Gym- used to be a “summer” thing right from high school days for me. The 3 months of summer vacation used to be the time I used to miraculously pull myself out of bed to hit the gym, and decide to lose weight, and reincarnate myself before I go back to school. However, the end result would be returning to the new academic session without much progress. Somehow this is one classic fault all of us end up making. It takes years of bad eating habits, little or no exercise, to put on those extra kilos, but all of us expect to shed them wondrously over summer!
In this rapidly evolving lifestyle on earth where nowadays everything is measured by time & money, we tend to expect instant gratification from our bodies too. The first rule of learning is that weight loss is not a goal it’s a byproduct, and strength training being the goal. Each body acts and reacts differently when you put them on gym machines, but one common factor is- Consistency!
The first time I looked at my gym regimes, as more of a way of gaining strength rather than weight loss, was when I heard my sister talk about it. She is a firm believer of strength training, and I am getting there. Having said that, it is true for me that a gym habit is harder to sustain as compared to an outdoor training schedule. The reason it is harder is because there is no “instant” result. The amazing results are seen over time. I have personally seen strength training benefit me after almost 6 months of consistent efforts.
Contrary to popular beliefs, to be an endurance athlete, it is not just enough to be able to run right or run fast. It is a bundle of style, stamina, and timing. While running can improve your style and stamina, it is strength training that helps to carve your muscles strong enough to give you the edge over achieving good timing. This is the key to improve your timing for a half marathon from 2 hours 30 minutes to a flat 2 hours!
Gyming has helped me gain strength to do a variety of activities than just run. I never paid any heed to my upper body strength, and all that I ever cared about was my leg strength and stride length. Now that I am on my way to being a triathlete, I am looking at it more holistically, and believe that a gym workout does go a long way in substantial value addition. It helps me get a whole body workout, and concentrate on muscles that need that extra attention for better performances at my races.
Bashing the common misconception that outdoor activities are better than the gym, essentially because your body gets used to the machines, and once you quit the gym you tend to put on all the weight you apparently lost, and in most cases put on double the weight you lost! Well though there is some truth in that, but that’s not the gym’s fault or the machine’s fault, it’s ours! It is true for any activity. When you quit your physical exercise and continue carb loading without burning them, you will put on the weight. It is simple math! I still remember the weight gain from the days I quit dancing and playing table tennis. If that happens to be a mind block, get rid of that, and take the help of the weights and machines in your gym to help you get in shape.
Quick lifestyle pointers
1.Don’t bite more than you can chew.
I have done this several times (I know you have too…!). I would decide to workout, get in shape, and be over ambitious about the whole thing. I would try to go for a run, hit the gym, and play a sport. Result- end up doing neither! Well, take it one at a time, stabilize each activity and add an activity to it when you are ready for more. The first activity that you want to take up would vary from human to human, and I would urge you to choose what you sounds most fun to you, so that it motivates you to keep it up.
2. Do not combine two difficult tasks, and make it one impossible solution.
To get up from the couch and start running is tough and challenging enough. If you are not a morning person do not try to add an extra layer of challenge by choosing the morning hours to run. I do agree that a work out in the morning is excellent, but when you are trying to inculcate a fitness habit, do not combine it with a waking up early in the morning habit. If you have struggled with the later for years, it is only going to stand in the way of inculcating the former habit.
3. Identify the appropriate workout
Most times, we all follow the fad. When we see everyone around run, we want to run too. Is that the appropriate workout for you? Evaluate this without a bias. Do what makes you happy, that is the only way you will have a sustained interest. The same rule works at the gym as well. I am a huge fan of cardio. I hit the gym for cardio mostly, and slowly added weight training to it. If I had aimed at weight training as soon as I started off, I wouldn't have been able to keep at it, for the simple reason, it does not interest me as much as running!
4. Seek results, without paranoia. (Yes… Seriously! Easier said than done.)
We all want to see results from anything we do, which is perfectly the way the human brain is wired. It could be weight loss for some, increased strength for some, and improved vital stats for some other. It could be anything, but make sure it is measurable, and you are monitoring progress using the pertinent measure, and at a defined frequency. When you do not see results, do not freak out or obsess about it! Try to find out what is obstructing you from reaching the goal, and evaluate what you would need to do differently. Fretting and losing hope will not help you keep at the road to fitness.
5. Follow a workout plan at the gym
This could be a mix of cardio, weight training, floor exercises and HIIT. Develop a plan and follow it, this would take you a long way. This helps you not get bored with the workout, and lets you explore the limits of your body. Apart from making the workout more structured, it is satisfying to see that you have adhered to the plan you signed up to follow.
6. You can create your own gym in nature
If you really do not like the closed space and cannot tolerate working out inside 4 walls, you can find creative ways to workout outdoor. You can always push up and work on your triceps on a park bench. Most parks also have slides and various structures for kids to play, which you could use for a pull up. You could always do planks, lunges, burpees, squats, abdominal crunches, kicks and planks outside in the midst of nature.
To put a long article short, whatever you start out to do, be consistent!
