I could have sworn there was a "Fitness" prefix...

[Libramarian]

Anyway I found this fitness program by chance on Lulu, and I just finished week 3 of it today. It's really nice; great variety of exercises, the instructor isn't annoying, and there's no cheesy music. It's just a good workout.

This is a husband and wife team who put up workouts for free on Youtube. The Lulu file is basically just a list of links organizing them into an 8 week fitness program.

The value is pretty incredible--I did the P90x workout program last year, which is 3 months long but only has 12 unique workouts; this little pdf is a small fraction of the price for 2 months of unique workouts every day. They're quite difficult but a little bit less insane than some of the P90x ones. I actually like them better.

In case this needs to be said I'm not affiliated with these people in any way, just thought I would recommend it here.

What's everybody else doing for physical fitness right now?

 

[Morrus]

I just go to the gym two or three times a week and try to watch what I eat. I don't have a specific program.

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Umbran]

I'm trying to watch what I eat. As often as possible, I walk the 2.5 miles to the subway (and back) on my way to work. And, two or three times a week, I go to the local college gym, where there's this nice big indoor track (warm in the winter, cool in the summer) to jog. My primary goal is to be able to do a constant jog for a half-hour. My long-term goal is to get it down to running a 5K in that half hour.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've gone from a daily .8 mile route with 2 rambunctious Border Collies to 1.1 miles with same. Due to routing necessities, the next boost will take us to right to 2 miles.

My arms & knees may not survive.

 

[Bullgrit]

Over the past 3 years I've done P90X (3 times), Insanity (2 times), Body Revolutions, and I'm currently doing JNL Fusion. I write about my results on my blog (http://www.totalbullgrit.com/blog/category/workouts/) and discussed it here on ENWorld (http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?275538-P90x/page5). I lost a total of 45 pounds of fat and put on some pounds of muscle. Plus I just did an obstacle run (Rugged Maniac) yesterday for the first time, (which I'll write about in my blog soon).

Bullgrit

 

[Morrus]

I've gone from a daily .8 mile route with 2 rambunctious Border Collies to 1.1 miles with same. Due to routing necessities, the next boost will take us to right to 2 miles.

My arms & knees may not survive.

Dogs help. Mine does!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

They help...to a point. I've got @90+lbs of dogs going in 1-2 directions at any given time- not necessarily in the direction we're traveling, btw- occasionally quite suddenly and vigorously.

Up & down rolling hills, too.

Sometimes walkies is just 2 dogs dragging me along at a semi-leisurely pace. Sometimes, though, its more like a pre-fight weigh-in if they see some dog(s) they don't like. Or bunnies.

And if it happens multiple times, I can come home with drenched in sweat...and possibly bruised wrists & forearms

Great for the caloric burn, terrible for the reputation of my little furry angel-devils and Border Collies in general. I mean, they're pretty, and people around here would probably love to meet them- they get compliments as we pass, sometimes- but they're so often proclaiming their "wolfy bad-assness" to other canines...

I mean, look at these cuties!

 

[Libramarian]

I just go to the gym two or three times a week and try to watch what I eat. I don't have a specific program.

I like doing programs because I find I do the same amount of work in about half the time compared to when I used to just go to a gym and do some exercising at my own pace. The programs also have a lot more variety in them compared to the relatively small list of exercises stored in my brain. Yesterday I was doing "scarecrows" for a shoulder exercise--never heard of that one before.

I'm trying to watch what I eat. As often as possible, I walk the 2.5 miles to the subway (and back) on my way to work. And, two or three times a week, I go to the local college gym, where there's this nice big indoor track (warm in the winter, cool in the summer) to jog. My primary goal is to be able to do a constant jog for a half-hour. My long-term goal is to get it down to running a 5K in that half hour.

I'd like to do some running this year. I tried last summer but I got some pretty wicked shin splints. I just have to work my way up to longer distances more slowly I guess. It's really frustrating when your leg muscles/joints/tendons give out before you even get a good sweat going. I bet my legs are stronger this year though since a lot of the cardio in P90x and this fitness blender program involves jumping movements.

I've gone from a daily .8 mile route with 2 rambunctious Border Collies to 1.1 miles with same. Due to routing necessities, the next boost will take us to right to 2 miles.

My arms & knees may not survive.

I know what you mean, I have two border collie/labrador crosses The lab half makes them a little bit more relaxed (and chubbier) than pure borders, but they're still quite athletic dogs. Luckily I live near an off-leash dog park so we play fetch for most of their exercise.

Over the past 3 years I've done P90X (3 times), Insanity (2 times), Body Revolutions, and I'm currently doing JNL Fusion. I write about my results on my blog (http://www.totalbullgrit.com/blog/category/workouts/) and discussed it here on ENWorld (http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?275538-P90x/page5). I lost a total of 45 pounds of fat and put on some pounds of muscle. Plus I just did an obstacle run (Rugged Maniac) yesterday for the first time, (which I'll write about in my blog soon).

Bullgrit

Congratulations on your results! Taking a look at your blog I like the sound of the Body Revolutions program, maybe I'll do that one next. 30 or 40 min at a high intensity level sounds good. I liked P90x but some of the routines just seemed stupidly long to me. Especially that yoga one which is like an hour and a half.

 

[Umbran]

I'd like to do some running this year. I tried last summer but I got some pretty wicked shin splints. I just have to work my way up to longer distances more slowly I guess. It's really frustrating when your leg muscles/joints/tendons give out before you even get a good sweat going. I bet my legs are stronger this year though since a lot of the cardio in P90x and this fitness blender program involves jumping movements.

Well, here's a hint for you - "strength" doesn't mean anything. The kind of conditioning you get in training programs like P90X doesn't really help you with running. It is a different use pattern - different use of your muscles, different demands on your heart and lungs. Do not expect those other training programs to help you much with running,e xcept insofar as maybe they help you take off weight, in general.

If you'd like a program that helps you pick up running, I can heartily recommend "Couch to 5K" - that's what got me up to being able to jog along non-stop for a half hour. The expectations it sets are reasonable.