Since losing 50 pounds, fitness has become so much more enjoyable than it used to, because I’ve found what I enjoy.
I like to run, if I haven’t mentioned that once or twice.
I like taking fitness classes with friends, like Physique 57.
Once I get my ass out and going, I like working out, most of the time. But sometimes I still have a really, really hard time getting motivated.
If I’m tired or overwhelmed, it is so easy to want to bag a workout; sometimes trying to fit a workout in can just be added stress, honestly.
But every once in a while, I just feel really compelled to workout, rather than doing it because it’s good for me, or because I have a training plan to stick to.
Today was one of those days!
I woke up and checked Twitter from bed like most other days, and saw that people were tweeting that it was really warm. That was all I needed to not put my run off until tonight and get out! (By the way, really warm = 40 degrees. This is relative to the cold snap from this weekend.)
My plan called for a 60-minute run: 8 minutes of comfortable-paced running, 2 minutes of pushing it, repeated for 60 minutes. The first set of 10 minutes, I felt a little rusty as my body warmed up, but somewhere around 15 minutes, when I started listening to the Katy Perry Pandora station (you read this blog for my completely edgy taste in music, right?), I started getting into my run. At one empty patch of the West Side Highway, I may have done a little fist pump. Unclear. If you fist pump, and nobody’s around to see it, did it still happen?
I covered 6.53 miles in that hour, grabbed Dunkin’ Donuts coffee on my way home and went to work so high on endorphins.
My new favorite yoga instructor was teaching tonight. I won’t be able to make it to her class on Thursday so I really wanted to go tonight…so I did.
Two-a-days for the win? Go ahead and frame this post because this probably won’t happen again for a while.
Do you ever work out twice in one day? What kind of workouts do you do when you do this? I think (from my highly qualified background as a former overweight girl who still has to push herself to work out sometimes) two-a-days probably work best if you pair an easy workout with a more intense workout, like running and yoga, or running and lifting.
Lately I’ve been combining TurboFire and marathon training :)So most days I have a Turbo workout and a run!
I workout twice aday most of the time. People consider me crazy, but I love working out since it helped lose 113 pounds. I usually do weight lifting class plus a cardio class like a Spin class or a Zumba class. I also run once in awhile. I have done a few 5K but I will start training for my first half marathon in October. I have found a new passion.
I did a two a day once. Kickboxing class in the morning, easy rollerblading path around a park that evening. The next day my legs felt dead. Lesson learned.
Awesome workout! I also did a two-a-day today! 4x1000m in the AM and a spin class at Revolve tonight. Legs were beat and I was nervous but the spin class definitely helped stretch them out! I think I will also being Refine Method on days I have easy runs! Trying to step it up this round 🙂 🙂
I love this post! I too have been known to succumb to the occasional running fist pump if the music moves me. 😉 Regarding two-a-days: if you have the energy to burn, I say go for it. It makes up for those days when you aren’t feeling it so much.
I love two a days! Typically I do run + yoga or spin + strength training, something that balances out. When I start work in the fall, I think I’ll always have alternate workouts for the evenings when I get out at a reasonable hour (law firm life is very unpredictable so I have no idea when I’ll be leaving most days). Being able to take an evening yoga class is such a great capstone to a day!
I think that is how I injured myself 2 years ago training for my first half – did trx one night and speed work next morning. Last weekend I hurt my foot I have plantar fasciitis, i do physique 57 4-5 days a week with running 3-4 days (training for a pr in march). I don’t know how many more 2 a days are in my future, but I do love them honestly. I’m jealous of your yoga kick I need more yoga in my life. I should do the west side highway for a change. If you see a crazy blonde girl running in the park as you fly by me saying ur blog rocks don’t be alarmed lol.
@Tricia: @Tricia: @Tricia: just realized I made a comment similar to this last night – duh sorry -I’m blinded by my foot pain. Sorry about that!
If I get the motivation, I will work out twice in one day, but those days are far and few between 🙂 I love that you did a fist pump on your run – I do that all the time!
@Abbie: precisely 🙂 It rarely happens that I feel that motivated, so I take advantage of that!
Wow 50lbs. Congrats. That is amazing. I don’t know you but I am super inspired and excited for you.
I too definitely need to be in the right mood, but I think today’s the day! It’s wet and grey here in Boston, but my run this morning was awesome and I’m planning to get in some easy cross training at the gym tonight too. If my body would let me I’d totally go for another run, but I don’t want to tempt fate when I’ve got a 10 mile race in a month, and my second half marathon a month and a half after that!
