Some thoughts on workouts...

Because I have my own studio, I rarely work out with other people around.  While I was away, I went to the gym with my son and did my thing with other people in the room.  All of a sudden, I was remembering things I had forgotten.

Like, I didn’t comb my hair.

Intellectually, I know there is absolutely no point to combing my hair before going to the gym to get sweaty and gross.  But then I met a friendly lady also working out.  She was wearing a coordinated workout outfit.  I had to go through the whole thing in my head about what is important, what is doable, what works.

Other people may have different math for this issue, or, possibly, it is not an issue for them at all.  If so, those folks can go read something else.  Anyone with similar issues may find my math useful as one approach to the problem.

Here are my workout priorities.

1.     I have to be actually willing to do it.  That means it can’t be too much work just to get there.  This is why I don’t comb my hair and why I often sleep in workout clothes so I can just get up and go.

2.     The clothes have to be comfortable and functional.  For me, this means that I do wear “real” workout clothes rather than whatever t-shirt is on top because I prefer not having soaking cotton on my body.  I am lucky because I wear workout clothes for work, so that doesn’t mean buying more clothes, but even if I did not do this kind of work, I would now have actual workout clothes.

3.     The clothes have to be cute enough.  My bar for cute enough is extremely low.  I believe all pants should be black.  This makes matching easier and it makes me slightly less likely to wince when I look in the mirror and see my own butt.

4.     At last!  I’m finally ready to work out!  For the workout itself, the first priority is that I have to get sweaty and/or out of breath.  Sweaty would cover it entirely, except I also swim and when I do that, sweat isn’t so noticeable.

5.     I have to be tired and a little sore at the end.  This works whether it is a cardio or strength workout.  With strength workouts, the soreness probably should last into the next day or so.

6.     I have to stretch.  It’s better if I also take the time to do myofascial work on the roller or tune-up balls.  In any case, something that makes my body parts move better later.

7.     Ignore the rest.  This is the hardest part.  What that guy over there is doing doesn’t matter.  That girl with the adorable hair?  Not me, not my business.  I have to do my workout, not anyone else’s.

What are yours?