New plan.

[Longhorn]

(I should probably number these things! ;) )

I've mentioned my "all or none" personality before. I tend to set my expectations up so high that I can't -- or don't want to -- meet them. I really think this is more of an aspect of my personality than a subconscious desire to sabotage myself, but who knows? :shrug:

Latest case in point: I was going to meet all of my exercise needs by riding my bike to work -- the 12-mile route involves riding five miles on the narrow shoulder of a 65-mph highway; the 17-mile route is very hilly and takes me up to an hour and 45 minutes one way! And while the temps are in the 90's now, there will be days when they are upwards of 100 degrees. The latest kicker is that I got caught in a downpour for the last four miles of my trip TO work, meaning I arrived soaking wet 30 minutes before I had to teach a class. I finally concluded it ain't gonna work!

So I'm back to the elliptical but here's the "new" part: I am NOT going to allow myself to exercise more than 30 minutes a day. This is because I tend to get in there and keep going and going until I've gone 90 minutes -- then the next day, anything less is subpar. So if I don't have time for 90 minutes, guess what? I don't do it at all!

I've got to break myself of this mindset. And yesterday, it actually worked. I only had 20 minutes to exercise. The "old me" would have decided not to do it at all but I was able to convince myself that 20 minutes was better than nothing. And it felt just as good when I was done!

So until I get used to something in between "all or nothing," it's 30 minutes (or less) for me. It sounds like slacking to me -- oops, there I go again! :)

[Katherine Brengle]

1. It's not slacking--

on days when I am only going to do cardio at the gym (1 or 2 days a week at most), I usually do HIIT (high intensity interval training) on the elliptical--after a warm-up (usually about 8 mins for me), I alternate between 25 second "sprints" at a higher resistance level (say, I warm-up at level 1, then go up to 5 or 10 for the sprint) and 60 second brisk walks or jogs back at level 1.

I can't do more than 8-10 intervals before I am tuckered out (which is normal, it is very intense), and then I cool down for a few minutes and hit the showers.

It usually takes about 20 mins altogether, and can be very effective.

I do a little steady state cardio a couple more times a week after lifting, less intense and for 20-30 mins.

You can get a lot out of a short time in the gym if you do a little homework. :)

[Obamanaut]

2. No, it isn't slacking at all.

I make a plan at night for the next gym visit (not necessarily the next day.) In it I have a list of items that I want to do 10 sets of - that's the goal - with some free weight stuff done at home either before or after the gym (could do it all at the gym and get rid of all the iron at home, but that's another story.)

Anyhow, I don't usually make my 10 sets of everything. Yesterday (Friday) I was whining to one of the really 'cut' young men about my inability to make my goal every time, and I was feeling like a slacker (I really used that word.) He asked my age, I told him, he looked me up and down and said 'you're doing just fine, keep it up.'

So, if it works, it isn't slacking at all. Might be less than your plan, but it isn't slacking. You're going to do just fine, keep it up.

[flvegan]

3. Try to change your justification.

I'm a lot like this, too. Numbers. Bigger, better, higher, faster, longer...a constant competition with yourself. Oftentimes, frustrating, but if you learn to manage it (as it appears you're doing now) it can be a great source of drive.

That said, when you only have 20 minutes, change what justifies your workout. So, 90 minutes has to be surpassed. How can you do that in 20 minutes? Maybe your avg speed in the 20 should exceed the 90 minute on. Maybe your target heartrate could be 2 or 3 bpm higher on average for the duration of the workout.

When you have a multiple of numbers, manipulating them towards the goal at hand might help you out.