Summer Workouts for Busy Women
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
2020 Update: We still think this is a great discussion about summer workouts for busy women, check out some of our other more recent posts on exercise and busy women, including our roundup of the best streaming workouts to do at home .
Here in NYC it's one of those “102 degrees, feels like 107” kind of weeks. So this seems like a great time to talk about summer workouts. What are you guys doing to stay fit (and manage stress) as the mercury climbs?
For my $.02, I find myself incapable of running in this heat — so I got up first thing this morning and did one of my favorite workouts, The Firm: Get Chisel'd
— with the A/C on high and a fan on. Forty minutes, interval training with some weights, and a not-too-annoying instructor… not too bad.
{related: what are your favorite ways to exercise when it's hot out?}
Psst: Looking for great workout shorts? See reader favorites and more in our recent roundup of the best women's shorts for summer…
Under Armour / Gap / CALIA / Nike Dry Tempo
P.S.: In theory, this should be Beauty Wednesday… except I think I've written about all of the products that I love at the moment! If you have a good sunscreen (that you still use after the scary study a month or two ago) or a good mask or something else that you use occasionally that boosts skin turnover (I think it's either alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids that are the active ingredient), please e-mail me (or comment below) — I'm in the market for 'em. Social media images via Stencil.
I swim at the gym 2-3 times a week! It’s a really great way to stay cool and stay in shape. It’s a lot harder to swim when it’s cold out.
I also do kickboxing classes at my gym. It’s highly air conditioned and it’s a great way to get some intense cardio in.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It’s like physical chess, and nothing relieves stress like choking someone out!
Heck yes plus if you are in a gi-class you are used to sweating profusely anyway – so darned hot!
First comment on Corporette – yay! I go to The Dailey Method (an intense exercise class that’s a combination of pilates, yoga, and bar work from ballet – a variation of the Lotte Berk method) twice a week, and do a 30-minute workout at home to Jillian Michaels’ “No More Trouble Zones” on Sundays. This is the best shape I’ve ever been in!
I LOVE The Dailey Method!! I have been going for about a year and have not been this flexible since I was a child. The added bonus is that all the focus on a healthy spine has resulted in better posture and the end to the nagging lower back pain that I have suffered since a sports injury in high school.
I am also really inspired\encouraged by all the pregnant women in class (and the pregnant teachers) that this is a work out I can maintain once I have a bun in the oven.
For sunscreen, I am using Obagi 35, which rates a 3 on EWG’s list. It is great, although I don’t recommend the Obagi 32 physical block (which rates a 2) because it is too white and pasty. I am layering the sunscreen over Obagi’s 15% vitamin c serum, for extra antioxidant sun protection. In summer I use Cellex-C speed peel from time to time along with the New Complexion Cream a few times a week to increase cell turnover. The New Complexion Cream is a bit on the harsh side. For something gentler, I also like Zia’s citrus night reversal cream. In winter I switch to ZO Complex A every night, which is an Obagi created tretinoin product, but the tretinoin is encased shea butter, making it very silky and far less drying than the generic tretinoin.
I just started riding my bike to the train station for my morning commute. It’s about a mile, and is a good combination of hills and flat roads. It’s forced me to wake up a bit earlier, to make my train without too much hassle. I love it! Feels like I’ve done a mini-workout by the time I’m on the train. My mind is clearer, I’m craving fruit and grains for breakfast instead of coffee and doughnuts, and I feel like I’m beginning the day on a stronger foundation.
That said, I’m still navigating how best to deal with the transition from a rigorous ride to cleaning up for the office. If anyone has experience with biking to work, please share tips for how best to move from a morning ride to getting office-ready.
Baby-wipe bath in the ladies room.
I bike to work about half the time, about 3.5 miles, and love it. I pack a backpack with work clothes, shoes, clean bra and underwear and makeup. When I get to work I clean up with Neutrogena Deep-Clean Sport wipes (I upgraded to these from baby wipes), wash my face, and change. I also always have a ponytail on biking days!
I walk to work, which in DC summer results in the same level of sweatiness as a bike ride or, for that matter, a triathlon. I carry a handkerchief with me to wipe sweat as needed. I wear bike shorts under my skirt to soak up sweat and prevent chafing and I wear a different shirt on my walk than in the office. Upon arrival at the office, I stand in front of my fan and dry off, then I take off the shorts and change my shirt. I don’t apply makeup to my face until after I’ve arrived (my eye makeup stays on okay despite my sweatiness so I apply that at home). I wear a big hat, and my hair gets completely flat and soaked with sweat, but luckily it’s curly and it dries fine. I keep deodorant in the office and I carry Body Glide with me in case of blisters.
