What Workout Should I Try?

Great question from Twitter this morning.  The question is, "Any ideas for something new to take on such as zumba, or crossfit?

When someone is wondering about ideas for a new or different workout routine, I would normally ask them several questions:

1.  What exercise or programs are you currently doing?

This is probably the most important question.  If someone is new to fitness and they want to start with a new routine, getting an idea of what they are doing at the moment guides us into suggestions. 

1 (cont) Have you seen results from a particular program or workout in the past?  Or what didn't give you results?

2.  What are your exercise goals?

Do you want to lose fat?  Do you want to gain muscle?  Do you just want to look good in a swim suit for the beginning of summer (or at least not be horrified when suit shopping). 

3.  What do you enjoy doing? 

This is a vague question but can narrow down your likes/dislikes.  Do you like to workout at home in the privacy of your living room (or garage or basement).  Or some people lack motivation unless in a group class atmosphere at a gym or fitness center. 

4.  What is motivating you in finding something new to try?

This will also give us a direction as to why you want to try something.  Is it out of frustration at previous workouts? Or maybe just bored and want to "spice" it up..

Ok..so by now you're saying, "yay, yay..just get on with it.  What is something new I can try!"

If you are a member of a gym, they should be getting ready to introduce their "SPRING" schedule.  My gym starts a new schedule in April and one of the new classes is Aqua Zumba.  I love Zumba & love the water so this will be something that I'll try.  (I actually had the chance to test this with the instructor as she was learning her routines and it is slower in pace, and incorporates two of my favorite things:  Loud latin music & Water.  I'll post a review after taking some classes.

For a video example of Aqua Zumba check out Workout Page.

Your gym doesn't have a full length pool?  No worries, another very popular program is Zumba.  From their official site, Zumba "...is the Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music, created by Grammy Award-winning producers, and contagious steps to form a "fitness-party" that is downright addictive.

I have a video clip of Zumba on our WORKOUT PAGE.

I have done Zumba workouts and they are amazing.  From 30-75 minutes the time flies by as you work your waist, dance to great music and have fun in a group atmosphere.  Can't dance?  Doesn't matter.  One class I took, there were several people with no rhythm/experience and they indicated after the class that they still had so much fun that they weren't going to miss the next class!  A definite YES from me.

The next workout that is in the news is, CROSSFIT  From their main website their workouts are described as:  "CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide."

Andrew Hyde did a review on his experience with Crossfit and this is what he said:

"...Crossfit is a cross between Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, full body movement in short explosive challenges designed by the middle school gym coach that yelled at the fat kid for not climbing the rope.  It is a community workout of 6 -12 people all completing a ‘challenge’ of the day.  Our last workout we did as many loops of 5 pullups, 10 pushups and 15 ‘air squats’ (think of doing a squat with your tailbone going almost all the way to the ground) in 12 minutes.  I did 8.  So in 12 minutes, I did 40 pullups, 80 pushups and 120 squats.  The pullups are assisted by bands and the squats are assisted by tears. I’m loving the workouts.  Tough, not too tough.  A challenge.  Full body workouts.  Good camaraderie."

I personally have not tried Crossfit.  I know many people that follow a PALEO diet also are involved with Crossfit as they work together well.

Crossfit looks to be similar to a boot camp/INSANITY type of program.  A great overall workout that involves both cardio & strength training.

For a clip of a Crossfit workout check out our Workout Page.
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Of course variety is the key to sticking with any workout program and also seeing long term results.  If you belong to a gym, find workouts that you want to try or continue.  Make yourself a schedule of what times you can workout per week and then find classes that fit into your schedule.  Try Zumba 3-5 days per week, then mix it up with strength classes or Crossfit.  Allow yourself at least 1 or 2 rest days per week, get in 3-5 cardio workouts and 2-3 strength workouts per week.  Remember to allow a muscle group to rest for 24-48 hours in between workouts.  So if you take an Aqua Fitness class on Monday that concentrates on arms, then wait till Wed to work your biceps in strength class. 

Abs you can work every single day...so no excuses on those!

And ask questions!!  Ask your instructor or personal trainer what they recommend for you, or ask me!  I'll answer you and if I don't know the answer then I'll find another instructor that knows the answer.  Don't ever be afraid to ask a dumb workout question.  We're here to help with your health & fitness no matter if your an expert or beginner. 
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What does Teri do?

I get this question alot too.  As an instructor, we have to mix things up all the time too or we don't see results.  What am I doing right now?  Well I play hockey every week (less now that our neighborhood pond is melted), I workout in the pool for 4.5-6 hours per week and then do a mix of P90X & TurboFire.  I take the parts of different workout DVDs, and determine what gives me the best results in the least amount of time.  I actually don't have 8 hrs per day to devote to exercise!  I take strength exercises from P90X and add in intense interval training from TurboFire and then workout in the pool (cuz I love the water) and then play hockey 1-3 hrs per week cuz it's fun. 

Any questions?  post a comment or send us a note: 
teri@body-systems.net

Have a question that I didn't answer then all you have to do is ask it...because there's probably 10 other people that are wanting the answer too!