I just started doing a few two a days recently, running (or some other cardio) and then yoga. It’s not something I can see myself doing all the time, but for right now it’s working out pretty well. I have to be really motivated though.
I’m a sucker for two-a-days! usually means a running and strength workout for me. I like doing them separately.
I do two workouts all the time. Run during lunch and usually a strength workout twice a week either after or before work (most likely after, I hate mornings). Sometimes I run twice a day to get more miles in =).
This week has been my first week of two-a-days as I am trying to take advantage of my gym before it closes at the end of next week and I’ll be forced to travel further. I have been doing one cardio and one strength/stretching session each day. Got to keep the balance. Such a good idea to grab a coffee on the way home, although I am usually so dehydrated. i know you’ve probably mentioned it before but do you run with water?
You go girl!
I do two-a-day workouts about 3-4 times per week. I like to get my workout done for the day, so when I wake up, I do an at-home workout… usually Insanity. Then, after sitting at a desk all day I like to get a little sweat session on before going home and sitting some more (need more hobbies obvs!)… so I’ll walk, or do running intervals or another easy workout like the elliptical. I sometimes have to be careful that I’m not working out too much based on my calorie range (still trying to lose weight).. so I think ordering a HRM is in order 🙂
Good for you! Here’s a logistics question – do you wake up in the morning with potentially enough time to work out if the mood strikes you, or did you happen to wake up early today?
@Meghan: HAHAAHHAHA. You’re obviously new here 🙂 I am the WORST with the snooze button. I always plan to work out in the am, but usually end up snoozing through them lately :-/
I bringing doubles back too. This morning I did a strength workout and tonight I will run. I am going to attempt to either do weights or yoga in the morning and run at night. I LOVE to workout when I actually make the effort to get off my buns and do it.
i hardly ever do two-a-days because i lose motivation in the evening, but i like to do a class and then run right after.
that morning post-run feeling? the best thing ever.
@skinnyrunner: I would def do that, too, if my schedule were more flexible.
I got out with the “warm” weather as well. You just can’t sleep through it – especially when we (Indiana) are going back to single digits in the morning. Blerg. I sometimes do two-a-days, usually once or twice a week. I like them. Plus, it gives me something to do after the toddler goes down at 7 p.m.
I’m fist-pumping right now cheering for your 2/day.
My senior year in high school the rules changed–schools in the conference were allowed 2/days. I don’t know how I made it through that season of hard workouts before and after school.
It’s awesome that you cross-train. Working out twice a day is a great way to relieve stress. Sometimes, I go for a run in the morning and then a brisk walk later in the day to revamp myself. Or, I run and then do an ab workout in the afternoon. Feels great to be in shape!
When I was doing ballet all the time, I would take a 2 mile morning walk before work, go to ballet (and sometimes rehearsal after) and come home and use a stationary bike. I wouldn’t use any real resistance, but still. I was OBSESSED. Now, if I do more than one thing a day, it’s a morning run and ballet in the evening, but I only do it once a week or so.
I’ve done two a days quite a few times, but like you said pairing something harder with something lighter. Only safe way to make it work. Unless you’re training for an IronMan or some madness like that. Haha!
I love the super motivated workout days! I had a headache ALL day today and had to cancel my workout so I could go home and take a nap and relax. My schedule tomorrow had shifted but I was debating a two-a-day tomorrow (lifting in the morning and running in the afternoon). With the change, i’ll just do it all at once but there’s something kind of motivating and crazy fun about a two-a-day once and awhile. 🙂
I did get out for a run two days ago when it almost 70 degrees here in Raleigh, but yesterday it was even warmer and I just couldn’t motivate. I hardly ever exercise twice a day, but when I do it’s such a boost to my mood and my life!
I’m glad to know other people get into their music while running too. I was definitely doing a little mini-dance at a stoplight yesterday and realized it was definitely 5:00 and I wasn’t at all alone on the road. I only cared a little…I also love mouthing songs while I run. I get very into that as well. I hope it makes someone driving by happy.
I did a 2 a day on my bday. 2800yd swim in the morning (it was my 28th) and “Friday Night Yoga” (hot yoga) in the afternoon. Fridays are usually my rest days, so that 8am Pilates class on Saturday was a bit more tiring than normal! Mostly, I don’t like to do morning workouts because I always plan for them, but then stay up too late watching things like Doctor Who and then cannot get myself up in the morning.
I do 2 a days a lot too! Bootcamp in the morning, running or spinning or yoga at night. With it being freezing here as of late, my AM workouts don’t usually happen – so once it warms up a bit, I’ll be back to doubling up. Sometimes on the weekends I get extra inspired though! like everyone else said, it’s balance and knowing your body.