At the gym this morning, I grabbed a magazine and jumped on an elliptical for a sweat session. About 15 minutes passed before I realized that I wasn’t moving very fast, and I hadn’t even started sweating yet. (So much for a sweat session!)
There’s nothing wrong with an easy workout every once in awhile, but I wasn’t pushing myself at all this morning. I was peddling so slowly, it actually felt like I was wasting my time. Wasting time at the gym is one of my biggest pet peeves (i.e. classes starting late), so I switched my music to the Lady Gaga station on Pandora and started doing intervals on the elliptical (1 minute on; 2 minutes off). Surprisingly, pushing myself made my workout fly by— even more so than reading a magazine.
Here are some other ways that help me take my workout up a notch:
- Use artist intervals: Lady Gaga’s music always gets me going, so when I listen to her station on Pandora, I pick up my pace every time I hear one of her songs play. Sometimes, I’ll even pick two artists if I really want a challenge (i.e. Lady Gaga + Katy Perry). The ‘shuffle’ option on your iPod would work the same way.
- Find contagious effort. A few weeks ago, I was on the treadmill next to a woman, who was really kicking butt running at a fast pace. Just being next to her motivated me to pick up my pace too. Her effort was contagious, so now I like to find these people and exercise next to them. (I’m such a creeper.)
- Add 5. My lucky number is 5, so I use it as a way to challenge myself in my workouts. I always stop my cardio workouts at 5-minute intervals, and I like to do 15 reps when I am strength training. I challenge myself by doing an extra 5 minutes or reps at a time. Sometimes, I’ll tack on an extra 15 or 20 minutes (or reps) to my workout because I keep adding 5 onto my workout. It’s a small amount, but it adds up!
- Don’t get comfortable. A few years ago, I did the same 45-minute elliptical workout almost every day of the week. I loved it because it was familiar and easy, but it didn’t challenge me at all. If I find that I’m getting too comfortable with a workout, I stop doing it and find a different workout. For instance, Body Pump is getting a little boring, so I’m thinking about trying Cross Fit!
- Embrace weaknesses. Remember when I took a Pilates class last week? Instead of getting down on myself about my lack of core strength, I’m using it as an opportunity to challenge myself and try some new workouts. Pilates is already on the agenda for this week!
Lunch
Today’s lunch was a bunch of random leftovers from the refrigerator, but they came together nicely for a delicious and very satisfying meal. There wasn’t a lot of steak leftover from last night’s dinner, so I added some spicy lentils for some extra substance.
In the mix:
Snack
As an afternoon snack, I enjoyed two servings of apple crisp. One serving of this deliciousness is rarely enough for me.
SHAPE Best Blogger Awards
VERY exciting news! I was nominated for the SHAPE Best Blogger Awards: Healthy Eating Blogs That Make Us Go Mmm…! Wahoo! What an honor! Finding this out the other day put the BIGGEST smile on my face!
You can vote for your favorite healthy eating blog here!
I can’t believe how quickly today flew by! Enjoy the evening, friends!
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
I love getting on the treadmill next to someone who is literally kicking ass. It makes me push myself so much harder than I would otherwise (and I’m not even a really competitive person!)
I just started doing CrossFit after doing BodyPump. I love it and can’t imagine going back!
Awesome congrats!! Going to vote now
How to stop that notch: I was at the gym for my lunch break and I sent a friendly smile to someone that got on 2 treadmills from me. Just to acknowledge their presence. Guy thought I was hitting on him and moved right next to my treadmill. LOL. Glad I was done. Cooled down and stepped off.
Your lunch looks great! I had a salad, but with a crumbled veggie patty on top. Not sure about dinner, yet.
I also grab a magazine when I’m not feeling it, but thank you for the rest of the tips! Sometimes we just have to push ourselves a little bit, just a little bit.
I have been wanting to try cross fit for some time now, so I’m anxious to see how it is if you try it! I do BodyRock.Tv workouts about three times a week and those seriously kick my butt. My friends who do cross fit say the workouts are similar but free
I’d love to try the cross fit. It seems so challenging and I love that.
I also have to end on 15 or do things in increments of 5. I hate ending a workout on a number that isn’t an increment. I had the hardest time when I started my marathon training schedule because I had to run a certain number of miles instead of a set amount of time. Now running 5 miles in 43 minutes doesn’t bother me anymore.
Lady Gaga pumps me up too! I try and switch up my cardio workouts so that I do 2-3 different ones each week, if not my body gets too used to them and them become easy. I agree – if I am making time each day to go to the gym it better be worth it for that hour!
Congrats!
Going to go vote for ya now!
I would love to try CrossFit, but the cost of a CrossFit gym would not fit into my budget right now. I am working on challenging myself in other ways with my workouts!
Amen to one serving of dessert never being enough. Two is what makes life happy.
Seriously, today FLEW by!
I love switching up workouts too–the time flies, my body changes, and my motivation sticks around to do even more
Love these tips!
those are some great intensity tips that i’m definitely going to use! I hate it when the person next to me on the treadmill covers up their screen with a towel or magazine, I always try and run faster than them but if I can’t see it drives me crazy!
ahh intervals! I agree – such a good way to ‘speed’ up a workout and increase intensity!
Ironically I just emailed you about my own interval workout today- i tried your walking on an incline one and it was great!
