Had a minor issue today with headaches, so my workout was only 20 minutes. Might be stress, or dehydration, or both!

Just finished the 26 minute low impact cardio workout that I enjoy. Not feeling particularly pumped about going to work but the routine helped me to wake up a bit at least. My step count may be very low today, depending on whether or not today is the day I'm trained on the cash register. We shall see!

Got just over 10k steps today, got the last 1k or so walking around the house but it still counts!

Also just finished an evening routine, a pilates and cardio workout that definitely broke a decent sweat (and if it weren't for a fan blowing cold air on me constantly, I'm sure the sweating would have been increased!) 40 minutes total including the warm up and cool down. I tend to feel especially good on the days where I reach my 10k step goal, and do two routines. It feels good to be active.

Forgot to post yesterday but it was a planned rest day.

Today I got over 12k steps, no other workouts planned but I will meditate before bed. I'm taking tomorrow off work for a much needed mental health day.

Just finished an upper body/cardio routine. It was an alternation of upper body exercises with weights, and cardio moves. Definitely worked up a sweat and it feels good. 44 minutes total.

Finally got myself to do something. It was just a 32 minute long stretching/yoga/pilates routine, but I think it was good for me to get my body moving in any way. Plus it helped relieve some upper body soreness from yesterday's workout. Hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Proud of you, s&c. You've had a low day, but you managed to still do something physical. I need to follow your lead and do the same. Yesterday was an unplanned off day. I still have time to get back on track today.

Just finished a 26 minute long low impact cardio routine. Got me surprisingly sweaty, I think it's because it's a tad too warm in this apartment. Oh well, time for a shower!

Forgot to post yesterday evening, oops! Got over 11k steps (the last 4k steps or so were from anxiety-related pacing, but it still counts!) but didn't do any additional working out.

Today I just finished a quick routine...I have been feeling off from not taking ativan for a couple of days and thought some exercise might help. I am definitely feeling better than before I exercised, but still a bit "off". Did a pilates routine for the lower body, plus a warm up and cool down, 25 minutes total.

Today I just barely got my 10k steps...and 4500 of them were from walking around the house. It's because at work today I had to train on the cash register for part of my shift and you just stand there. x.x I did not really enjoy it, I prefer to move at work! I threw in some extra exercises while walking at home like forward lunges, backward lunges, walking ab twists, side lunges, kicks, etc. Just to shake things up a bit and not have it feel so boring.

I'll try to do an actual routine tomorrow, it's harder on work days because when I get home I feel pooped and in the mornings I'd rather sleep as late as possible (which is 7am on work days). But I know the morning routines do me well. We shall see. I work tomorrow and Friday as well so it'll be a test of willpower!

Just finished a stretching/yoga/pilates routine, my body felt like it needed a good stretch. 27 minutes total.

Just finished a 37 minute cardio workout from Fitnessblender. It's a level 3/5 difficulty, very good for intermediate exercisers. I broke a nice sweat even with the fan blowing in my direction. Here is the link in case anyone is interested in trying it out.

37 minute cardio workout:

I am not at 10k steps yet but will try to reach that before bedtime!

This weekend did not have any significant exercise to speak of, Saturday was a planned day and Sunday I just could not bring myself to exercise. I think the gloomy weather and lack of sunlight is definitely affecting my depression overall, it is harder to get myself to move.

That being said I just forced myself to do the 26 minute cardio workout that I like. Even while setting up my mind had thoughts like "I'd rather sleep" and "I don't want to do this", but I went ahead and did it anyway. I feel a bit better now but not 100%. Exercise is an amazing resource to use but it definitely isn't a cure.

Sigh. I've used the radical change in schedule last week as an excuse not to exercise. I kept telling myself I'd do it, and when I didn't, I'd tell myself that it's because things in life were so wonky. Pure excuse making. The truth is I had more time than usual to devote to working out. I just didn't care.

I got a good workout in yesterday, and my schedule has returned to normal this week, which means I'll probably be back on track today. But it's concerning how quickly I can still just give it all up.

Well, no point in dwelling on it too much. I'm back at it, and that's what matters now. You're right, S&C, it's an essential building block for recovery, but it's not the cure itself.