A friend of mine is a runner and she gets her workout running six miles each way to and from work. She drops all her suits for the week off at the office on Sunday, runs in, takes a shower in the firm’s gym locker room, and puts on a suit. Personally I couldn’t imagine showering at work because you could run into anyone in the locker room and besides, with the curly hair and all, getting ready is a big production for me. Another colleague bikes to work, and she also keeps clothes for the week at the office and changes when she gets in, although I don’t think she showers. Personally I couldn’t decide a week in advance what to wear every day, but that’s probably the easiest method if you can do it.
These tips are great – thank you! I’ve been packing my day’s clothes/shoes in a tote, and bungeeing it onto my bike. I ride in an UnderArmor t-shirt (wicks away sweat really well) and board shorts. Once at my train station, I’ve been changing in the ladies’ room, which is mercifully fairly large and clean. I will look for the Neutrogena Deep Clean Wipes. . .
This topic relates to something I’ve been wanting to post for a couple of days.
Has anyone trained for a big big athletic event while working or studying long hours? My super-secret goal is to complete a half Ironman triathlon in the next year or two. (1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike, 13.1 mi run). If I did it next year, I’d be training while studying for the bar exam. If I waited until the following year, I’d be just starting my career as an attorney (probably in a firm, but not BigLaw).
Have any of you high-achieving, hard-working women done such a thing? Any thoughts on when it would be more feasible?
Not sure how “big big” you’d consider this, but I run marathons and am currently pursuing a fairly ambitious time goal over the next 18 months (I want to crack 3:00). I did my first marathon as a law student and have done two as an attorney (training for #3 and #4 right now), and it was definitely easier to train as a student due to greater flexibility in my schedule.
Sub-3 hour marathon DEFINITELY qualifies as “big big”! Good luck!
I ran a marathon during my 1L year, and that was definitely doable. How much training do you do during the work week? How do you fit in longer (1 hour or more) workouts?
I currently run five days a week and cross-train (by bicycling to work) one additional day. The amount of training during the week varies, but this week, for example, I’ll do two 4-mile workouts, two 7-mile workouts, and one 16-mile workout (plus the bike day, which is about 12 miles round-trip).
Basically, I just de-prioritize a lot of other stuff–running is priority #1 for me (aside from quality time with husband)–we don’t have kids). My standard workday is 10-11 hours (7 AM to 5 PM or 6 PM; I’m at regional biglaw), and I usually run either at lunch (for shorter workouts) or as soon as I get home. Also, I sometimes run home from my office (6.5 miles), which lets me combine workout time with commuting time. I do my long runs on the weekend.
I’ve been running for 20 years (started in 3rd grade!), so I don’t find myself having trouble fitting it in. The truth is, unless I’ve had a truly hellacious day, I get my runs in even if I get home at 9 PM. It’s just a completely integral part of my life. I would LOVE to do a tri, but i’m a totally lame-o swimmer, ha.
how do you run home from work with your things? I’m just trying to picture how I would get home even with my keys or purse
Purse – can’t help you there – but for keys either in my hand or in the little pocket inside my running shorts (it is a front inside-access-only pocket). I also always carry my cellphone in my hand when I run (for safety).
I have a hydration belt that has a little pouch I put my keys, keycard, blackberry, and any other cards (transit pass, driver’s license, etc) in there. I leave my clothes and my purse at work, and just bring everything home the next time that I’m taking the bus. It does mean that I schlep a lot of stuff home sometimes, though!
Sub-3:00? Oh, you are my hero.
Hah, well, we’ll see if I can actually do it–it’s definitely a long-term plan, as I think that I don’t have a realistic shot of taking off that much time in my next two races (October and April). My fingers-crossed hope is to get there by next October, or spring 2012 if that fails.
I didn’t train for a marathon or triathlon while studying for the bar, but I did find that running (which I normally hate) was a welcome break from all of that studying. Honestly, I think some serious physical activity helps relieve the pre-Bar Exam stress, and I see no reason why you couldn’t train and study concurrently. Good luck with both!
^^Agreed. I go to a spin class almost every day as a study break, and I think it’s great. If anything, it helps me to fall asleep at night WITHOUT running through everything I just studied in my head. Case in point: I didn’t really go to the gym last week, and by Thursday, whoever I watched last on TV was teaching me about freehold estates in my dreams. It was horrible.
Also run … it was WAY easier to train for long races (1/2 marathons mostly) when I was in school. It’s super hard raising 3 kids and working full-time to get it all in. I only get about 5-7 miles per day in during the week and save the longer runs for the weekend. It’s not easy, but it is really worth it.
I will be competing in a half-ironman 2 days after completing the bar this summer! “Competing” is probably the wrong word–“participating in” is more accurate. Wish me luck!
I have the summer off work and it’s been great to have a flexible schedule to get my training in. I figure I’ll never have enough time to do it again in the future.
I chose the timing of the event to be right after the bar b/c you are supposed to taper down your training as the event approaches anyway—so my exercise time will go down just as my bar-studying time goes up. Hopefully it all works out. I’ll let you know in October!
