Bring on the bubble-wrap.
Fri, Mar 18, 2011
The question I’m most frequently asked is whether I really practice what I preach on my blog.
Tweets.
Comments.
Podcast comments.
It seems the collective you wonder if my move. every day. something. optimally 30 minutes. day in and out. year in and out. until death. philosophy is something to which I actually adhere.
It seems the collective you see blog posts such as this, where I talk about consistency being key & not the amount of exercise done, and feel called to email & lovingly inquire if that’s really what I do.
Im here today to say it is.
Im here today to say it is what’s gotten me where I am today.
I dont believe in spending hours exercising (Im a huge fan of fitting exercise into our lives not fitting our *lives* around exercise)—-even if that means, as it was for me, weight-loss is slow & steady not fast & furious.
(Reason #784547 why I wasnt a fit for this gig.)
I believe fits & starts with exercise & healthy living are bad for our bodies.
Our physical states and our mental states.
HELL YES more exercise will get you lean & mean more rapidly.
If youre this misfit, however, you wont maintain said higher levels & the resulting feelings of failure are not worth it.
What’s my point in this rather muddled, MizFit-muzings filled post?
I want you to join me.
I want you to make today the day you start to view your life through the lens of how might I make every action I take a little more active & a little more healthy? (hello fitness-breaks not coffee breaks! greetings pacing while talking on the phone!)
I want you to make today the day you commit to perhaps doing less than you’re currently doing if your routine is one you know (in your heart of hearts) you cannot maintain for the life-long haul.
I want you to make today the day you join me in PLAYouts & in-the-name-of-fun calorie burning & maybe…just perhaps…skip the gym all together.
I want you to make today the day you join me in shouting:
BRING ON THE BUBBLE-WRAP!
(if youre joining via a reader theres a 19 second video above)
What do you say—are you in?
Tags: creative cardio, Exercise, moderation, no fits & starts
and 
Ahhhh…the pure, unadulterated joy of bubblewrap cardio!!
In the past month-ish, I haven’t been doing my traditional kickboxing and kettlebell combo because of some tendonitis in my right shoulder and elbow. I decided to take a whole month off from those activities and in the beginning I was a little worried…I had visions of gaining 25 pounds and turning into a lump. That didn’t happen. And it’s because I embraced your philosophy and did what I could, plus I’m getting got some fantastic physical therapy. I started back to some more serious training a couple of weeks ago and was thrilled to realize that I hadn’t “lost it.” I am working with a new trainer and she said that I am “advanced.” Woot!
I find it really hard to consider something a work out if I am not in the gym.
I’m trying!
For yoU:)
I hadn’t thought about it in these terms but my adherence to planned workouts is fear based.
I know what happens to my body if I Zumba and I don’t know what happens if I active play with my boys.
I guess that is a little sad.
Hmmmm… at the moment, I’m training for a 100km charity walk (“Trailwalker”), so I really am walking some CRAZY distances (70-90km a week, anyone?) as my regular exercise.
Thing is, I know this is not sustainable. I also know that my body is going to need a period of serious rest and recovery afterwards. So part of my getting-ready-for-Trailwalker mental work involved figuring out what I want to do afterwards. Maybe it’ll be resting a couple of weeks and then starting to look at run-walking a half-marathon. Maybe it’ll just be getting back to the gym and some group fitness or weights work for a bit.
I’m not sure yet… but one thing I *do* know is that I don’t want to lose all the benefits of moving I’ve been blessed with experiencing as I’ve been training for Trailwalker.
Your “consistency is key” message has been a big influence on me, and helped me get to where i am today, but there’s always room for improvement
Miz!!
I think I get it now. I was one of the ones who emailed you and said that I didn’t think 30 minutes a day ‘forever’ (as you say) is enough.
I tend toward 50 or 75 minutes six days a week and have done this for a year now.
Suddenly with work and the boys I am too busy for my regular running group and have gone from that to no workouts.
