All or Nothing: How About a Realistic Workout Schedule?
All or Nothing: How About a Realistic Workout Schedule?
by Charlotte Siems
Which would work better?
Short workouts 4-5 days per week or one long workout every other week?
Why would anybody do only one long workout every other week? Easy. They tell themselves that they need to do a 45-minute workout, and then they keep putting it off until they “have time.”
It’s sort of an all-or-nothing mindset. They think that if they’re going to exercise it needs to be the Big Kahuna or they’re not really doing any good.
Consistent short workouts beat sporadic long workouts hands-down.
You may start to lose core strength in two weeks, so staying consistent keeps you strong and moving forward. The key is making sure that those short workouts really count for something by activating muscle and moving mindfully.
Perfection is overrated, in life and in exercise. Having unrealistic expectations of yourself just keeps you discouraged.
Disclaimer: Some people spend a lot of time working out in the gym or otherwise, and they enjoy it or feel driven to do so. I don’t happen to be one of them, and I’m speaking for the rest of us. My only claim to give advice is having lost 100 pounds and kept it off for years.
Figure out what a realistic schedule looks like for you. I’m not advocating being slothful or making excuses, mind you. But realistic takes into consideration your current season of life, your responsibilities, your health and so on. Realistic walks that line between pushing yourself and hurting yourself.
Realistic means telling yourself the truth about what you’ll really do, what you’ll realistically be able to do with your current circumstances.
How about a realistic commitment? Let’s say….a short workout Monday through Friday. For the average person, weekdays have a little more consistent schedule. Here are some short T-Tapp workout options to choose from:
Basic Workout Plus (try Tempo Basic, Total Workout versions, too)
The Basic Workout portion of: Tempo Arms, Tempo Torso, Tempo Lower Body, Ladybug (and maybe add a move or two)
Step Away the Inches
Step It to the Max (20 minutes today, 20 minutes tomorrow)
Total Workout, Lunges to Runner’s Stretch
Total Workout, Arms to Lawnmowers
MORE
MORE Chair plus MORE Step Away
MORE Chair plus MORE Broom
MORE Broom plus MORE Step Away
TappCore
Not to mention a variety of floorwork (you can do sections at a time)
I’m sure you can think of your own combinations to keep it interesting. Your body and your brain can benefit from mixing it up here and there.
This has been a big key to consistency for me over the past four-plus years. Keeping it realistic and doable, but not babying myself too much or giving in to excuses too often. Pay attention to mental burnout. Short workouts can help with that, too.
Instead of all-or-nothing, think “some.” Be realistic, including not slacking off when you could do more. Over time you’ll look and feel better with your steady “some” than your mostly nothing!
How do you keep your schedule realistic? Leave a comment below!
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 Charlotte Siems is a home-maker, home manager, T-Tapp Trainer, teacher, speaker and author. Her story of losing over 100 pounds with T-Tapp has encouraged thousands of people all over the world. She specializes in making home management and T-Tapp “doable” for real people and real life. She is happy to be a wife and mother of twelve children whom she has successfully taught at home for 25 years. |
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What I love about TTapp (one of the many things) is that I can have a sense of accomplishing something in a short time and actually see results quickly. I don’t ever have to feel compelled like “I need to do more” because I’ve learned that it is better to do a little, but do it WELL instead of alot for longer. This latter is too stressful because when is “enough” really enough? The “longer” just doesn’t happen with homeschooling 6 children, one of whom has recently recovered from autism!
This concept has been so important to me mentally as I have always been a “more is more” perfectionist, driven type of person who had a hard time feeling I ever “did enough” and would beat myself up mentally, never seeing any thing I did accomplish. It’s such a blessing to be set free from this painful type of thinking.
TTapp has been healing to my mind as well as my body. Less, done well and to the best of my ability, really IS more…it’s not just a slogan. It spills over into every area of my life. This has been such a blessing because I can model this healthy thinking for my children.
Thanks for the great and insightful post.
Thank you, Charlotte. Very good advice. I can definitely see how doing even just 5 minutes, every day, would help me stay on track and be more motivated, rather than a 15 min workout every 2 weeks. I’ll certainly try to get a little in each day from this point on.
Great post, Charlotte! And SO true!
I have you to thank for helping me to see about splitting up TWO–that has worked for me!
80% of my workouts have been shorter ones–it works! 😉
Thanks again for a great post!
~Trisch
Great tips, and thanks for the reminders! : )