moving from the gym to outside exercises

[MissTrudy]

Recently, I started exercising more frequently and I am LOVING IT. I've always dreaded exercise since I was a child but not any longer. It's helping me get over a break-up, I'm channeling my anger/stress/etc about my research into it, I'm bonding with my friends through it, and I need to get in shape for the two months that I will be living on tropical islands, so there's some practicality to it as well

 

So far I've been in the gym and doing zumba. I am aiming for 6 days a week, 40 min - 1 hour each of those days, but it's complicated by the fact that I am really busy so I sometimes can't make it to zumba and on those days I go to the gym, but sometimes I can't motivate myself to go there either (because I go from work and have to make sure I have everything with me, if I am having an especially bad day at work I just wanna go home and sleep, etc). I think doing some at home exercises or running would help for those types of days but it's really hard to enjoy it outside, which is weird because I am very outdoorsy. The weather where I'm at is beautiful so that's not a problem. I'll go outside for a run and within 5 minutes I want to call it quits, whereas in the gym I can do the elliptical nonstop for 15 min, at a speed of about 3mph. Has anyone else found it hard to go from the gym to outside or vice versa?

 

I am glad that I found something that seems to work for me but I want to keep expanding my horizons and finding new things that I love. Maybe I wasn't meant to run, which is fine. I don't really like biking that much either. Walking is fine but I am looking for more intense types of workouts, ideally ones that I could do solo.

[Emilia]

I'll go outside for a run and within 5 minutes I want to call it quits, whereas in the gym I can do the elliptical nonstop for 15 min, at a speed of about 3mph.

You are not fit and strong enough. Running outside on hard surface you don't get the same support and bounce that you would on a treadmill. Elliptical does very little for fitness, ditto for Zumba. You need to start running, interval training, etc.

[MissTrudy]

You are not fit and strong enough. Running outside on hard surface you don't get the same support and bounce that you would on a treadmill. Elliptical does very little for fitness, ditto for Zumba. You need to start running, interval training, etc.

 

Hmm, well I know that hard surfaces impact you differently, but I feel like wearing the right foot wear will help solve some of that problem. I've had ankle problems in the past so I am very anal about shoes that I wear when exercising. I've only started approaching exercise with more force recently so I may just need to keep at it and no give up. Maybe running just isn't for me, given the ankle problems I have had?

 

I definitely feel more "fit" doing zumba and the elliptical, my endurance during cardio has improved a lot. I think one reason I like the elliptical (I don't do the treadmill) is because it is low impact on my joints. I definitely go all out on it and work up a sweat.

[Emilia]

Hmm, well I know that hard surfaces impact you differently, but I feel like wearing the right foot wear will help solve some of that problem. I've had ankle problems in the past so I am very anal about shoes that I wear when exercising. I've only started approaching exercise with more force recently so I may just need to keep at it and no give up. Maybe running just isn't for me, given the ankle problems I have had?

 

I definitely feel more "fit" doing zumba and the elliptical, my endurance during cardio has improved a lot. I think one reason I like the elliptical (I don't do the treadmill) is because it is low impact on my joints. I definitely go all out on it and work up a sweat.

If impact is an issue, then running isn't for you. Perhaps you could try swimming or cycling. They are both low impact.

[dichotomy]

So its joint pain?

 

Running outside is much different than on a treadmil - harder. With the right treadmill and right shoes you can minimize impact over running outside.

 

Also there is nothing wrong with 5 min run - walk interval training - it is actually better on joints then running for long distances.

 

If you have any hills near you - you might try running running up and walking down in 2-5 min intervals.

 

Also nothing wrong with speed walking.

Edited February 26, 2014 by dichotomy

[MissTrudy]

i do like cycling/swimming, i should get my bike fixed and start riding it again.

 

regarding the hills training-can i walk up the hills and run down?!?!? :lmao::lmao: haha no in all seriousness, thanks for all of the good ideas Emilia and dichotomy!!

[pink_sugar]

Have you considered dancing?

[MissTrudy]

Have you considered dancing?

 

I have not considered it seriously, mostly because I am horribly uncoordinated and I have bad (not traumatizing, just bad) memories from childhood of people (my own relatives included) laughing at my inability to dance. I can laugh at myself now about it, but I find it to be embarrassing still.