Ted_Wolff
Rookie
Because a few people posted in the resolutions topic about losing weight this year, and I'm interested in fitness in general, I am posting this topic.
What are your fitness routines, and what are some of your fitness goals?
So far this year I haven't really done anything fitness related. I've gone to the gym twice, once to try out my new jump rope I received for Christmas, and last night I attended a cycling class. But I'm not really in a hurry to get started again into any routines for another couple weeks because I'm making sure I let a strained hip flexor heal before beginning the routine I want.
Last year was the first year I undertook any serious fitness regimen. Sure, I had exercised before. I ran some now and then, rode my bike to work, did Wii Fit, lifted weights, but I never really had any goals or something to motivate me.
But then I decided I wanted to get stronger and run some races. I adopted a core set of lifting exercises, 3x a week, and ran 3-4x a week. Nearly everyday I worked out, running and lifting, so it's easy to see why I injured myself as I did going so hard, but I enjoyed it and I feel it was worth it. I loved the challenge of each new workout.
I built my lifts around squats, deadlifts, and bench and overhead presses, and supplemented them with pullups, pushups, and rows. My starting goal was to squat my bodyweight, increasing the weight on each lift 5lbs. every session. I did that. By the end of last year (I started this regimen around mid-March) I managed to achieve intermediate status on every lift, according to these ExRx Strength Standards. I was pumped (physically and mentally) with my progress. By the end of the year I could deadlift just over 300lbs. (by then my squat was out because of my hip).
I ran my runs around a 10k and half-marathon training schedule. Last July I ran my first race, a 10k, and finished just under an hour. Last September I ran my second race, a half-marathon, and finished in just over two hours. I know the times could be better, but I was ecstatic I was able to even run those races. I was running more than ever and by the end of the training a double-digit mile run felt really good, and this coming from someone who has "athletic asthma." I never could've imagined I could run so far for so long. I did that.
This year I have even greater, more specific goals.
I plan to resume squatting and, along with deadlifting, get the weight to 2x my bodyweight. My bench press sucks, and last year I didn't even break 200lbs. This year I plan to do just that. My overhead press? I hope to get above the 140lbs. I stalled at last year. I love the feeling of just being able to lift heavy stuff and shove it over your head.
As for running, I plan to run more races, perhaps just 5 and 10ks, and focus on getting better times. A marathon? Maybe toward the end of the year.
I'm excited for summer, too, because I plan to exercise more outside and use more of nature as a gym. I also want to vary my workouts more, maybe do more cycling or yoga or shadow boxing.
Really, I never thought working out so much would be as fun as I've found it to be. I think having specific goals and being dedicated to them helps a lot, so after having so much fun just beginning last year, I'm really excited for this year.
What are your fitness routines, and what are some of your fitness goals?
So far this year I haven't really done anything fitness related. I've gone to the gym twice, once to try out my new jump rope I received for Christmas, and last night I attended a cycling class. But I'm not really in a hurry to get started again into any routines for another couple weeks because I'm making sure I let a strained hip flexor heal before beginning the routine I want.
Last year was the first year I undertook any serious fitness regimen. Sure, I had exercised before. I ran some now and then, rode my bike to work, did Wii Fit, lifted weights, but I never really had any goals or something to motivate me.
But then I decided I wanted to get stronger and run some races. I adopted a core set of lifting exercises, 3x a week, and ran 3-4x a week. Nearly everyday I worked out, running and lifting, so it's easy to see why I injured myself as I did going so hard, but I enjoyed it and I feel it was worth it. I loved the challenge of each new workout.
I built my lifts around squats, deadlifts, and bench and overhead presses, and supplemented them with pullups, pushups, and rows. My starting goal was to squat my bodyweight, increasing the weight on each lift 5lbs. every session. I did that. By the end of last year (I started this regimen around mid-March) I managed to achieve intermediate status on every lift, according to these ExRx Strength Standards. I was pumped (physically and mentally) with my progress. By the end of the year I could deadlift just over 300lbs. (by then my squat was out because of my hip).
I ran my runs around a 10k and half-marathon training schedule. Last July I ran my first race, a 10k, and finished just under an hour. Last September I ran my second race, a half-marathon, and finished in just over two hours. I know the times could be better, but I was ecstatic I was able to even run those races. I was running more than ever and by the end of the training a double-digit mile run felt really good, and this coming from someone who has "athletic asthma." I never could've imagined I could run so far for so long. I did that.
This year I have even greater, more specific goals.
I plan to resume squatting and, along with deadlifting, get the weight to 2x my bodyweight. My bench press sucks, and last year I didn't even break 200lbs. This year I plan to do just that. My overhead press? I hope to get above the 140lbs. I stalled at last year. I love the feeling of just being able to lift heavy stuff and shove it over your head.
As for running, I plan to run more races, perhaps just 5 and 10ks, and focus on getting better times. A marathon? Maybe toward the end of the year.
I'm excited for summer, too, because I plan to exercise more outside and use more of nature as a gym. I also want to vary my workouts more, maybe do more cycling or yoga or shadow boxing.
Really, I never thought working out so much would be as fun as I've found it to be. I think having specific goals and being dedicated to them helps a lot, so after having so much fun just beginning last year, I'm really excited for this year.
).
