I don’t consider myself a gym rat but last year, I joined the bandwagon and got myself a gym membership. I figured I needed to start working out to be healthier.
I got a membership at Gold’s Gym Glorietta. It was a great place: lots of machines, a spinning room, boxing ring, and a large area for group exercises. It is quite inspiring when you are surrounded by people who are also working on their fitness.
But as days passed, I found myself getting bored. I tried to change it up by using different machines and joining other exercise sessions. Eventually, I stopped going altogether.
This year, I took up running. My neighborhood is not so fancy but there are many like-minded people always jogging about in the mornings and early evenings.
Then I found swimming in September. It was perfect! I realized that I do have an affinity with the water. I love that I am getting a kickass cardio workout without getting all sweaty. Talk about prissy. Haha. I am now actually on my second enrollment, and I swim from Monday to Friday, one hour each day. Already, I am feeling and seeing much difference in my body. My leg muscles do not feel so flabby (thanks to running and swimming), my shoulders and arms have more definition, and my endurance is so much better. You know Grace Park from Hawaii Five-O? I am aiming for her sexy shoulders. 🙂
On days that I cannot swim, I run. But on bad weather days, I stay in and do some video workouts. I have been a longtime fan of the Belly Twins workouts and I have all 4 videos, my favourite being “Hips, Buns and Thighs”.
I also love Barre3 because it incorporates 3 methods into 1: yoga, Pilates and ballet. No expensive equipment needed to get a great workout.
Now my latest discovery is the New York City Ballet Workout. This focuses on building strength and toning muscles. The resulting good body posture is a huge plus too, since I have struggled with a bad back and ugly posture since age 10. My most favourite exercise is the plié and my least favourite, the arabesque — i consider this the ballet equivalent of the butterfly stroke. :p
I like this program better than Ballet Beautiful by Mary Helen Bowers (Natalie Portman’s trainer for “Black Swan”) as it has more exercises and you do feel as if you are dancing ballet, however basic.
I am now in my ideal weight range for my height and my workouts help me stay in range. I vow to never go back to my 89-pound weakling self or balloon to the 150-pound depressed me of last year.
There are many other workout programs out there that will fit your body type, your current fitness level and your budget. Just do your research to find ones that are best for you. The important thing is to get off that couch and get physical for a healthier you!