Just “participating” in a half iron is really impressive! I cannot imagine doing that level of training while studying for the bar.
I’ve trained for marathons while working as a lawyer. If you make it your top priority and are willing to sacrifice some sleep, you can certainly do it. It’s a lot harder to fit in the training if you have a lot of other priorities as well, but I’ve found that it’s possible to run a (slow, non-competitive, you-will-be-passed-by-octogenarians) marathon with less training than any program tells you to do. My guess is that it is harder to “cheat” this way for a half or full ironman.
Do you love biking, running and swimming? If so, then you will almost certainly be able to do it by making your workouts your “fun” activity during bar study/first-year-associate-dom. If you don’t really like training, though, it’s going to be very difficult because it’s going to feel like an extra chore on top of the 1000 other things you have to do, plus training will take away from your having the time to do something fun. So if you’re doing it for fun and because you love it, I say go for it, but if you’re doing it for a challenge or to prove something, you’d be better off waiting.
I’ve never trained for a “big” race or anything, but I’m athletic, and the biggest mistake I ever made was to neglect my regular workouts because I was broke and ridiculously overworked during bar study and then during my first year of full-time employment (as a judicial clerk). 40lbs later, I said never again, joined a gym with my new higher salary, and ever since then have been adamant about exercising for at least 45 minutes every single day, more on most days. No job requires 24 hours a day of work every day. You can make time to train, but it has to be a priority taking precedence over everything except your job, meals, and sleep.
My only other advice is to watch what you eat and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. That sounds easier than it is.
I’m a new runner (just over a year) and I recently finished my first relay race (24+ hour team race). The training was hard but for whatever reason I found that having an actual schedule tacked to my bulletin board at work and one in my kitchen at home helped keep me motivated and maintain it as a priority. I run in the morning and did long runs (or the 2 or 3-a day runs) on the weekends. I worked the schedule so that Sundays are a rest day which often worked out to be my make-up day if I had to skip a run during the week. I also didn’t beat myself up if I had to skip a run or two, I just stuck with the program and it worked great. Next week I start training for my first half-marathon and plan on attacking it the same way. My only fear is the current heat wave NYC is suffering under. The treadmill is not fun but that is where I ran this morning because I wanted the A/C.
I trained for and ran my first half marathon last fall while working in BigLaw. It honestly was not as hard as I expected it to be. I did all my week-day runs super early before work (which also helped me avoid the worst of the heat), and my long runs on the weekend. But I am also flexible. For example, today was brutally hot even at 6am, so I did 3 miles on the treadmill over lunch instead.
The only real problem I ran into was that I was usually completely wiped out after a long run, so I had a hard time accomplishing any work later that day, even if I had plenty of time to do so (I took more naps while training than ever before).
I’m training for my first full marathon now, but I’m in the very beginning stages. There are actually quite a few associates at my firm who run the local marathon (or half) every year. If it’s a priority to you, training for an endurance event (even while working in BigLaw) is completely do-able.
I’d love to do a Tri some day, but open water swims scare me so I think I’d need swimming lessons to build my confidence first! Good luck to you!!
I’m currently training for my third Ironman. When I was training for the first, I was in school part-time for my MBA, working full-time and building my own house (yep, actually building it. As in pounding nails, wiring the outlets, insulating the walls, installing the wood floors and pouring the concrete driveway). Training for the second one was a little easier because the house thing was out of the way, but I was still in school and now I was working longer hours at a new job. Number three is proving to be the biggest challenge – I have an 8-month old baby, a 45-min commute each way and a husband who works 4 hours away and only comes home on weekends. (no family in this state to help out.)
Two things to keep in mind – do as much training in the morning as possible. If you’re not a morning person, become one. It prevents you from having to shower/do hair/get dressed twice, and it reduces the possiblity of something coming up and causing you to skip a workout. That leads me to the second thing. Don’t beat yourself up when you skip a workout to study, sleep in, or even go out for a margarita with a friend to vent.
As for the timing, I would honestly try to do it as soon as you feel you can physically do it without injury (or misery!) Things can come up, life can change, etc. If you think you might be able to do it next year, try it. If you start training and studying and realize it’s too much, it’s ok to hold off a year – any training you’ve already done will count towards your base!
Good luck with your race – I’m sure you’ll be able to do it!
One last tip – don’t underestimate the time committment. If you have a 2-hour workout, add at least 15 – 25% to that for getting dressed, getting equipment set (bike helmet/goggles/water bottle/ipod/running shoes, etc) and then stretching, post workout snack, change of clothes, putting equipment away and most likely starting a load of laundry – the amount of laundry is surprising.
I highly recommend training while studying for the bar exam. I wasn’t training for anything when I was studying, but I got little speakers for my bike (because I don’t like using headphones and being unaware of my surroundings when biking) and listened to all sorts of bar review MP3s while biking to and from barbri classes and also just biking for pleasure. (And yeah, the people I passed or who passed me probably thought I was crazy, but who cares?)
