doing Insanity has been something fun and *new*, and since it’s an off week, I feel so blah going back to my old routine. It makes me wish so badly that we had yoga studios here in V-town, or aerobics classes that I could *take* instead of teach :/

While I was pondering my workout boredom, I thought of some tips that I would give to clients or those of you in the same situation:

Switch it up! Try something NEW. A great idea is to take a new class or start a workout program, like the Summer Shape Up. For me, my boredom is coming from cardio — I’ve been on a thousand spin bikes and ellipticals in my life (ok, not that many, but you know…) so maybe this week isn’t the week to dilly dally on the same ol’ things. It’s time to venture to Amazon.com for a new DVD or take a roadtrip for a yoga class. The good news is that I’ll be in Orlando this weekend and can yoga to my heart’s delight.

Get some new tunes. Downloading as little as two new songs can always pep me up during a workout. Or download a podcast that you can listen to- there are tons of funny, informational and health-related podcasts out there.

Read something or watch a show. I know some people say “If you can read or watch TV while you’re working out, you’re not working out hard enough.” I totally disagree. If a new magazine motivates you to get your cardio on, or keeps the boredom away, by all means, I say go for it.

Take a break. Feeling bored or burned out can be a sign of overtraining. If your “blahs” are coming from your body telling you that it’s tired and needs a rest, take one. The gym will ALWAYS be there- take care of yourself.

Some more tips on rut-busting can be found *here*

What are your favorite tips for keeping workouts fresh??

 

I’m off to train funny quotes lady and then going to a wives meeting.

See ya in the morning with the Blogiversary giveaway winners!
xoxo

Gina

Post Navigation:

69 Comments

  1. Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life on June 8, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Great tips…but even better photo bloopers! haha
    Can’t wait to check back in the morning!!!

  2. River Trekker on June 8, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    Personally I go outdoors to keep it fresh. Switch it up and go to new places at the river with my camera for hiking and kayaking. It’s so fun.

  3. Monica on June 8, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    I gotta say, I just took a zumba class tonight for the first time ever and I am hooked! I kind of have a mental block about trying new things but it always works out for the best…even if I do have “ballerina hips” according to my instructor 🙂

    Oh, and I just read Bitter is the New Black and it was so hilarious, I kept on laughing out loud while reading (on an airplane at 3 AM).

  4. Jessica @ Fittalker on June 8, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Hey G!

    I tell people that I get spinner’s block, kind of like writer’s block but for making new spin rides. I’m actually working on one right now and procrastinating, ugh.

    I do try to post rides on my blog though, so if you ever want new stuff, feel free to check it out. (http://fittalker.blogspot.com)

    I’m sure the rut will pass, they always do. 🙂

  5. Aya on June 8, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    Hey, I totally agree with your changing it up advice. When I started out, I would either always use the same machines at the gym, or then I would just do yoga straight and nothing else. Then I started cardio, and after a while, I realized I could and should be doing all sorts of exercises since each thing works different parts of the body. I started pilates only a few months ago, and I find that to be INTENSE. My abs always hurt afterwards. It feels good. 😀

  6. sandy on June 8, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    I am going to Orlando too. When do you get there? Im gonna be at the Orlando World Center. I leave Saturday morning though.

  7. Whitney on June 9, 2010 at 1:51 am

    Hi Gina,

    I have been following your blog for awhile and had to comment for the first time in response to this post! I have been doing insanity over and over again for the last year because every time I try to go back to a regular exercise routine I get super bored! I’m hoping that someday beach body comes out with another workout as awesome and entertaining as insanity. Keep us updated on any other great workout dvd’s you come across!

    🙂
    Whitney

  8. Kristina on June 9, 2010 at 2:37 am

    oh!! I was just reading your post again, and didn’t notice earlier the top book… Water for Elephants is one of my favorite books of all time… so beautiful. great story. I hope you enjoy it!

  9. Marissa on June 9, 2010 at 9:49 am

    I find the better rested I am, the better workout I can do. SLEEP! And if I’m really just not feeling it that day, I’ll go ahead and take it easy. No sense pushing myself if I don’t have the motivation.

  10. An inner pace on June 9, 2010 at 10:12 am

    This may seem like a silly question, but can someone explain what insanity is?

  11. maria on June 9, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    hey gina,
    have you seen jillian michaels new yoga dvd? yoga meltdown i think its called
    i guess it more of an aerobic yoga dvd but i tried it for the first time the other day and liked it (well for somebody thats not so much into yoga)

    • Fitnessista on June 9, 2010 at 3:18 pm

      yeah, i have it- it’s pretty good!

  12. Carolyn on June 10, 2010 at 12:20 am

    You know..that’s the kind of week I had last week. BLAH week. I wasn’t motivated to work out and when I did, it was blah blah and more BLAH! : ) I, too, worked at a gym, taught classes on how to get motivated, etc. Sometimes, though, I think it’s completely natural to have a “slower” week and instead of being hard on ourselves, it’s probably better to listen to our bodies and take it easy. My guess is you’ll be much more motivated next week. I sure am this week!

Leave a Comment





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.