Monster Fit Club: Check in -week 2

Hi,

Welcome to week two of the "Monster Fit Club Check In". If you have some movies, stories, images that inspire you, send them to me and I will post & credit you here. Post your progress & diet tips over at Mrs. Nightmare's Weblog column.

I see a lot of you joined the Monster fit club, don't forget to post your updates, this is a good way to not only motivate yourself, but also your fellow comment buddies. Like I said before, you don't have to post with your regular username if it makes you uncomfortable. Did everyone consult a doctor? Lets get down to business.

The funny thing about starting starting a workout regimen in the new year is the weather. I don't know about where you live, but there is plenty of snow outside my house right now. I imagine going outside for exercise is not exactly the most appealing activity for someone who hasn't exercised for a while. What you have to remember is that running outside is good for you, but you need to know how to prepare for it. Normally all you need to start a running regimen is a good pair of shoes and a half hour of spare time, this is not that time. Runner's World has tons of tips on how to prepare for winter running & they have some running profiles of your favorite happening celebrities. Now, as far as the actual going goes here is all you need to know: go slow. Running should be fun. I'm not saying running is going to be fun right away, in fact it will most likely will not. The more comfortable you are just going outside and jogging, the better the whole experience will be for you. Don't be afraid to go at your own pace. If your plan is to run a five minute mile, you'll run it when it is time for you to run it.

Another option is to join a gym. Nothing better than exercising next to people who share similar goals. This also has some drawbacks however, since this is the time that most people join gyms. Gyms are as crowded as they are going to be right now. Gym rats are nice, honest people, I bet under most circumstances you can ask the person next to you for fitness advice and they will be more than happy to guide you. Unfortunately, during this time the gym rats are grouchy by having many outsiders come into a place where they spend a big part of their life, so this might not be the best time to ask for this advice. Though this out, look around you, make a game out of this. Have fun. If there are 10 new people at your gym I can guarantee you 5 will not be regulars in march. Work to be one of the 5 that stays. Earn it. There are a couple of things that will make this easier. If you live in a city with many gyms, evaluate them & find the right one for you. Yelp them, go into a gym and tell them you JUST want a one day pass. Don't join right away. There is no point to paying for a full membership if you don't know if you are going to fully take advantage of it. Another thing to remember is to not do too much. You are not at the gym to prove anything, you are there for your health. Ignore the guy yelling at the top of his lungs. Don't exercise so much today, that it's going to impair your ability to exercise tomorrow. Oh, and please wipe your sweat.

You can of course always work out at home. MFC has already covered some ways to stay in shape, but let me go ahead and recommend Netflix, since they have a diverse section of pilates, strength training, aerobics, etc. Find the exercise routine that works for you.

If you have any questions "DM" me or leave a comment. I will see you next week with some fun "apps" & home exercises, until then I will leave you with Mr. Scott

Sincerely,

Yourhighschoolcoach