"Fun" Workouts?

There is always a lot of talk about workout programs, fitness classes, etc. that are fun. Everyone wants a workout that is fun. I understand that as I like things that are fun too. But fun doesn't usually equal results. My personal workouts are not fun. I make them enjoyable by listening to good music and knowing that my hard work is doing something good for my body and my health. My personal training sessions are fun because I joke with my clients and we have a great relationship and enjoy our time together, but the workout itself is not fun. It's hard work. That is why is called a "workout" not "play time".
There are new exercise "crazes" every year, and many of them are "fun." That's great. Going to a club and dancing all night is fun. It makes you sweat. It gets your heart rate up. Awesome. Does it get you stronger? Does it make you healthier? Does it make you look better naked?

It amazes me how many times I have had to try to explain to someone who has just complained to me for 20 minutes about how big her legs are, that she needs to stop spinning 3x a week. "But I love spinning", she says. "Great", I say, "but do you love it more than you hate having big legs?" Listen, I'm actually a fan of big muscles, so if you have thick, firm thighs from spinning I'm good with that. But if you want thinner legs, you cannot spin 3x a week. Have you ever seen a spin instructor with thin legs? Muscular and toned legs, yes. "Thin legs"? Nope. You get the idea.

You need to train for the goal you have in mind, not necessarily what you "like" to do. 

Training is something you do to achieve a specific result. Exercising is something active that you like to do. There is a very big difference between the two.I like to play hockey. That is my fun and that is where I get to enjoy the benefits of my hard work in the gym. Being faster is fun, being stronger is fun, being able to play all game long and not get tired or injured is fun. And although hockey is strenuous exercise , it alone will not give me the results I want. If that was my only form of exercise that I was willing to do (because it is fun), I would be very disappointed in my physique and other goals. I must perform workouts that build muscle and burn fat, and leave the fun for the other activities that I love.

Going to the beach is fun, especially when you are confident in the way you look in a bathing suit. Being insecure and self-conscious at the beach is not fun.
So the moral of the story is that while some workout programs may be "fun", you are going to get more long term enjoyment from workouts that "work", even if they are not so much fun while you do them. Train for results. Exercise for fun.
-Scott
 Hook up with me here: Online training, nutrition and inner circle membership support- www.theprogram.trainerize.com

"But Scott, the scale isn't moving.."

Today is for all of those men and women who are obsessed with the scale. Get over it. First of all, being "skinny" is so 2007 and being "fit" is where it's at for 2011. Secondly, the scale does not tell you jack. I can tell you from personal experience that I have gone through periods of being sick, lazy and stressed (all at the same time) and not exercised or eaten right for weeks at a time. What happened? I gained a little weight on the scale, sure, but I looked far worse than the 5-8 lbs on the scale showed. Why? Because I lost a lot of muscle and gained a lot of fat. So I actually looked and felt like I gained 20 lbs!

Why do I use this example? Because it works the other way too. When I finally got myself together and started eating well and working out again, I only lost 5 lbs (on the scale), but I looked and felt COMPLETELY different. Why? Because I lost the 10 or 12 lbs of fat I had added, and gained the 5-6 lbs of muscle I had lost. Do you get it?

The point is that your body can change dramatically and the scale will not accurately reflect what is going on in your body. I have seen people celebrating because they lost 15 lbs on their new "diet", when they actually look worse and not any better. Why? Because they lost 15 lbs of muscle. Now they are lighter on the scale (Yay! Who cares??) and they look worse. Why? Because before they had 120 lbs of muscle and 50 lbs of fat. Now they have 105 lbs of muscle and 50 lbs of fat. So proportionately, they are fatter than before!

And another great side effect of this "Yay I lost 15 lbs diet" is now their metabolism is screwed from the loss of muscle and now he/she will gain weight even faster. So what will he/she do? Probably freak out when the weight comes back on, and then do another "diet".

Get off the scale and get off of the diets. Focus on how tight and firm your muscles feel. Look at how great you look in your clothes. So what you are not "skinny"? Nobody cares. Be healthy, that looks better anyway. Build some muscle, give your body some shape and strength, and build a strong and fast metabolism. Exercise, resistance training, small and frequent healthy meals is the formula. Maintain consistency.

"Skinny" is out, for both men and women. I say bring on the muscle, tone and the shapely curves!
-Scott
Hook up with me here: Online training, nutrition and inner circle membership and support- www.theprogram.trainerize.com