As an added bonus, I was then able to associate certain locations on my biking routes with certain legal concepts, helping my ability to recall the material. You need some “processing time” for the volume of material you’ll need to retain, and exercise can be a great time for processing. You could have different routes (or different types of training) associated with different topics, and repeat them as needed. I realize you need to devote some cranial energy to focus on the training itself, but running through the elements of X or Y is not too distracting, in my experience. And as a special treat, you could have training sessions with no bar prep thoughts allowed!
I started running and trained for a half marathon during a judicial clerkship (with long hours), and it worked just fine, but I admit that’s not a “big big athletic event.” I just get up a bit earlier and run then. I am not a morning person and do not intend to become one. That’s why I think getting up early to run is ideal for me — I know that if I got up early and went into work, I wouldn’t be very productive anyway. If, on the other hand, I were to run in the evenings, when I’m most awake and most productive, I’d be using my time less efficiently. So since I have to make time somewhere, I’m best off making time for running when I wouldn’t be particularly good at something else.
Good luck!
I think you’re probably the only person who really knows how dedicated you are to your training program and how you handle stress (if working out is your preferred method, you’re probably fine :)). That being said, I did want to bring up one thing… Not being in biglaw isn’t really any guarantee of having control over your schedule or billing less than 2000+ hours. My firm prides itself on a low billable minimum and work/life balance and for the most part they really back it up but I ended up on a case my first year that had me working around the clock, 7 days a week, for close to 5 months. In general, I find early morning is the only time I can guarantee I have time to train because I never know what will come up during the day.
During the bar I exercised almost every day for at least 30 minutes and often I ran for 20 or 30 minutes and then immediately did my favorite 60 min exercise class at the gym. It was a totally welcome break from the studying. Even on days I felt stressed and tired I would at least walk outside for 30 minutes.
As someone just finishing her first year at a non-Biglaw firm, I would say you should go for it as soon as possible. I didn’t feel like studying for the Bar exam was as time-consuming as law school (and I worked while studying!) and neither school nor the Bar was as demanding as working full time for a law firm. Do it now, because it probably won’t get easier! Plus, if you do the BarBri podcast lectures, you can listen to the lectures while you work out.
Slight Tread Highjack –
Anyone have experience joining one of those “upscale gyms” and did you find it worth it? Yesterday my cheapo gym near the office was so hot and sweaty, I reluctantly gave up trying to work out and just left. I couldn’t wait to get outside into the 90 degree noon heat because at least there was a breeze!
Let me longing for the expensive gyms, which I heard provide chilled cucumber scented towels to cool off. Just not really sure if paying 3 times as much to use a treadmill, pool and weights is worth it. I am not a big fan of classes and not sure I would really take them.
Other advantages to the luxury gyms? Opinions?
Used to belong to Holmes Place in Chicago and then moved to the ‘burbs. Miss Holmes Place SO much! But I loved the classes which are so much nicer than the classes at my little suburban gym. I miss upscale …. that’s what I get for having 3 kids in 5 years and moving to the burbs …
I belonged (still technically do, though changing gyms for location reasons) a very swanky (but small) gym. It was great for going during the work day. The locker room was sooo nice — and I felt like I kind of had a spa experience in the middle of the day.
Was it worth it? I guess it depends how you look at it. I figured if I spent $100 more per month, but worked out at least 3-4x more than I would have (and enjoyed it more) that is really cheaper than hiring a personal trainer to motivate me.
Where I went to med school, my one luxury was the nice gym. It was great! Nice locker rooms, tons of great classes, great staff, nice equipment. BUT that was in a small city in upstate NY. Now, I live in Seattle, and can’t find a gym like that for a decent price point. It seems as though either it’s really fancy and really expensive, or modest. That range of a little bit nicer just doesn’t exist, as far as I can tell. Now I belong to a small independent gym that is fanatically clean (my #1 priority) and has decent classes but isn’t really luxurious. I do miss my old gym though!
If it’s close to your office, it’d be a relaxing, welcoming place to go for a mid-day break. You’re far more likely to work out to relieve stress if you’re working out in a pleasant, calming, clean environment. Also, luxury gyms normally let you store things in a locker, so you could do morning or evening workouts without lugging a bag around and you’ll have a nice place to shower. Plus most luxury gyms offer some “spa” services like massage, sauna, etc – also relaxing, and since you’ll already be at the gym, you may as well work out too.
Basically, what I’m saying is that if the little luxuries make you want to work out more often and you can afford it, yes, it’s worth the extra money.