I get it now.
Hi MizFit,
I am a new reader (amazing before and after!!).
I found you accidentally when searching for something else.
I learned what you say about consistency the hard way at school last year and am trying to find a way to not exercise too much and still lose weight.
I did running and Body Pump every day for 2 semesters and lost 60 pounds and when I went home last simmer and had to work I couldn’t spend two hours at the gym and got depressed and ate.
I wonder if it would even work to do so little and try to lose weight again?
My problem is this summer I have to work and won’t have a couple of hours in the morning for the gym like I do at school.
yes. yes it could and would work. a little is a lot.
Hilarious video.
I want in your family!!
Love your message and THAT VIDEO. Pure joy
Love said video.
Watched it twice and 13 yr. old son even peeked and smiled at the Tornado.
Love your philosophy….
MANY THOUGHTS Oh early morning peeps**, but first it’s breakfast making duty.
**I know. for so many of you it is mid-day or nighttime. that glass of wine and a couch DOES sound alluring. you know who you are
Hells yes!
I recently made myself a plan to do a certain amount of exercise each week, and it’s fun to be able to see that progress as the week goes on.
Love the PLAY-OUTS with bubble wrap!
YES YES YES! Every time I leave the gym after 30 minutes I think, If its good enough for Miz, its good enough for me! Well, not those exact words, but you know what I mean.
And what a lucky Tornado to have TWO parents like you guys.
YES YES YES!!! Every time I leave the gym after 30 minutes, I think, ‘well, Miz says it is enough.’
And what a lucky Tornado to have TWO parents like you guys!
Love the bubblewrap cardio!!!
My fear is what if I do less and get fatter??
You know, when I was training clients and encouraged them to do this (and less than they thought they could do on any given day to keep their minds and bodies wanting MORE and coming back
) I always reminded them they could return to what they’d been doing!
For so many of us the PAIN WE KNOW IS BETTER THAN THAT WE DONT and we (I?
) stay stuck in old habits for that reason if no other.
You can always go back—but Id encourage you to give it a try.
Bubble Wrap cardio looks cool. Has anyone considered bubble wrap yoga?
ooooh BoGa. I like.
AbsoLUTEly in! Totally agree with the philosophy. It works for me, too. Fitness should be an every day part of our lives and not something we do at the gym!
I’m happy if I do 10 minutes of stretching or Yoga EVERY day rather than trying to force myself to add another class to my already crazy schedule. And it feels good, because the next day I’m liable to do 20 minutes. And so on.
I always have my long bike rides or hikes. But it’s the consistency of SOMETHING every day and throughout the day that I think is going to reshape my body.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I LOVE THIS POST! I am one of those who always lives in a state of overwhelmed, even if I have less to do than everybody else. ??? Methinks I think I fly by the seat of my pants too much! So my plan has been 30 minutes. If I’m struggling with that it’s simple movements before each meal. So, you have really, REALLY blessed me today!!!!
BTW~I must be gullible and naive. It never even crossed my mind to question if you actually do what you say you do! LOL!
1) The Tornado’s laugh is INFECTIOUS!! I giggled just watching that
2) I LOVE that you posted this on a day after I didn’t do any ‘specific’ exercise. I was musing to myself last night that my bodybugg was reading a calorie burn of 2300+ calories when I didn’t ‘go for a run’ or ‘teach a class’. All I had done was go out to the field for work (as opposed to sit in my chair…*sigh*) and then go for a nice walk and spend a lot of time on my feet with the boy’s kiddos.
It’s interesting…and I kinda like the idea of being more active and viewing it as moving and grooving rather than “exercise”
Loved that video! It reminds me of my mom sending care packages to my son at college. He told he once how much fun he and friends were having with the bubble wrap. So now she “sends him bubble wrap” but still sticks the treats in.
Love that video. I’m kind of surprised you get asked that.
