Lately, the boy and I have been talking about getting out more — out to dinner, out to concerts, out for walks — just out. We are basically limited to the weekends since weekdays are hectic and we both like to get in a good workout after work. Fridays are that rare hybrid day – we worked a full day and are tired, but it is also a weekend.
On most Fridays, we make plans to go to the gym or to go to dinner or to go to the gym and then go to dinner. None of these things happen. Instead, we are too tired to workout. But we rest, with the idea of going to gym in our minds, and wait to see if we can muster up the energy. We can’t. By the time we make the decision that we are way too tired to get ourselves to the gym, we also realize it is late and we are too tired to go to dinner. Then we feel guilty about not working out and we don’t get to go out to dinner. A double whammy. Bad feelings all around. Well not completely bad, we do get to relax in pajamas!
We were figuring out when to go out to dinner at Blockheads this weekend, as part of our plan to go out to dinner once a week. I have plans on Saturday, so I mentioned that I could do Friday or Sunday. Then I started thinking about last Friday when we had Blockheads in mind but toyed with the idea of going to the gym first, and ended up doing neither. Then I started thinking about how much I DON’T want to go to the gym on Friday at all – any Friday. The thought of it alone wears me out. I don’t want the responsibility, I don’t want the guilt.
A light bulb lit up next to my head.
I said, “Let’s not go to the gym on Fridays anymore. We are both so tired and rarely make it there, but we still talk as if we will go and then we lose a night out to dinner. Let’s just plan to not go on Fridays. If we are very tired, we can rest and lounge around without any feelings of guilt, because we never planned to workout in the first place. And if we aren’t feeling too tired, we can go out to dinner and not feel like we’re missing a day of exercise for it, since once again, we weren’t planning on exercising anyway!”
To my surprise and delight, the boy immediately agreed and thought it was a great plan.
Thus, No Workout Fridays has been established!
And I must say, what a relief! It’s pretty unhealthy to even have these feelings of guilt in the first place, but we both have them and I think No Workout Fridays will be a wonderful relief for both of us.
30 Day Shred Challenge
I flipped out last night when I realized I didn’t bring a cord I needed to connect the DVD player to the cable box. I have it at home and I can bring it tonight and hopefully this is all that is left to finally set this thing up — but I already feel so delayed with my Shred challenge and I just wanted to do it already! Sure, I could wait another day, but I didn’t want to! I want to do the challenge when I have the support and knowledge of the other wonderful ladies doing it with me — and if it wasn’t for Caitlin organizing this challenge, I never would have done the Shred in the first place!
But, there was nothing I could do. Until the second light bulb lit up next to my head!
Remembering that Caitlin had mentioned something about people with Comcast getting the Shred for free, and remembering that we have the Exercise TV channel, I jumped out of bed, ran to the TV, put on Exercise TV on Demand, read through all the options (WOW, so many exercise videos on there – who knew!) and — ta-da — the Jillian Michaels section. In this section was the 30 Day Shred. For free. No DVD player needed.
I don’t regret buying the DVD because I never would have figured this out without my attempts to set it up, but it is so good to know – and a great resource for other workouts! So many of them were quick ones too. This is great! So for all those with Time Warner, check it out! The Exercise TV website also has some workouts you can do as well. So in a way I am glad I had the DVD player struggles or I might never have known about this fantastic resource. I’m still going to try to hook up the DVD player though — just in case!
On Saturday, the boy and I once again have registered to spin at SoulCycle. We always try to get into the 10:45 AM class and it is always filled up, so this week I was on the site the very second registration opened up — and it was already booked! How?? My guess is that a lot of people have some kind of permanent sign-up for this class already and there are never any available slots. The teacher for that class is a very popular one, so it could make sense. I will have to inquire. Oh, well. We are going at 11:45 instead. I will give my review next week!
Last night I loved the spin class I took at my gym. We did so many jumps, attacks and hills that it never got boring — and my heart rate got up to 199 without me feeling that I was going to pass out. It happened effortlessly, due to the nature of the class. That is so much better than when I force myself to work harder on my own because it really happened naturally. The teacher really makes such a huge difference with the overall experience. I left the class feeling great.
Another thing I loved last night was the first Butternut Squash that I ever cooked — and I just have to say, why did my mom never make this for me! It was delicious! Sweet and tasty and I devoured it! I remember being given vegetables that weren’t quite so tasty. (Sorry, mom!) I ate half last night and saved the other half for tomorrow night. I used canned at lunch today, and will give my status report on how I did on Thursday or Friday.
