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Getting what you need There are many things in life that we have to do, not because we like doing them, but because they're necessary. Cleaning bathrooms, disciplining kids (remind me to tell you about the missing school report...), weeding the garden, getting those yearly medical tests done. But when it comes to training, I'm so completely over doing anything I dislike "because it's good for me".

If I don't love it, I'm just not doing it. Unfortunately, at the moment I can't do a lot of the things I love. I'm unable to do any upper body weights work due to injuries, or any heavy leg stuff because my arms and shoulders can't handle holding the weights. The weather is making outdoor training a bit difficult, and the extra hours I'm working don't leave a lot of time for going to the gym.

That all left me floundering for quite a while, because I couldn't quite figure out a way around all the obstacles. Plus I had a severe case of the sulks because I couldn't do all the things I usually do. But as the Rolling Stones pointed out, you can't always get what you want....

It's taken me a while, but I've come up with a plan that gets me what I need, and that I don't hate. I began by forgetting about what I couldn't do, and listing all the things I could do, and went from there. Here's what I'm doing for now:

Leg workouts using bodyweight, or holding a plate to my chest or using a pair of light-ish dumbbells or my kettlebells. Bodyweight squats, box squats, step-ups, lunges of all kinds, one-legged squats and glute bridging all work, just to name a few.

Core work. BOSU, stability ball, Pilates mat work exercises are all good.

Rehab work for upper body. Wall pushups (activating lower traps and serratus), chest stretches, painful work with my foam roller, seated rows with a band, external rotator strengtheners and other such feeble efforts. At least I feel as though I'm doing something.

Cardio. My spin bike is my best friend here, but I can finally run again, so weather permitting, I'll be fitting in a little of that on weekends - my only chance in daylight hours. I also have some DVDs that I enjoy doing, and I can throw together some of my own B & B (brief and brutal) combinations too.

Walking. The weather sucks, but I have warm coats and scarves and gloves, so no excuses.... unless it's pouring. I can even do this in the dark - just as well, since sunrise isn't till 7:35am or something stupid.

Put together into a training schedule, it works pretty well, and there's enough variety to stop me going insane. Best of all, I'm not doing anything I hate just "because it's good for me".

So, how's your training going? Love it? Hate it? If you're not getting what you want, then maybe it's time to look at things from a different perspective. Chuck out the "I should" and "I can't" thoughts and start from scratch - you never know what you might come up with.
 Labels: mindset, obstacles, training 
I love it. I think you need a T-shirt with "Give me NO EXCUSES" printed on it.
 
'If I don't love it, I'm just not doing it.' Yep - my thoughts exactly. I train in a way that I enjoy, rather than in a way that makes me ask myself 'why am I doing this again?' Better for consistency that way too.
 
Love your attitude dear Kek... you are a star :)

Funny you talking about needing to rug up for your walks - it's only about 5 degrees warmer here in our "summer" and I'm on the verge of thinking it's too hot to work out outside ;)
 
OK, I'll stop complaining about winter in Aus, Shauna. For about five minutes! ;o)

Deb, I might have to get one printed...

7:06 pm