I did… and no, not worth it (for me) — for it to be worth it, the extras are the reason you go – and if a cucumber scented towel gets you there, then go for it, but for me, it was just too far from my house/work (yes, all of 25 minutes)… by the time I got done w/ work, went home and walked the dog (mandatory), I just lacked the motivation to leave the house again… (and it closed at 9 p.m., and by this time it was nearly 8 p.m., thank you ridiculous work hours)
I have no experience in American upscale gyms, but I can say I still miss my Japanese gym (that was about 3x the price of what I pay here).
I think the main difference was that it was just as good a place to relax as it was to work out. I got assigned a locker when I came in and the locker/bath area was like a spa and very relaxing. They had a sauna, steam room, scented bath, thelassotherapy, and foot massage paths as well as an outdoor bath in addition to inexpensive massages and facials. They also had relaxation rooms attached to the locker rooms where you could take a little nap and a full-service restaurant overlooking the pier. The classes were really nothing special- I think they were all Les Mills or dance- but there were two studios so there were plenty of options.
I was a little apprehensive about paying the high price at first but I really feel like it was worth the extra money.
I belonged to Equinox. The chilled eucalyptus towels were fantastic, but honestly that was about it. The one I went to was in the burbs and most of the people there were stay-at-homes or retirees looking for a place to socialize instead of sweat. I think it’s far more important to choose somewhere that has the right vibe, is convenient, and has great classes when you are most likely to take them. That was my other big problem with the place–almost all classes where on weekdays before 5 p.m. (Although a 2 p.m. spin class on a Tuesday sounds great, it’s something my chained-to-the-desk self will never see!) The gym I go to now is about half the cost and I get way more use out of it since it has more class options on weekends and late hours during the week. Also, be sure to visit during hours that you are most likely to be there so you get a sense of locker room traffic and equipment availability. I belonged to a gym after grad school where you could hardly find a place to stand in the locker room. Not fun.
Ithink the best solution is something in the middle. I went to a “posh” gym for several years, but found the services I thought I was paying extra for either cost additional money I didn’t want to pay (spa services, pilates lessons), or were things I didn’t use (child care). Going to the crappy gym at my condo was free but awful- ineffective A/C, gross machines, bad hours. I ended up joining a 24-Hour Fitness. The facility in my town (Houston- the Midtown gym) was brand-new, not very expensive, the machines were clean and new, and they offered lots of good, free classes. My law school had a discount worked out with them, so it was under $40/mo, plus the initiation fee of $50 or so. I had to move to a state where they lack good facilities, so let my membership lapse, but I would really recommend it if you live in a city where they have nice, new facilities.
I was an Equinox member in Southern California for nearly 2 years. It was NICE, but I felt guilty dropping all that money on a gym, particularly since I could really only take advantage of classes and amenities on (some) weekends (the classes never exactly fit into my usual a.m. weekday workout schedule). I also wasn’t THAT impressed with it for the price (crowded, sometimes not that clean, not enough cable/ plate-loaded weight machines, spin classes on weekends were impossible to get into, etc)…
I agree w/ everyone who said the mid-range gyms are the way to go. I just joined Bodies in Motion (I think it’s a regional chain?), which is half the price of EQ. The gym itself is a lot less crowded. It’s also nearly as clean as EQ and has a few small amenities, incl. clean private showers and towel service (both of which are a HUGE plus when you shower at the gym in the morning). I’ve heard great things about Gold’s Gym as well (again, I think it might be a regional chain).
I go to XSport, it’s pretty cheap, but it’s nice (most of the locations are new), and it’s open 24 hours. Not that I’m working out at 2am, but it always annoyed me that gyms closed at 5pm on Sunday. They also have a pool, free classes (at *normal* hours, not just in the middle of the day), salon/spa/tanning, tvs on the treadmills, and a smoothie bar. It’s not Sports Club LA (which is amazing), but it’s better than Gold’s Gym.
I completed a marathon while finishing up my masters (full time) and working (full time). I did not have a social life. At all. I found the most difficult part was not getting the workouts in, but rather ensuring that I was getting adequate sleep. I needed significantly more sleep while training, and this meant sticking to a tight schedule to fit everything in during the day.
The biggest benefit was the stress relief I got from working out. There is nothing quite like going out for a nice long (10+mile ) run to clear my head and help me solve nagging problems. Have you done triathlons before? If not, I suggest starting small, and working your way up to the half Ironman.
I’m currently training for a sprint triathlon. That’s one reason I was thinking that 2 years might be a better time frame, because I could do an Olympic distance one next summer and maybe the half Ironman after that. But it seems like my schedule woul dbe so much more flexible while studying than while working…
I think it’s most important to build up slowly and be well-trained. The experience will be more enjoyable and you’ll perform better than if you try to rush the half Ironman. While it might fit best into your life schedule in a year, that benefit does not outweigh the benefits of a gradual progression, imho.
How did you find your sprint triathlon? I was thinking of doing that, but I was having trouble finding a resource for where I could do one. (I don’t have very much experience with these things).
http://www.trifind.com is a good resource to get started.
