Hubby (who is 9.5 years younger than me) and I go together and try to get between 5-6 sessions a week. We joined the gym about 2 months ago and found that it's not only helped our health, but also enhanced our relationship. And going to the gym instead of home gives us motivation to go as we don't want to waste that money (about $30/month for both of us).
Our routine right now is about 60 minutes of cardio and circuit training. We'll change it up again in 30 days to keep our bodies "guessing" and responding better:
Sat, Mon, Wed: Approx. 30 min. on lower body (2 sets of 10 at max. weight I can handle) and abs (1-2 sets of 20), resting no more than 90 secs between sets, then 30 min. on the treadmill.
The 30 min. on the treadmill includes walking, changing speeds up and down throughout to the beat of the music on my mp3 player, and increase/decrease incline settings, sometimes taking small steps, sometimes taking long, near lunging steps (I have a bad knee and can't do full lunges). I get my heart rate up, then down, and start again.
Sun, Tue, Thu: approx. 30 min. on upper body (max. weight, 2 sets of 10), then 30 min. on the treadmill (same as above).
How do we fit it into our busy work schedules? We're quasi-empty nesters as my kids are grown, and his young teenage kids live in California. So we have a little more time than those with young children at home. We go right after we both get home from work, come home and shower, eat dinner, then we have about 2 hours before bed.
Personally, I really push myself to have good form and concentrate on my core while exercising, choose the heaviest weight I can handle, and pretend I'm 25 all over again while doing it! HA! That puts my mindset in a "young" and "I can really do this!" mode. It seems to help -- mind over matter. And I don't care what anyone thinks of me at the gym. I'm making progress, feel good about myself, and one day they're going to look at me and say, "WOW! She sure has done well! Just look at her!" There's a woman who is I'd say around 70 and she looks FABULOUS! You can tell she has self-confidence by keeping herself in shape.
Please feel free to ask any other questions you might have. Good luck and GO YOU!
FITWORTHY 11/26/07 6:29 A
Your story is very inspirational! What type of workouts do you do and how long is each session?
THELADYK 11/24/07 7:17 A
I just wanted to post that since I started on SP 5 months ago, I've lost 22 lbs so far, exercise 5-6 times per week, and feel better than I have in years! My hubby (who is 9.5 years younger than me) is also working out and has lost 20 lbs (to his goal weight) and tells me I look and act younger and have more energy to keep up with him! Ha! I feel terrific, look pretty doggone good, and have a totally different outlook on things! I'm more positive, laugh more, and folks around me seem to respond better! Hey! I'm liking this! Maybe in 6 more months I'll feel and look like a 30 year old! HA!HA! My goal is to turn the clock back a bit, and it seems to be working! WOOHOO!
