Certainly I could manage 3 days a week for 30-45 minutes right? It's just down the street. Hell, I could walk there if I
They have child care and of course I JUST KNEW StinkBug would pounce on the chance to interact with
Clearly I was smoking some kind of crack.
It starts before we even drop the kids off at school.
"Do you have exercise today? I HATE that place! I'm scared! I don't wanna go by myself!"
By the time I pull into the rec center parking lot StinkBug has worked himself up into a ball of sheer panic and tears.
He claws at me, stomps his feet and yelling "I'm not going! You hate me! Why do I have to go by myself? Why can't we wait till Peanut can go with me?"
I try the usual calming tactics and eventually get him settled in the child care room. He has given up the fight but looks forlorn as I walk away.
As I trudge upstairs to my class...full of strangers I don't know, making small talk I don't care about I plaster a fake smile on my face. I go through the motions, downward dog and all. I don't feel better. I feel the same. Everyone claps at the end and starts chatting about The Bachelor..one more thing I have no interest in.
I ask a friend of a friend who is a Zumba instructor "when am I going to start liking the classes? when do those endorphins kick in?"
She tells me that even though she teaches she doesn't enjoy going to group classes. It's just one more time where you have to be "on" and surrounded by people.
She is exactly right. I much prefer to hit the track by myself. I feel better before, during and after. It is one of the few things I look forward to. It is the ONLY time I have alone during waking hours.
So I am dropping out of class and will continue independent study because it works for me.
What works for you?
"Do you have exercise today? I HATE that place! I'm scared! I don't wanna go by myself!"
By the time I pull into the rec center parking lot StinkBug has worked himself up into a ball of sheer panic and tears.
He claws at me, stomps his feet and yelling "I'm not going! You hate me! Why do I have to go by myself? Why can't we wait till Peanut can go with me?"
I try the usual calming tactics and eventually get him settled in the child care room. He has given up the fight but looks forlorn as I walk away.
As I trudge upstairs to my class...full of strangers I don't know, making small talk I don't care about I plaster a fake smile on my face. I go through the motions, downward dog and all. I don't feel better. I feel the same. Everyone claps at the end and starts chatting about The Bachelor..one more thing I have no interest in.
I ask a friend of a friend who is a Zumba instructor "when am I going to start liking the classes? when do those endorphins kick in?"
She tells me that even though she teaches she doesn't enjoy going to group classes. It's just one more time where you have to be "on" and surrounded by people.
She is exactly right. I much prefer to hit the track by myself. I feel better before, during and after. It is one of the few things I look forward to. It is the ONLY time I have alone during waking hours.
So I am dropping out of class and will continue independent study because it works for me.
What works for you?
It is my second time to link up at yeah write # 46!
28 comments:
I like to exercise alone or with my kids. I'm too klutzy for a class.
Honestly, I get the best workouts just dancing around the house being goofy. LOL
Alone works for me, too. I won't even fake it and pretend to be interested in group crap.
I walk (ok...walked) for 30-45 mins/3 times a week for over a year. The holidays jacked me up...still not back on track.
Anyway...that's my "me" time. And it infuriates me when someone says, "Oh, I might go with you tomorrow...I need to start walking, too."
How bad is that? I hate when someone WANTS to be around me when I'm walking.
But really...that's the only time I can hide from the world, so I don't like to share that time.
I actually do better working out in a class because I'm too darn lazy to get myself to do enough when I try to do it on my own.
It's tough when you have to take a little one with you though. When my oldest was a baby, I joined a gym up the street from our florist and thought that since I took him to work with me, I could just drop him off in the child watch room, do my class and head home. He had other ideas. Someone also showed up outside the aerobics room shooting me death rays with my screaming baby on her hip.
Sooo...I had to drive him all the way out of the way (15 minutes in the other direction) to my mother's house and then all the way back to the gym, then back to get him before I could go home!
Yoga is the first time I have ever liked a group class because they don't like it when you talk. They want you to be at peace and quiet and I swear...that hour that I get there once a week (if I'm lucky) is the only time I feel that peace and quiet.
I'm not a huge fan of classes either. I'd rather work out on my own or run.
I am klutzy too and have NO dance moves so I avoided those types of classes. I only signed up for laying on a mat and sitting on a bike...just not a fan of groups I have learned.
I totally relate to hiding from the world and not wanting to share what is yours. I do LOVE to walk! Once you take a break from it for holidays/injuries/life it is hard to fit it back in. I had been going 5 of 7 days but have taken a few days off b/c I was feeling burned out.
That is EXACTLY whey I signed up for classes b/c I would feel obligated to go and I would try something a bit out of my comfort zone. Don't you love the death rays of an annoyed caregiver??
I have thought about yoga but I am probably too unfocused and jumpy for it. I love the idea of forced peace and quiet though!
I have to walk till i am bored out of my mind and then I mix it up with a bit of running.
Um, so far just reading other people's blogs about other people's exercise regimines...(-:
I never thought about this angle before (having to be "on" at exercise class)...but it does explain a lot! I prefer to fly solo in my living room, with my Wii. Except that it died recently, so now I'm just back to deteriorating. Ugh!
I'm definitely more of a solo exerciser. I've never been one to go to group classes like Zumba or aerobics. Of course, being a solo exerciser means I only have myself for motivation...which doesn't always work out.
The only group classes I will go to is yoga. And even so, I hate the ones that have more than 8 people.
I prefer working out on my own!
I am working out tonight for the first time at a gym. I am nervous. I'm thinking it might go like this. :/
I am a puppy. I cannot do this stuff alone. I don't just need, but crave, the group dynamic. I think it's important to know what works for you and unapologetically do it the way you need to. Good luck, Erin
I like both but more solitaryr than not. If I brought my minis I am pretty sure they would love it too much! Hope you continue with what works for you!
lol @ being a puppy! Good that you know what works for you.
Good for you! Hope it goes well :)
yeah another one for the solo team!
Yep it isn't easy to be self motivated...I think it works for me b/c it is THE ONE thing I get to do ALONE!
So far the solo exercisers are winning the comments :) I did wii for awhile but my kiddos always took over so I kinda gave up.
of course that counts! Can you imagine how many calories one burns clicking the mouse? I am sure it is equal to a bag of doritos..right?
Maybe if I signed up for classes with friends or at least ppl I already knew I would be more inclined to do the group thing.
So far NOTHING works for me! Ah!!! I took a zumba class once. It was an absolute nightmare. I made it through 30 minutes and never returned.
lol...I HATE to dance so that would NOT work for me! Have you tried walking?
You've got to find what works for you to make it work at all! I do a variety, solo runs, group runs, group classes and every once in awhile videos in the basement. Keeps in interesting. The biggest thing for me is a plan for the week. On Sunday I make my days and always schedule the workout in. Better then waking up wondering when I'll fit it in.
I am impressed by your variety! Definitely helps to schedule it in too!
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