I found out about the race I’m doing by word of mouth. Some of my friends did it last year.
Trifind is great. I’ve also found that most of your local running and bike shops maintain great lists on their websites. I usually find some on those lists that aren’t on Trifind and vice versa, but if you check them both you’ll hopefully be able to find some sprints that will work.
Local tri clubs also are a good resource, and I loved training with mine! (before I moved for LS)
i’ve been swimming laps. my apartment building has a tiny rooftop pool with one short lane, but it’s all I need. Even our air conditioned gym is almost too hot because of the sun coming in from the windows. it’s miserable out there.
don’t ya’ll worry about the neighbors living below you when you do DVD workouts in your apartment? i really want to do those workouts but worry about the noise…
I moved to a ground floor apartment for exactly this reason! My downstairs neighbor used to complain if I even walked around the house after 9pm.
I have been looking for a house to move in recently and one of the things I have to pay attention is the floor because I like to do DVD workouts too. The house MUST have hard wood floors or any other similar kind of floor. If not, house discarded! And I would not live above the ground floor; it would probably be too annoying for my neighbors to listen to my walking and jumping.
I’m in NY and I signed up for Stacy’s boot camp, which meets 3 times a week for 3 weeks (each session is 3 weeks) at Central Park and she works us HARD for an hour doing various cardio and strength exercises. It’s a nice boost from the regular workout.
I bought “Body by Bethenny” which is a yoga DVD that Bethenny Frankel does. She’s on the Real Housewives of NYC but is actually a trained healthy foods chef. I read reviews first that said it was great for beginners and I think it is. I’m somewhere this summer where I don’t feel comfortable jumping around making noise for those beneath me so when I need to stay indoors for my workouts this is what I’ve been doing. I have to say I really love it. I’m by no means a yogi yet, but I like how I feel and I get a good sweat pushing myself!
Normally I walk to work both ways, do 30-45 minutes of cardio in the gym 4-5 times per week, and do 90 minutes of yoga 1-2 times per week. If it’s too hot to comfortably walk for work, I do extra cardio in the gym – ideally with a morning and evening workout with the extra time saved on my commute. Fortunately I have a gym in my building and so it’s hard to make an excuse not to work out.
Recommend the Coppertone Sensitive Skin sunscreen with Zinc Oxide – bought this based on the study and like it (though it’s THICK!) http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/shop_product_detail.jsp?skuId=726693&productId=726693&WT.mc_id=Shopping_Feed_Products_Google_Free_Listing
DO not understand the attraction for running. I can do aerobics or dance all day long. :)
I love Barry’s bootcamp. It is GREAT. I also have Jillian’s 30 day shred, but prefer Barry’s over it (though Barry gets kinda annoying soon). with Jillains you do the same xercise each day for atleast 7 days which is kind of bummer. She also empahiszes upper body a lot while I need to work my lower body a lot. With Barry’s I love the fact that you are literally done working out in the morning within 2-25 minutes. One day lower body and next day upper body. Add abs and atleast a portion of your daily workouot is done. Its a no brainer and thats what I like about it for busy work days.
I deally I would add a low intensity walking or treadmill session at the end of the day….but it does not happen as often as I like.
I love love love Jillians no more trouble zones too. One day is week is good when you are not doing anything else that is intensive.
Second the recommendation for the 30 day shred!
Running is sometimes an acquired taste. You have to force yourself to do it–at least to the point where you can run 3 miles comfortably and then keep that up for about a month. And then, there’s a good chance that you’ll become addicted–you’ll run a mile and not even notice it go by and you’ll feel off on the days you don’t get to run. I’ve nudged and bullied more than a few friends into running more than they’d like and have almost always seen the same results.
On all but the hottest days I walk my dog in the evening when it’s cooler in the heavily shaded park/walking trails that go through the woods that pervade my area (yay suburbs!) — I tried various gyms (one that was close, one that was super swanky, even a 24 hour one), and they just werent’ for me — I’m a klutz so I’m a disaster in a class, and to go to a gym, change, exercise, shower, change just takes so much time that I don’t have right now – I work late, and then study for the CPA exam, so I would rather come home, change into sneakers, go for an hour walk, take a fast shower, and study without the drive time, etc… and bonus: my dog is better socialized and fit, and I’ve met my neighbors (many of whom also walk down the street w/ their dogs/children to go to the park)
I am normally a runner/biker type. I ride 7 miles to work and 7 miles home (run it once a week). Besides the commute I also run or play volleyball 4-5 times a week.
This summer I am doing P90X. By week 4, I was seeing amazing results. Random guys at volleyball commented on my “new guns” and asked about my shoulders. Also my riding partner noticed I was looking more cut. I am not losing weight (not my goal), but skirts are definitely loose.
listen to all you marathoners and triathletes… geez! and i thought my goal of c25k was adventurous. :)
We all started there!