Intervals are my favorite way to make a workout go faster!! I use various interval workouts on the treadmill all the time- they are AWESOME.
I love working out by someone working hard. When I am really lucky, I find someone who kind of wants to compete. We push each other to run faster, longer.. and to feel stronger… but are complete strangers!
Thanks for the tips. I do find myself getting in the elliptical rut sometimes too. Lady Gaga always pulls me out!
Congrats on the nomination…what great news! And thanks for the tips…it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut. That’s one reason I love subscribing to fitness magazines…new inspiration arrives in the mail!
I’m sorry, but I can’t stand people who read magazines on the treadmill. Unless there is a good reason, reading will not give you a good workout! Even when I – rarely – watch TV while on the treadmill, I feel guilty that I haven’t concentrated hard enough. Perhaps it’s because my cardio is so limited – I always want to ensure I do a good job!
I loved your tips for a work out. I find intervals are best for me too because they arent boring. They keep you motivated to continue the work out even on days when you just arent feeling it!
congratulations on the nomination!!! you have my vote
Today did seem to go by reallly fast! Congrats on the nom
i HATE wasting time at the gym. it’s such an effort to squeeze in workout time to my crazy schedule, that i feel like if i’m not making the most if it i might as well be doing something more productive.
thanks for the great tips!
Oh man, I hate it when classes start late or people join a class 20 minutes in. Drives me crazy. Those are some great workout tips though! Thanks for sharing them.
Oh, and I just have to share— I GOT ENGAGED LAST NIGHT!! I’m so excited.
I hate when I don’t feel like I’ve gotten a great workout. Kudos to you for turning it around!
And congrats on the nod from Shape!
I always listen to Lady Gaga when I need to push through a workout! She always gets me going. Plus her music brings back a lot of college memories so I usually find myself laughing during a tough workout, which makes it go by so much faster! And congrats on the nominationg, that’s so cool! I’ll be sure to vote for you!
Great tips! …and you can bet I voted for you
Congrats on the blog nomination! And SO happy to see that Pilates is on the agenda for the week, you’ll LOVE the results you get. They happen fast!
Ah, sweat. I’m guilty of judging whether a workout was “good” or not based on if I sweat. I know it’s possible to get in good exercise without dripping, but it’s such a mind game sometimes!
Also, CONGRATS on the nomination! Definitely voting. Duh.
Those are great tips. I have gotten into really efficient work outs lately- think high intensity interval training, and lifting really heavy. So I’m usually in and out of the gym in 30 minutes! I’ve also been getting a ton stronger, so it shows that intensity is much more important than duration I think.
I really like the “add 5″ rule.
That’s an easy one and can be applied to so many things.
I voted for you! Yippee!
I just found your blog today and it is amazing! Finally a blog that is about real life and food that I will eat! I have spread the word! You are doing a fantastic job. I love you section on saving money at the grocery! Thank you for great recipes and inspiration!
I get bored really easily, so I take TRX boot camp and Body Pump in between my running. I should try the elliptical intervals because I get so bored at times. Thanks for the tip!
WTG hon, voted!
@Erika B: Thank you!
Congratulations on the nomination! I guess I must be reading the ‘good’ blogs, because 5 of ‘my girls’ were nominated
Good luck!
Intervals definitely help me crank it up a notch! I’m the same with wasting time at the gym, especially as I go in the morning before work…if i ain’t sleeping, you better believe I’m making good use of that time! Congrats on the nomination!
I also like to try and end my workouts on a 5, or do intervals of 5. Its a great way to add extra minutes!
I also let my self watch TV (usually the Ellen Show) and try and stay on the whole hour. I use the commercials as my intervals.
@Erin @ Hungry Heart: I do that sometimes too. I’ll stay to watch the end of a show. It makes the time go by so much faster!
I like to read magazines on the elliptical to beat boredom too, but they always make me get lazy with my workout as well. I’ve started countering that by going 1 minute of high intensity every time I flip to a page with an advertisement in the magazine. Since there are always SO many ads, it actually makes for a great workout!
@Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin: I like that idea!! Thanks!
I hate when that we happen to me on the eliptical. It was usually if I were trying to study I’d find myself barely moving. At least you were moving though..right?
Going to vote for you NOW! That is great news! And I understand a workout lull, last week’s Thursday zumba class was a DRAAAAG for me…and usually I can’t stop smiling and shakin the booty, but I guess I was wiped!
Thank you!
I love using music for my interval training! I usually pick a repetitive line in the song (like a chorus) and every time it comes on I switch between a sprint and resistance. Usually they’re 20ish second intervals, which ends up being killer by the 10th time it’s been repeated. I like being able to concentrated on the que’s in the song than counting the actual minutes/seconds that go by.
I checked out your workout tab a few weeks ago and I was inspired to give intervals a shot. Dude, I LOVE IT!!! I’m the girl that does the same routine over and over and the interval training has totally rocked my socks off!! Thanks so much for sharing. Now I’m off to vote for ya!
So we’ve been having this awesome nitrite-free uncured bacon lately. My husband has been saving the very clean looking fat from it and I have no idea what he wants to do with it. I might have to leave him the recipe for the potatoes!
And so you’re the girl that I think is trying to one up me on the treadmill next to me huh? LoL! At least it gets me moving faster too
~Ang
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