I need a nap!

Today I pushed myself so hard on a work-out! I used no weights, only my body weight. It was as hard as running a full marathon!

I did 400 burpees (if you don't know what burpees are, you can google it). It was made up of a variety of burpees: single-leg burpees, side knee tuck burpees, sumo burpees, roll-over burpees, frog burpees, pull-up burpees, knee raise burpees, step-up burpees, 1/2 burpee jump over, and 2x jump lunge and tap push-up burpees. Phew! If you don't think you can get a good burn at home...give this workout a shot. Make sure I'm there when you 'fess up to the fact that you indeed CAN get a great workout at home.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I quit the gym about 6 months ago. It was a great decision for me!

I've always loved the gym. I have belonged to many over the years...always made sure I belonged to one (or, at one time, two). I met my husband at the gym. I like to sweat. And love to push to the limits.

Pushing myself to the limits is the reason I quit. I found I was stuck in a rut at the gym. If the gym works for you then I wouldn't suggest you leave it behind like I did. However, if you find yourself doing the same lifts. The same days of the week. The same speed and distance on the treadmill. Then get out and give something else a try...or at least supplement with some variety. Or else you are bound to fall into the rut I was stuck in.

I worked HARD at the gym. Spent hours at a time there. But, I wasn't seeing "great" results. I lost a little weight. I would 'up' my weights. But I didn't see the changes I was wanting.

Now I am at home. I'm challenging my body in ways I never have before. If you move all your body parts, a full-body workout, you use every muscle in your body.

Because my burpees today were a variety of the standard exercise, I was able to work everything...and work it, I did.

A couple of months ago I was on a business trip and went to the hotel exercise room to get in a quick workout. I ran on the treadmill for a few miles and decided to pick up some dumbbells for a quick bicep and tricep lift. This was the first time in 4 months that I "lifted" (although, I'd been "lifting" all along...with my body weight or my self-made sandbag). I was kind of excited about lifting, since I've always carried the "gym rat" title with pride. And so I started...bent my knees, kept my back straight, shoulders down, chest up, stomach in, and lifted the free weights. 1...2...3...4...5...6...all the way to 15. (yawn) Maybe I didn't use enough weight, I had improved my strength by performing crazy amounts of push-ups, dips and pull-ups over the past months. I picked up a heavier weight and began the process again. 1...2...3...4...5...6...all the way to 15. (yawn) Not because I was tired...but because I was bored. Sure it was harder this go-round, with the extra weight. But I didn't feel the range of motion I do when performing body-weight exercises.

I realized at that moment that I would not go back to the gym as my only source of working out. I may join a gym again, some day, for the social part of it. I don't think I will ever HAVE to go back for the fitness aspect.

Now, about that nap...