I live in a smallish-size town, and our pilates class has been dropped from the local YMCA (one of the only two gyms). I really, really miss pilates, so I’ve tried some books and DVDs, but they all seem too easy. Pilates was the only thing that gave me my body back after my second baby, and I need it to go down that one last size after my last baby (who is 2 today!).
Does anyone have advice on good moderate to advanced pilates DVDs or books?
Have you tried winsor pilates? I think its only available online. Other ones I’ve tried were easy, but I found this fairly intense.
If you do order, get one of the more expensive packages that comes with the special “abs only” routines. 20 minutes of solid ab work will leave you sore the next day (in a good way).
I really like Winsor Pilates. There is also a Winsor for Shape series that they sell at Target. I have last years (with the light pink cover). You do it with a resistance band that comes in the DVD. Everything from my waist down was on fire and you can always step it up with harder bands as you get stronger!
This is the one I have (don’t know if you want to buy it there, but I know this is the old one they don’t have at Target now but I love it!)
http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/mari-winsors-shape-pilates-for-pink-5552
Winsor pilates for pink is great too. Just google it for previous years editions. You do it with a resistance band (which comes with the DVD). You can always step up the resistance for harder workouts but my legs were on fire!
I can’t attest to this years (I think the cover is purple) but last years with the pink cover and Mari Winsor sitting down is great!
correction: she’s standing holding a pink band.
I’m having a hard time working in running AND strength workouts now that I’m working instead of in law school where I could fit in workouts in between classes and such.
Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD workouts are awesome when you’re crunched for time and don’t want to head outside. The DVD has three 20-minute workouts (Levels 1, 2, 3) that are comprised of three circuits: 3 mins. of strength, 2 mins. of cardio (jumping jacks, high knees, etc.), and 1 min. of abs. They kick your butt if you work hard and do all the reps. Most of the moves are simple and effective, and all you need are hand weights and a yoga mat. (I apologize for sounding like a spokesperson.)
I’m a runner as well and try to squeeze in a bare minimum 3 miles a day (4-5 is my norm) but these are a great alternative or supplement to a good run/bike/yoga/whatever your flavor of exercise is.
YES on Jillian! I’m so glad somebody else out there loves them. I was skeptical about getting any actual work done in 20 minutes, but really hopeful that I could have an acceptable workout with no time to spare (Think 1L). Now I revisit them on days when I think I don’t have time to work out, and Jillian is like an old friend!
I know it! I was pretty skeptical as well but man they kick your butt. I toned up really quick after finals and the accompanying weight-gain with the help of that DVD.
ZUMBA!
Adding Bikram!
Bike rides by the lake….
golf….if I can ever get to the course…
I LOVE Bikram but it’s so expensive. :(
Got a great deal through groupon…..
I started to think I was the only one doing ZUMBA… I think it’s amazing! It’s so much fun because it’s not your typical 1 routine you do over and over; they have several moves and the music is really good.
On days that its too late/dark to run outside or go to the gym, I’ve started doing some of the workout videos on Netflix’s streaming video option. I’ll either just stream the video on my laptop or hook it up to my tv with an HDMI cord since I don’t have a fancy tv or Wii or anything like that. So far the 10 minute Yoga is my favorite! It shocked me that a yoga video really got me really sweating and feeling the burn, especially since I’m in pretty good shape (ex-college athlete, currently a 3-5 day a week runner). This way you can try out new fitness videos to find out what you like before committing to buying. (You can also get them through Netflix the old-fashioned way in the mail.)
Same here! I’ve been surprised how good a workout I can get from some of the streaming Pilates videos. My current favorites are by Crunch: Fat-burning Pilates and Pick Your Spot Pilates.
There was an interesting DVD workout series I read about that I wanted to try and now can’t remember. The name was three letters, something like “YSG” or “YPS,” and involved a mix of a couple different practices.
Sorry for the fishing expedition, but if this rings a bell, I would be forever grateful if you could point me in the right direction.
Probably not what you are talking about, but there is a series called P90X. Its a mix of a bunch of types of workouts and crazy difficult.
Ok, quick google search came up with YRG Fitness System. http://www.yrgfitness.com/ I hope that helps!
Thanks!!! I tried a million searches but couldn’t get the combo.
My first post! I’ve been lurking for a couple of weeks and Corporette is definitely now something I browse daily!
In addition to my day job I also teach Yoga. I do about 45 minutes of asana practice every day.
I can recommend Yoga For Stress Relief DVD by Barbara Benagh which has a lot of different practices that you can combine to suit your mood. It really helps to counteract sitting at a desk for long periods of time.
The Yoga Journal website has a number of podcasts and videos you can download which are all around 20 minutes long and aimed at different levels of ability and experience.
