Am I being unrealistic?

[Rouge]

I recently won a 6 month council leisure membership, which allows me access to facilities at 6 different activity centres in my local area. We have been thinking of joining this for a long time as it works out cheaper as we get all inclusive for a little extra and it allows for kids lessons too so once again saving money.

Anyway here's my grand plan? Is it realistic? Or am I being silly?

Monday: Gym Mid Morning
Tuesday: Yoga Beginners (night)
Wednesday: Nothing
Thursday: Water Aerobics (night)
Friday: Gym Mid Morning

I was thinking of adding Pilates in there somewhere either on Sunday morning or shuffle Gym around and do it another night...

I NEED to do some exercise. I want to start getting fit and I look forward to some time to myself. Marc thinks I should start off with 1 or 2 and work up but I also really want to get the best out of my free membership LOL! And I've done water aerobics & yoga before and find them to be not as exhausting as Gym.

Whaddya think? I'm sooooo excited!

*hugs*
Cailin

[C~Q]

Definatly not unrealistic! Do it now while you're excited! You will love it! It's so addictive you'll want to do more and more! I'm so pleased for you, I love the gym and excercise so I totally know why you're excited.

I go every morning from 9 - 11 and it is great for me phisically (sp?) and mentally. It's such great "you" time and it will give you more energy.

Have fun!!!

[{sarah}]

I would swap your Monday & Tuesday around, but otherwise all good, sounds like great fun The reason I'd swap is that the gym might make your muscles sore & you might be inclined to skip yoga because of sore muscles?? Dunno, do you think you might? Or would you use yoga as a relaxing thing after gym?

Either way, wooo! Glad you're excited & are having some Cailin time

[CatherineL]

Depends how fit you already are Cailin... I mean your probably gonna be pretty dam sore initially and long as you can keep that motivation and excitement to go after a week or two At first you'll probably feel drained, tired and sore... But i know after you make a good routine out of it - you'll have much more energy! Good luck!

[CatherineL]

Rachel - Hence your so smokin after three kids... YOUCH!

[Lucy]

Cai, go for it. After Charlie was born I had a pressie of a local gym 3 month membership and used it for swimming and aquarobics, and I used it every night for 3 months........and you know what a generally slack lazy tart I am, so I reckon you will be fine! GO FOR IT! xx

[Trillian]

If you don't like Gym as much, can you slot in another yoga or water aerobics session? Cause what I think you are planning on doing sounds great, but if you don't like it as much you might be more willing to skip the last class on the friday kwim?

[Adnil]

I think it sounds FANTASTIC!!!! It really does! And I don't think it sounds unrealistic at all.

I go to the gym 5-6 days a week, and honestly, it is my sanity.

[Ambah]

I don't think its unrealistic either... I think you will love it!

When I first joined the gym I straight away got into 3 or 4 days per week, and then picked up more! you will find you'll get used to it very quickly. The first week you might be very sore, but it will improve in leaps and bounds from there on!

Let us know how it goes Cai!!

[stillhoping]

Go for it. If you haven't exercised in a while, you will be sore at the start, so the yoga and water aerobics thrown in will help.
Good luck

[Jodie259]

Firstly: Congratulations on winning the membership... woohoo!!

As for being unrealistic - it depends on a few things:

- do you have the time & energy to get to the classes, do the classes & return - without it disrupting your life too much?
- and as another said: you level of current fitness

If you are fairly sedate now - your body will be aching if you do 4 sessions in 5 days. And as you will know; water aerobics & yoga are not soft options! They can cause just as much muscle aches as a full on gym.

If you do too much too soon, your body will ache, and you won't enjoy it.
If you're already fit & do some regular exercise now - then go for it.
But if this will all be a shock to your body... I would suggest 3 sessions a week - alternate days... and build up to 4 sessions. Or three sessions one week, 4 sessions the following week.

[MistyFying]

Cai sounds great. A friend of mine recently wanted to get fit after 3 bubs in quick succession and a battle with PND... she opted for pilates and achieved her goals within 6 months.

[Rouge]

So you think Pilates might be better than yoga? Or should I do Pilates, Yoga & aqua aerobics and take up gym after I've done that for a bit?

*hugs*
Cailin

[CatherineL]

Depend how much you put into each workout Cailin, I think you'll still be sore from those too... I think what it comes down to is what you enjoy doing the most, making a routine out of it . Say if your not really a gym girl but you like the classes... I'd get stuck into all the classes just to make a routine and get settled in your routine and then if you want to do a little weight training or focus on cardio at the gym i'd replace a class with gym kwim? If you get youself used to exercising everyday you might not stuggle or have to force yourself so much to go to the ones that you don't favour later on.. Am i making any sense? But then again, it also comes down to what you want to achieve too... burning fat, toning, muscle definition etc.

[~Belinda~]

Caitlin, congrats on winning that!

Wish it were me, your routine sounds fine though, if you are pushing it too hard, I'm sure your body will tell you to slow down.

Again, congrats!!!

[Jodie259]

So you think Pilates might be better than yoga? Or should I do Pilates, Yoga & aqua aerobics and take up gym after I've done that for a bit?

Pilates works on your core muscles - mainly your stomach & back - so that would be a great start. It's not too aerobic - although your muscles will ache if you haven't done it for a while. But you won't be 'exhausted' like you would with an aerobic/gym workout.

So I think Pilates, Yoga & aqua would be a great start... and introduce a gym session in the following weeks. Or set up a schedule of those three one week - then the next week you add a gym session. If you feel you get more benefit from the gym workouts - then you can swap one of the classes for a gym session.

I did "body balance" which is meant to be a cross between Yoga & Pilates - and I couldn't stand it. I tried it for months - and got nothing out of it. But I LOVE pilates. I think it's yoga - does nothing much for me.

I was doing water aerobics every week - and if you get a good instructor that can be fantastic. As a competitive swimmer & lifeguard, I used to think water aerobics was a joke - until I tried it out one day... and my muscles ached! But 90% of that workout is up to you - use the water resistance. keep your fingers closed and really push against the water. It's brilliant to tone arms & legs - without the risk of injury.

When you start Cailin, we're going to have to hear progress reports!

[Rouge]

Thanks guys you've all been really helpful!

And Jodie I'll definitely be giving reports, and it looks like we'll be getting a family membership for us all when this one expires as it includes swimming lessons, kinder gym, tennis and golf for marc its fantastic. They incorporate all the local facilities into one membership which is about the same price as a gym membership (or even cheaper).

*hugs*
Cailin

[{sarah}]

Well well.... Have you gone yet?