The beginning and end of every exercising routine must be stretches. It's very important that stretches are done before exercises to prevent injury (i.e. pulling or popping your joints and/or muscles due to stiffness). Every morning I like to start of with slow paced, deep stretches that loosen the muscles and relax the joints. I tried Wai Lana Yoga, but, let's just say, some things aren't for everyone. Simple stretches are good enough and I find that it help my weight loss training significantly. It also helps to stretch after exercise, so that the muscles don't get stiff afterwards. All in all, it's good for me because it's helps me to unwind, to prepare for my routine, and for the day ahead |
My favorite part of my routine is aerobics. I love getting up and moving around. I have a 75 song track on my mp3 player just for me to listen to during my aerobic exercises. Running used to be my fav, but I haven't done it lately, so indoor aerobics will have to suffice. This part always makes me break a sweat, and it's really motivational because it makes me feel like I'm making real progress. I get up early (6:45 am) and after my stretches I get pumped up and ready to go. When I was alot bigger, most of my exercises were aerobic. Since then, I've slimmed down and I have to mix and match. Even still this will always be my favorite part of almost every morning. |
The exercises I seem to be having the most trouble with are anaerobic, but mainly abdominal. Crunches really hurt my neck and back, and enough repetitions can put a strain on me that hurts throughout the day. I have an exercise machine (The "Ab Roller") but it really doesn't do much to ease the difficulty, so I decided to put my over-priced contraption in the basement and start fresh. I have a mat that I keep under the bed until it's time for my workout and whenever I need to do a few stretches. I know it's necessary, so instead of giving up, I look for different ways to do my abdominals and target all the areas I want to reach. Putting a pillow under my neck eases the neck pain, and the mat does just fine for my back. I think I may have found a level of comfort (as much as I can anyway) in my routine. |
