Add weight training to my workout

I found out about Fitdeck about a week ago from a blog post, but I haven’t really thought much about it until now.

Basically, it’s a deck of cards with a different exercise on each card (none of which require special equipment) and you can use it to mix up your exercise routine. I imagine there are a number of games you could play with it that could make a strength workout very fun and rewarding. In fact, the company publishes a little booklet of games and there are also a few games described on their website.

My only quandry is whether to ask DH for them for my birthday in a month, or to buy them for myself immediately!

Mostly because I haven’t been gaining weight when the foods I’ve been eating say I should. I think I’ve been swapping some muscle for fat, and that’s a bad thing. Got to nip it in the bud.

But I find strength training so booooring! I did a Google search on “fun strength training” which was not very helpful. It’s like:

“Myth: Strength training is boring. Fact: Strength training can and should be fun!”

So I say, please, tell me how!!

I’ve done this for a week now, and I’m feeling very good about it. I think the idea is to start off with just enough weight so that you’re not really sore on your off days. My plan is to slowly add weight over the coming months.

The big challenge will be maintaining this regimen through all of the distractions and curves that life throws at me. My plan is “Don’t Break the Chain,” a self-motivational plan that has been credited to Jerry Seinfeld.

Basically, if there’s something you want to do every day (for Seinfeld, it’s writing jokes), mark an X on a wall calendar for the day you did it. Over time, you’ll notice a chain of Xs on your calendar. Your job is simple: Don’t break the chain. I wrote more about it in my blog.

I joined a gym today. I have an appointment next for orientation. I think hope that by paying every month and having an outside location I will be more motivated to workout.

I found this beginner’s plan at StrongLifts.com. My next steps:

1. Join a gym
2. Start a workout log
3. Start and stick to the plan

Mehdi, author of StrongLifts.com, points out that although there is a temptation to add weight at the beginning of this plan since it starts off so light, one should not do it. Think long term and add weight over time.

I think I’m trying to do too many things right now, but I’m not going to give up on this one. I’m going to make room for it.

This week I’ve just thrown myself into my work, which has been good for me, but I’m feeling out of balance.

I did bookmark an interesting strength training site that I came to, strangely enough, through the Get Rich Slowly blog. StrongLifts.com has all sorts of information about strength training. I’m going to check that site out more.

for the past few weeks. I’m back into my “I hate strength training” mindset. I need to come up with some way to make it fun. I wonder if there’s some sort of fun strength training video out there. If only they’d make some sort of counterpart game to DDR that is strength-based rather than aerobic exercise.

And I liked it.

I think.

I feel it over every inch of my body… the next day, two days later, three days later…

I really like it. I can only hope my body will get used to it soon. The class goes for 6 weeks. Maybe I’ll even buy one of the weights so I can do this at home after the class is over.

to the Week 3 strength training routine. The push-up knee pulls are back, but they’re a little easier than before. They’re still very tiring though – but I guess that’s what makes them a good workout. I also added crunches to the end of the routine, as part of this goal. So I ended up going out to dinner with very sore arms and abs.

One thing I’m proud of lately is that I don’t use “no time” as an excuse nearly as frequently as I used to. After work yesterday, the old me would have said “I only have 45 minutes before I need to leave for dinner with friends, so I guess I’ll have to skip my strength routine today.” But the new me said, “Only 45 minutes? Better get started!”