I also have several tribal belly dancing dvds which are good fun and really help to loosen up the lower back and hips.
nonA – I know of the YRG workout which is based on Yoga, Pilates, martial arts, strength training, is that the one you eman?
Yes, thanks!
Ten Minute Trainer by Beachbody. It is a series of 5 ten minute workouts that you rotate. I actually stack 2 of them together for a 20 minute workout but the Yoga Flex video is always the second one. I started P90X but the workouts were too long to fit into my dinnertime routine. With Ten Minute Trainer I can get my evening meal prepped and cooking and catch my workout while it is in the oven. This has totally worked for me. The only problem is that I like to workout in the basement and so I have to kick my kiddos off the Wii.
I recently got the fitbit (step counter with many many other features) and I LOVE it. It has me doing quick 5-10 minute walks throughout the day, consistently getting to the gym in the morning, and pacing around while watching tv at night. This little gadget is wonderful.
My favorite fun exercise activity used to be horseback riding until I moved to NYC(much too expensive/hard to get to here to go with any regularity). I usually have to fight with people to get them to believe me, but it’s actually great exercise (“but the horse does all the work! You just sit there.”. No…) and I’ve noticed I’m in such worse shape since I’m not riding regularly (especially my lower half. Great leg workout)
My husband and I went horseback riding on our honeymoon, and omg, I was so sore the next day! I definitely got a newfound respect for folks who do that all the time.
I just got this product (the Complexion Pads), and I’ve been impressed with the results so far. You can look into this if you’re looking to encourage cell turnover – http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=R6z&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=Peter+Roth+complexion+pads&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=rBg1TN37KI2gnQeStdy2Aw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CEEQrQQwAg
I live in the south where it’s 100 and muggy every day (not just during a heat wave). After 9am, it’s pretty much impossible to run outdoors here (even at 10pm with the sun down, it’s still hovering near 100 degrees). I get up early so I can run at 6 right when the sun comes up. I’m usually soaked in sweat after 5 minutes because it’s still over 80 and humid that early, but it’s better than a treadmill. It’s also not that bad if you start with a slow pace and short distance until your body adapts to working in those conditions.
Unfortunately this weather is just horrible if you have asthma. I love going outdoors in the morning too, but I can’t get enough oxygen in when the humidity is so high that I’m wet a minute after I leave the house. I make myself get through the treadmill/elliptical by reading a book because otherwise I find it to be torture!
I have asthma too. It’s normally really mild and exercise-induced but lately I’ve been having a lot of breathing trouble due to the heat/humidity/smog in DC. Do you find that anything helps – inhalers, etc? I am going to see my doctor next week and hopefully she can give me something because I really prefer to walk everywhere even when it’s hot.
you can either have a fast-acting inhaler – albuterol is fairly standard – or one you take daily. most of my family has been suffering from asthma for years, so we’ve gotten pretty good at controlling ours. my mom has bad allergy-induced asthma and has a combination fast-acting/daily inhaler set while i just take a daily one (advair) for my exercise induced. i live in the philly area, so i understand that current heat/humidity issue.
I do P90X. I love it! I’ve never been so strong and confident in all my life.
Does P90X require a lot of space? I’ve been thinking of trying it but don’t know if I could do it in my small apartment.
No, it doesn’t require a lot of space at all. I just move the ottoman away from my couch. I also bought resistance bands instead of weights so that I could store them easier. I did not complete the entire 3 months, but every now and then I’ll put in a video if I don’t make it to the gym, got home too late to make it to a class, or just don’t feel like running on my treadmill. It’s a great set of DVDs to have because each one is unique (but my favorites are plyometrics and yoga). I think at some point I’ll try to complete the whole program again.
I’ve been curious about P90x for a while and just ordered it based on your reccomendations! Can’t wait to try (and have my butt kicked).
Tracy Anderson Mat Workout is amazing!
Yes! I just got her DVDs. The mat workout is great. The cardio is pretty fun, too. I also love that she doesn’t yammer at you the whole time, you just have to watch what she’s doing.
Jari Love–as cheesy as it sounds–has a great get lean workout video. I workout and run regularly and consider myself fit & athletic–but this totally kicks my butt.
My favorite skin care products:
Anything by CellBone, but especially the Hyper Peptides Advanced Line Defense Serum. This really helped my “11’s” disappear. They usually send a bunch of good-sized samples with your order too.
Green Cream is a retinol product that I discovered a few years ago. You have to start slowly and increase the usage and the strength slowly, but it’s worth it. I get it at SkinCareRX when they have a 20% off sale going on.
I’m 44 and have been told numerous times that I look a lot younger, “Not a day over 30” is a frequent comment. You can’t beat that!
I’m in NYC, and the Strong Healthy Woman Boot Camp at Battery Park (http://www.stronghealthywoman.com/) is amazing. When I’m not doing that, I also recommend Jillian’s No More Trouble Zones; it’s the best workout I’ve ever had from a video.