Go Hard or Something Is Better Than Nothing

Selfie of my daughter and me at the Y yesterday

My daughter (Terra) and I have two different approaches to working out. She, being a former personal trainer, has been on me for years to train harder. She even suggested that I get one of those gadgets that monitors your heart rate and do heart rate training. Her philosophy to working out is go hard or stay home. No pain, no gain! It drives her crazy when she sees me reading a book while I'm on the treadmill. She has often asked me if I'm not going to give it all I got why bother? She pushes herself hard in the gym. She has only gotten off track when she has kids. She has three children and had to work hard to take off the weight and get back in shape after having each one. Her youngest is two and now she back to hitting the gym hard again. She works out 2-3 hours a day! She has lost 80-100 lbs three times, so her go hard approach definitely work for her. 

I believe when it comes to exercise something is better than nothing. I would rather do 20 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical (my favorite) while reading a book than do nothing at all. I would rather go for a swim or walk than jog or run and you will never see me doing triathlons or crossfit! It is good to work up a sweat, but I don't want to injure myself and get out of commission for weeks at a time which is what I often see with people who have the go hard philosophy. My objective is to avoid pain, not create it! 

Terra gave a great example of her go hard vs just showing up philosophy. She said she often does a boxing class with a friend and they chat most of the time while they workout. Her friend couldn't make it to class the other day, so she took her 15 year old daughter to spar with at the gym. She said they worked out so hard she could barely breathe and she even got a blood blister and broke two nails! I told her that was probably due to her daughter having a perfect opportunity to take out her frustration for every no she has given her. What teen wouldn't like the opportunity to take out their frustrations on their parents in a safe and fun way! Terra said she is sore everywhere and feels like she got in a really good workout that was worth her investment of time and money. 

If I did a workout like that I wouldn't be able to move the next day. Several years ago. I made the mistake of letting Terra be my personal trainer. She had me doing so many squats and lunges, I could barely sit on the toilet for a week! 

I think in the end it all boils down to what works for you. Could I stand to step up my workout some? Probably so. The new WIFI enabled cardio equipment at the gym makes it easier because now I can listen to my favorite podcasts while I workout. Hey, it's progress! 

Kathy G

www.time2getfit.com