Perfect timing for this, funny thing, I’m starting the Firm Express for a month. When I got it and saw the plan I was freaked out briefly because it was so much less than I’m used to. Should be interesting.
I am so happy to see this post and know that I am not alone in my crazy
I started working out for an hour a day and when I hit a weight-loss plateau (I need to lose about 70 more pounds) I went up to 90 minutes a day.
I hit another plateau recently and already am struggling to get in a 90 minute workout and feared I needed to do 2 hours a day to lose weight.
I am not ready for only 30 minutes (I think you can do that as you are maintaining?), but may back off to a more manageable 45 minutes a day and just wait out of plateau.
Thank you.
The thing I took away from this post? That a 5 year old is a 5 year old is a 5 year old. My 5 year old would have done the EXACT same thing as the Tornado in this clip!! Down to the hilarious laughing at the end. I love the total unabashed showing-offedness of 5 year old girls!!
And I’m trying so so SO hard to be okay with “30 minutes a day will get me there” thinking. I want it all and I want it NOW!! But slow and steady wins the race, right?
I like to think of this as “Bubble Wrap Wind Sprints” as that jaunt down the hall got my heart going…
Love the video! And I love the message of this post! We are such a land of extremes. It seems like people either don’t move at all, or they spend hours in the gym and let their workouts run their lives.
I know I let the gym run my life for a while there. I had to go every day, spend at least an hour, and would never miss my gym workouts no matter what. It wasn’t healthy - neither for my body nor my mind. Today, I’m in a much better place. I still move 30 minutes a day (sometimes more if I feel like it, and it fits into my day). I’ve finally learned to listen to my body and do what makes me feel best (and not injure and re-injure myself…).
I have some bubble wrap and a hallway. The toddler and I are going to have some fun today!
This is what I take away: there isn’t a magic number right for everyone,its about finding what works for you and then being consistent with it.YES! 30minutes works in the MizFit world,but the number and level and even activity will vary by person. If you can ask yourself: “can I do this forever” and the answer is “yes!” then go for it,even if your number is 38.
If you currently workout MORE doing something you love and crave and enjoy (let’s say-running for pleasure) then find your sustainable running level and be consistent. I have a guest post up right now talking about the same thing,consistency.
Can’t view the video on my phone,but will be back because I miss that silly girl and your whole sweet family. See you soon!
If you can ask yourself: “can I do this forever” and the answer is “yes!” then go for it,even if your number is 38.
COMPLETELY.
some people have lives which afford them 2 hrs of exercise a day and they can maintain this time-slot/freedom forever—and love every moment of it.
KEEP AT IT! Id say.
because we all need to find what works for us as fitness (all together now
) isnt about fitting in.
You know what I do? Two to three times per day I switch on some pumping music and just dance all out for 5 minutes. I love how free it makes me feel!
But now I definitely have to get me some bubble wrap!
Bubble wrap high knees - now that would make me want to do high knees!!! Very fun video - even Paco perked up at the Tornado’s laughter.
Over the past 6 months my fitness routine has done a huge turnaround. Some days I feel really guilty for not having a regular weight routine anymore, but other days? I’m ok with doing it in fits and starts. As usual, you’ve given me things to think about…
That fits with my ‘some is better than none’ philosophy. If I have time & energy for a longer, harder workout, great. What’s not good is when I do nothing at all because I can’t do the ‘longer/harder’. So if the big workout is just not going to happen, I aim for the small workout. That way, most days I am at least getting some activity in.
I want to go out and buy bubble wrap RIGHT NOW.
Fitness isn’t something to “fit in”. Fitness should be something to “crave”. I do crave it, but you are right - I need to make my life the priority and fitness will remain, because I love it.
Biking to school today! Silly wind almost made me drive, but hey - extra resistance!
