Let's Get Serious

I was at the gym the other day, and lately I've done a few treadmill workouts instead of my normal HIIT workouts on a bike at the gym.  No real reason, sometimes it was because "my" bikes at the gym were being used, sometimes it was to spend more time with my wife while she did her treadmill workout, sometimes it was just for variety.  When I am on the treadmill, my workouts are never as intense, though I do my best to make them more than just going for a walk.  Because they are less intense, I get the chance to watch others around me working out. This is a good thing.

It's good because it encourages me.  I love seeing people out there going for it.  I especially love watching the folks running on treadmills especially, partly because it's cool to see them working hard and seeing how some run with such ease.  The other reason is jealousy that I can't run (knee issues) sometimes.  (just being honest).  It's also good because I see people that are seriously trying to get in shape and become healthier.  I see some of the less healthy and overweight people doing their best to move well.  Sometimes my initial reaction is to think about the very overweight that are there negatively.  My wife, in her infinite wisdom, brought up the point once that when we see an obese person, we never know if they've lost 30 pounds already, and are headed in the right direction.  So true, and so humbling to think of it that way.

Some of what I see at the gym though seems like people wasting their time.  I see them walking on a treadmill, and able to carry on conversations with their friend next to them without ever losing their breath.  Now I understand, as I try to see it from the other side, that they are still exercising, still burning calories, and enjoying the benefits of social relationships (which are part of a wellness lifestyle).  However, some of these same people that I know, wonder why they're not getting anywhere with their exercise.  When they come to me and ask why they're struggling with losing weight, I encourage them to get a bit more serious.  I encourage them to not just casually walk on the treadmill, but make it tougher.  To get anything out of cardio work, you have to have times where you're working hard enough that you can't carry on a conversation with someone. You can do that by increasing the incline.  That's what I do.  I bump up the incline for "x" amount of time, then bring it back down for recovery.  This way you create intervals that increase your cardio output and then recover actively. It's the simplest way to make your cardio workouts tough enough to make a difference.  It just takes getting a little more serious about how you spend your time in the gym.

So, if you're struggling with losing weight, take a look at the intensity of your cardio workouts.  Increase the intensity (with the approval of your health care provider if needed) to a level that makes you work hard enough to be unable to carry on conversations.  Do it in intervals and watch how your cardiovascular capacity improves, and how you burn more calories and melt some inches off!

Until next time....Be Well!
Dr. Bruce