Posts Tagged motivation

Top 10 Reasons The Gym Is Less Crowded

Feb 1

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Get Fit | View Comments

Well folks, its February and you know what that means – lots of people are giving up on those New Year resolutions to lose weight. Suddenly all those new faces at the gym start disappearing, and you find the crowds aren’t so bad as they were a mere month ago. Now, I know you have a strong will, so I know you aren’t one of them that has given up and thrown in the towel after a mere month. Don’t let me down, I’m counting on you!

So since you and I’ve stuck it out together, let’s take a few moments to poke some fun at those quitters. That’s right, say it loud and say it proud with me — “Quitter! Quitter!”

Top 10 Reasons the Gym is Less Crowded Nowadays

10. A Baskin Robbins opened up shop right across the street from the gym. 31 flavors!? One for each day of the month!

9. People just couldn’t figure out how to get their no-show socks to stop showing at the gym.

8. “Nudie Night” just wasn’t quite the success the gym owners thought it would be.

7. People got mad when they were told that no, you cannot wear rollerblades on the treadmills.

6. Turns out that yeah, all the good looking guys at the gym really are gay! (Oh the social events you are going to miss!)

5. They went 5 times the first week and got upset they weren’t toned up on day 5. Headed to Baskin Robbins instead.

4. Got warned numerous times about eating Monster Burgers and fries while using the equipment.

3. Didn’t realize that one year membership included months other than those that start with “Jan”.

2. Turns out that it IS impossible to work out and then pig out. Who would have thought it?

1. They broke a sweat and decided it was too much work – they never broke a sweat watching TV, and they weren’t starting now!

Photo Credits: Baskin Robbins by lordog; Crunch Gym Hotties by Walter Parenteau; Fast Food by Christian Cable.

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Tags: Humor, motivation, quitter, top 10, working out

It only gets easier

Jan 24

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Get Fit | View Comments

Here we are, roughly 28 days into my undertaking to turn a new leaf and get fit. It seems like a short period of time, but in those 28 days I’ve celebrated a birthday (I’m now 36 for those of you keeping score), we’ve entered a new decade and most of all – I’ve found that when you put your mind to doing something, that thing you dreaded the most becomes second nature and the dread turns into, dare I say it, a love affair.

Ok, so maybe I don’t have a love affair going with the gym, but you get my drift.

I commented on Facebook the other day that when I started I was able to run around 3.0mph on a 4% incline. Today I discovered that I can now maintain a 4mph run at a 6.5% incline – a dramatic improvement. I also find myself no longer making excuses for being too busy, too tired, too [insert excuse here] for working out. I find that if I miss a day (other than scheduled days off) I really feel bad about it. Most of all, I find that going to the gym is something that relaxes me – and is a great way to blow of steam and the stress of everyday life.

If you are reading this chances are you want to lose some weight yourself; I’m willing to bet as well that you are like me – you see this monumental task in front of you and come up with 1,001 excuses about why you can’t do it today, but by golly you will get to it tomorrow! Funny thing is, tomorrow just never seems to come.

My advice to you is simple – just do it. Don’t be scared to go to the gym. For so long I didn’t want to go because I thought I’d be the laughing stock of the whole place. You know what I discovered? There was a whole gym full of people just like me. Sure, there are the gym jocks – but even they flash a smile when they see a “regular” like me walk in nowadays. You will find that once you get past the first week or two, and become a regular face that your whole attitude is going to change. Instead of dreading it, you will think of it as “your place” where you can escape from the real world and blow of some steam. You will start to get to know faces, and you will start to make friends. Heck, I even ran into an old work colleague from 10 years ago the other day!

I know what helped me a lot, and still does, is to bring along a few podcasts. Get yourself an iPod or a Zune and load it up with music and podcasts. I love to listen to Cartalk and Leo Laporte while working out. Not only does it take your mind off what you are doing, but it lets you focus in on yourself and drown out the world around you. You don’t even need to get a fancy one, the cheap iPod shuffle works just fine for the gym!

It only gets easier folks – no matter how out of shape you are, no matter what fears you have, just get out there and start doing it and you are going to be amazed at how your attitude changes in just a few short weeks. Your body will thank you for it!

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Tags: gym, motivation, working out

Ho-Ho-Ho, This Weight Has Got To Go-Go-Go

Dec 30

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Get Fit | View Comments

It’s that magical time of year again – you know the unofficial holiday that takes place right after Christmas. I’m talking about weight loss and fitness. It seems this time ever year, as we prepare to hang up a new calendar, the television ads are non-stop about how everyone should run out and buy a bunch of gear, supplements, diet foods, etc. and take off those pounds.

Now I’ve tried to get in shape many times – but it was always something that got in the way. Work kept me busy, I was caught up in personal life items, it was raining out, I just didn’t feel like it, etc., etc. This year however I finally found my motivation – myself.

I thought if I was going to do this I was going to do it right – no New Year’s resolution crap, we all know that doesn’t work. If you are serious about something why don’t you start on it right now? So that is what I did. I started on losing weight and getting into shape right now – today as a matter of fact.

What better way to keep the motivation up but to blog about it? I’ll throw in some Twittering and Facebook as well just to keep all the social networks busy. Sorry MySpace users, but you are out of luck – I don’t touch MySpace with a virtual 10 foot pole.

So let’s run through some stats shall we?

Height: 5’11”

Age: 35 (36 in January)

Weight: <ugh> 304lbs

Waist Size: 40 (I got serious beer belly and I don’t even drink beer!)

Cover your eyes, because I’ve even attached some pictures for your viewing displeasure.

The first order of business was how to go about doing it. I’ve tried it on my own many times. Exercise bike, weight bench, walking the Katy Trail. Now all of these had some benefit, but they all fell short and eventually the weight just crept back up. Exercise bike was boring (Hulu was a great distraction, but after a while I found I ran out of things to watch or the episodes weren’t long enough and I was fitting my exercise to the episode length and not doing nowhere near enough), weight bench was too basic and the Katy Trail was great, but when it’s cold, rainy or snowy (about 1/3rd of the year here) it becomes something you can only really do in the warmer months.

This time around I signed up for the gym – the YMCA as a matter of fact here in Boonville, MO. I figure there is no better motivator than a financial one. If it’s costing me money you better bet I am going to make sure I get my money’s worth and a whole lot more out of it! I have to admit, here in the Boonville our Y is really well equipped. I guess we can thank the casino and the tax revenue it generates for that.

Second, I’m enlisting the help of a friend of ours who is studying sports fitness in college up at Central Methodist in Fayette, MO. I figure when you have an expert available you might as well use them!

Finally, I’m just saying “NO” to the distractions and “YES” to making it happen. An hour a day, at least 5 days a week – that is the plan. Make it happen.

So over the next few months (and perhaps years!) I’ll keep you updated on what I’m doing and what is working for me and what isn’t. I’m not promising to turn into a super stud (how can you enhance perfection, right?) and I know it won’t happen overnight. However hopefully along the journey I can pass along what did work and give you some inspiration and motivation to get fit yourself. After all, if I can do it then what’s your excuse?

Today was day #1 at the gym. 30 minutes @ 3.2mph pace on a 5.5% incline; 100 reps on the ab crunch machine (that was interesting to say the least!) and 125 reps on the machine that, well, can’t remember it’s name but it helps strengthen your back and abs. The who-zi-dowiger.

And you know what, after all of that sweat and heavy breathing, I actually left feeling pretty darn good! It turns out that perhaps exercise can be rewarding in many different ways. Either that or the pain hasn’t caught up with me yet.