Just finished the Level 1 workout of Jillian Michael's "6 week to 6 pack DVD", 35 minutes total. It was a combination of cardio moves focusing on the core, and actual core exercises. It was a good workout overall and I broke a decent sweat. I might try different workouts in order to prevent boredom from kicking in.

Just finished the 26 minute low impact cardio routine I enjoy. It's a great morning workout because it's not too demanding and wakes me up a bit more for work. The calorie burn scale states it is between 122-225 calories, and I'd definitely be on the low end since I'm at a normal weight. It's like an intense warm up. But also fantastic for beginners or for rest day workouts.

Got over 12.5k steps today, it has been a while since I have hit the 10k+ mark with my job now being more standing, less walking.

Didn't do any additional workouts today. Today was my third 8 hour shift in 3 days and after 3 days of work my mind and body feel tired. Tomorrow is a day off so I'll try to make the most of it!

Day 4 of getting my rear back in gear. Self-esteem is doing a tad better for it.

Just finished a nice morning workout. It included a 10 minute cardio routine, a 15 minute long lower body pilates routine, a 10 minute abs/obliques routine and a 5 minute cool down. 40 minutes total.

[Blue_Bird]

Hi, I would like to start exercising again. I'm pretty out of shape and have a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I usually use the treadmill and cycling machine at the YMCA but I won't get my membership back till I start back at my college in January. I'm looking for things I can do inside preferably because it's starting to get really cold outside. I don't have a home gym or anything like that, I live in a studio apartment. I have 2lb, 5lb, and 10lb weights. I also have a yoga dvd and a Jillian Michaels 30day shred dvd but it looks like its too advanced for me at this point. Any ideas of what to begin with?

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

Hi, I would like to start exercising again. I'm pretty out of shape and have a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I usually use the treadmill and cycling machine at the YMCA but I won't get my membership back till I start back at my college in January. I'm looking for things I can do inside preferably because it's starting to get really cold outside. I don't have a home gym or anything like that, I live in a studio apartment. I have 2lb, 5lb, and 10lb weights. I also have a yoga dvd and a Jillian Michaels 30day shred dvd but it looks like its too advanced for me at this point. Any ideas of what to begin with?

That's awesome that you'd like to start exercising again. If you are just starting, I can recommend some workouts. I love FitnessBlender and they rate their workout difficulty on a scale between 1-5. Here are links to a few level 2 workouts:

Level 2 low impact (aka, no jumping) cardio workout:

Level 2 low impact cardio workout:

Level 2 stretching/yoga routine (Great for relaxing sore muscles):

If you are feeling too advanced for those, this is a great level 3 cardio workout that does involve some jumping:

They have over 500 workouts for free, so you can always find something if you're looking to work on a specific area of your body. Leslie Sansone walking workouts are also good for beginners, there are some free ones on Youtube.

If you like Jillian Michaels, she does have a program called "Beginner Shred" that is supposed to be for beginner levels. It's still supposed to be tough though, it being a Jillian Michaels routine after all.

I just finished a Jillian Michaels workout, one of the 3 Killer Body workouts. Today I did the upper body one. Some moves were definitely challenging and I'm still sweating so it definitely made me work. The other two of her Killer Body workouts are lower body, and core. I will definitely make an effort to try those as well. 33 minutes total.

And I will just barely be hitting 10k steps today, but it still counts right?

Planned rest day for me today. Had a nice and lazy day off.

Just finished Day 1 of FB Sweat, a 4 week program that gives the option to do either around 30 minutes of activity or 50 minutes of activity, 5 days a week. (One other day is stretching and the other is a complete rest day).

Today's workout was a lower body strength and cardio routine that kicked my butt (and legs!) and made me sweat quite a bit! I know I'll be sore tomorrow but I'm glad I pushed through it. 38 minutes total including the warm up and cool down.

Forgot to post yesterday, oops! Well yesterday I got over 13k steps in, but didn't do a workout because my lower body was quite sore and working an 8 hour shift was enough of a workout that day.

Today my lower body is still a bit sore but I just finished Day 2 of FB Sweat, which was an upper body strength workout + cardio intervals that tended to be heavy on the lower body, so I'm glad I took that day's rest. 33 minutes total including warm up and cool down. Feeling pretty darn good right now.