Lastly, I surpassed my record for unique visitors yesterday! I set a goal for myself, hoping to meet it sometime in March, and went 95 visits ABOVE that goal yesterday! A big thanks to everyone who reads this — I need some kind of motivation to even bother, and you give it to me.
20 comments on Lightbulb Ideas: No Workout Fridays & Shred on Demand
1Pingbacks & Trackbacks on Lightbulb Ideas: No Workout Fridays & Shred on Demand
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[…] Workout Friday: I thoroughly enjoyed my very first No Workout Friday! Delicious dinner ordered in from Josie’s (Blockheads didn’t happen, the boy was sick), […]
Kelly Turner
March 10, 2009 at 1:37 pm (16 years ago)you always gotta make your workout fit into your schedule, not the other way around. no workout fridays sound awesome to me!
Mallory
March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm (16 years ago)You had a great night last night!!! I can’t wait to hear about Soul Cycle…you have been trying to do it for so long!
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)
March 10, 2009 at 2:29 pm (16 years ago)yay for no workout fridays! you figured out something wasn’t working and adjusted your plans accordingly (bc you know the def of crazy is trying to do the same thing over when it KEEPS not working …). plus, i love blockheads, and you gotta do what you gotta do to make it fit in your sched!
sara
March 10, 2009 at 2:52 pm (16 years ago)SUCH a good idea about Friday. Being realistic is SO much less stressful. Let me know about soul cycle and go you on the uniques! I’m jealous!
Sara
http://eatfabinnyc.wordpress.com
Danielle
March 10, 2009 at 2:54 pm (16 years ago)I have declared Mondays my no workout day. I love it, I come home Monday and do not feel guilty about not going. My gym is so empty on Friday nights I don’t mind going but it would be nice to end the workweek and not feel pressured to go.
Victoria
March 10, 2009 at 3:08 pm (16 years ago)Brilliant! Friday is my no workout day too, for much the same reasons.
Maggie
March 10, 2009 at 3:25 pm (16 years ago)This is a great idea. You could even take a walk instead of working out – maybe pick somewhere far away to eat at and walk there. You make me want to try spin, but I’m always worried that I won’t like it. Next time I join a gym maybe I’ll try it though.
Definitely check out the other on demand workouts – I like “The Firm: Cardio Dance” but you have to do it at least once or twice to understand the moves – the first time it’s a bit confusing and probably not a good workout because you’re just trying to keep up with her… but now I have it pretty much memorized and I always break a nice sweat. It’s only 25 minutes but it’s a great short workout.
Dori
March 10, 2009 at 3:44 pm (16 years ago)Maggie, that walking to dinner idea is GREAT! I’m excited for warmer weather!
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)
March 10, 2009 at 3:33 pm (16 years ago)I have the hardest time with going out on Fridays…by the end of the week, all I want to do is veg! Therefore, I think no-workout Fridays sounds like a great plan.
So glad you’re loving spin AND butternut squash. I really hope it doesn’t bother your tummy b/c it’s so delicious.
Hooray for unique visitors.:)
matthew
March 10, 2009 at 4:06 pm (16 years ago)How did the squash make you feel? Was it ok?
Missy
March 10, 2009 at 4:59 pm (16 years ago)Yum enjoy Blockheads!!! Great idea for Fridays! I am the same way…always way too tired to workout on Fridays! I need to try butternut squash now! I hope you belly is okay from it!!
Jen, a priorfatgirl
March 11, 2009 at 8:59 am (16 years ago)SCORE on the reader count! WAHOO!!! I’m still jealous about your free 30 days shred on time warner!
YEAH FOR NO WORKOUT FRIDAY’S!! I have the same thing actually, but on Thursdays. I have school until 10pm, but for the first 3 months, I would pack bag of gym close and tell myself I was going to the gym after school. And every thursday after school, I would be so tired and just want to go home. But I would feel so guilty and it was so much more of an emotional thing then it should have been. Then I made No Workout Thursday’s and love it!
Mariposa
March 12, 2009 at 11:08 am (16 years ago)we visit because we love ya!
that is cool about the visitors- congrats!
and congrats on choosing to have a no workout friday!
gina (fitnessista)
March 12, 2009 at 12:31 pm (16 years ago)happy first bnut squash!!!! they’re delicious huh??
and hooray for no workout fridays 😀 great idea for a rest day
have a great day!
Tanya
March 15, 2009 at 1:16 pm (16 years ago)Ever since I discovered Exercise TV I’ve been hooked. I love the 30 Day Shred and like you I got the DVD first, but I’m still happy I can have it either on my laptop or Exercise TV.
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