Lift weights 3 days a week. Perform cardio on 5 days of the week. Make sure you get to yoga at least twice a week to stay limber. Try out that new pole dancing fitness class. Oh, and that boot camp class too. Starting to feel like you need 12 days in a week? You’re not alone.
Never have we had so many exercise options. Which, is great for allowing people to try different, but it also can lead to feelings of “not doing enough”.
Rather than stress over the need to get to the weight room, yoga mat, cycling studio, and sidewalk a certain number of days per week year-round, I’ve organically shifted into a new approach to fitness. A seasonal approach. It takes into consideration not only the weather, but also what peaks my interest at the time.
I’ve come to learn that Cleveland winters are long, cold and messy. So instead of tip-toeing over ice to get my weekly runs in, I took my workouts indoors this past winter. Lots of weight lifting because I enjoy strength training, and little-to-no treadmill workouts because I swear I may actually die of boredom one day. I also spent more time at the hot yoga studio. Not only to get relief from the freezing temps, but because it was a good way to get my heart rate up in the presence of a reduced cardio routine. To sum it up, my winter workouts were primarily strength training, hot yoga and the occasional indoor cycling class.
Now that summer is in full effect, I’ve transitioned to outdoor workouts. I love morning runs so I’m getting a good amount of cardio in by running 3-4 days a week. I also take my rowing machine out onto the drive way for a good sprint workout 1-2 days per week. You won’t find me in the gym as much; I’d rather not head back inside on beautiful summer days. What I am doing for strength is taking an outdoor boot camp class once a week that I really enjoy.
If you’re starting to feel like you ‘should’ be doing it all, but don’t have the time or interest to be working out for hours every day, consider changing up your workouts seasonally. And if the thought of changing up your fitness routine doesn’t feel natural, I suggest actually periodizing your workouts on a calendar. When the next ‘change-up’ rolls around, you’ll likely meet your new fitness activities with a renewed sense of excitement.
A Whole New Fit 