Simple Cross Training

jrose1982

I'm planning a vacation in June that will involve a lot of walking (probably several hours a day).
To prepare for this, I'm gonna start the 24-week training program recommended for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. The program includes moderate cross-training twice a week.

Now, I realize this might be a stupid question, but I'm not entirely clear on what is cross-training. And I haven't figured out how to work it into my life. I'm using this definition: Any activity that increases your heart rate and involves using your whole body qualifies as cross-training. By that definition, I'm sure I've done cross-training before, just not by design.

I've found that planning my exercise is a recipe for failure. Instead I find success by giving myself room to do things spontaneously or by working exercise into my life in small ways (walking to work, taking the stairs, etc.) I realize that this is going to make it extremely difficult to stick with a training program, but it is what it is.

So, I'm not likely to succeed by taking a class (too easy for me to skip, I constantly change my plans last-minute). I'm not likely to succeed by doing any program that requires a gym (going to a gym requires packing gym clothes or going home first to get them; this has always been my fail point on gym memberships in the past).

I could be successful with programs that I do at home, provided they don't require much equipment. I was thinking I might be able to use Wii Fit exercises but I'd like some opinions on that. I've never been real thrilled with Wii Fit in the past, it's not very challenging especially when it comes to getting my heart rate up. It's just too easy to slow down between exercises. The advantage is that I can do it in my pajamas first thing out of bed, or sometime in the evening. No prep before-hand.

I don't want to spend a bunch of money on workout DVD's. But I'd be willing to buy one really good one.

I could also be successful with programs that I could transform from a simple walk. Like walk for X minutes, do X squats, run for X seconds, etc. Has anybody seen anything like this? I live near some fantastic pedestrian/bike trails. I need to also consider the snow and ice for outdoor stuff, I live in Anchorage.

Swimming is also an option, though a difficult one. I love swimming almost enough to overcome my spontaneity and there's a high school pool just 1/2 mile from my house (and it's open lap-swim schedule corresponds to the cross-train days on the training program).

Thoughts? What I'll do is pick some options and set things up so when I feel like "I'm gonna do this" there's no prep work.

cwolfman13

I'm assuming the foundation of the program is walking...so cross training would be anything like swimming, doing the elliptical, riding your bike, etc.