I love this philosophy! I still find myself trying to fit in more exercise because I feel I need it. However, do believe in that everyone needs to do what works for them, find what they can stick to, and be consistent. I love the bubble wrap idea! Any other fun ideas like that to incorporate more family physical activity with 3 young kids?
Alas! I tried to reply to college girl and give her a boost about this summer. But. It could be that the carnivorous blog monster is eating only my comments. boo.
But, I do love this philosophy. I am trying to ascribe to it. I’m getting there.
I adore this!!
Simple and easy and fun.
I know when I started my weight loss journey I was all about 30 mins of exercise a day faithfully. These days though I’ve realized with a family of 5 every other day of longer workouts is easier for me. I really have tried to incorporated more daily moving though. That bubble wrap run down the hall looked mighty fun *grin*. Good post Mizfit!
I’m IN!!!!
Bubble wrap = pure joy. Oh, if only they made bubble wrap treadmills.
Carla, I never doubted you & like I write all the time - you teach by example.
LOVE THAT VIDEO!!!! I want to do that!!!! I need bubble wrap!
For the first time in many years…I go to my gym everyday…whether I have time for 90 (not too often) or 30 (You had me at 30) I am down almost 20 and not eating emotionally at all. Now if only we could get some bubble wrap in herre!
Shabbat shalom.
I’m in! My biggest shift this year has been finally learning that it is possible (and even worthwhile!) to workout at home rather than ‘having’ to go to the gym everyday. This has been a major shift; it’s allowed me to spend more quality time with my daughter (she tries hard at moving my 24kg kettlebell - she’s 16 months!), and I’ve saved loads of time in travel plus not having to use the gym creche. Plus, I think I’m actually training harder than I sometimes do at the gym! And, most importantly, it’s put me in a mindset of movement everyday; no excuses.
And even MORE importantly your daughter is seeing exercise as natural part of life - not something separate. I have a friend whose daughter at 3-year would do sit-ups, wall sits etc just from hanging out with her Mum. There was no pressure but she just absorbed that the way other kids absorb the message the TV = snacking
If only I had been such an informed, intelligent parent ……
I love this post! I love the comments! I’ve said this before: my idea of exercise and “working out” has definitely evolved over time and I’m benefitting from keeping an open mind and trying new things.
I have never doubted that you practice what you preach…… I hope that I can become more like you in the near future…. I’m working on it.. but I let myself give in to the forces around me… Im working on that too….. I will win!!!
Love your philosophy~ making exercise fit your life. You inspire so many with a positive, realistic, anyone-can attitude. Love the vid and love you!
Love the bubble wrap (and your philosophy). I knew there was a reason I saved all that packing material (and subscribe to your blog).
I wish my personal trainer had the same philosophy as you. When I was going last year the amount of exercise was so much I quickly burnt out and stopped doing any exercise.
I think the idea of doing a small amounts of activity that are fun and I enjoy (which means I’ll keep doing it) is one I can stick to.
My kids (14 & 16) wanted cookies. So we WALKED to the store (1/2 hour each way) and I think we worked our abs more than anything giggling at all sorts of silly stuff we all did. Great way to get excersize in for the whole family. Well, all except the daddy, who stayed home to watch tv. At least I’ve infected the kids.:)
I love bubble wrap! So much fun! I usually pop it with my hands but I like how you roll.
I find I’m motivated by either racing (goals, achievements, beating my time, being better, pushing myself further, etc) or fun (bike rides outside, trapeze lessons, hikes, etc). When it’s that period of the year where there’s not all the much fun to be had (read: winter) because usually fun = outside for me and I’m not race training, I get really BLEH about working out. And apparently, this made me just start pre-training too early (read: a week or two after I stopped my 10 month stint of actual race training) and I’m pretty sure that helped my back go out.
Next time - I’ll try to go the fun route. The back is almost all better, but let me tell you, there are much better ways to take a vacation from training.
I’d love to see what you do with those foam peanuts.
Winks & Smiles,
Wifey
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