Returning to college in 13 days- routine tips needed!

NotJustADieter

And I want to not only increase my fitness and weight loss, but also get stronger and improve. I have a graded yoga class 3x a week. So I can promise I’ll absolutely be doing that. Which is great for flexibility, mental health, etc., but I want more. So here are my goals:

I want to start hitting my 10k step goal DAILY. We’ll see what I average out walking to class, but I hope to increase that to 15k step goal by October. I have a fitbit flex that I wear religiously.

I want to start lifting heavy. Like… serious powerlifting. I already lift, but my bench and squat are really pitiful, I don't deadlift and my local gym isn't really equipped for heavy lifting. Plus it is expensive so screw that. My college gym is free and is equipped for this, plus I have a few bodybuilder and powerlifting friends who want to help in exchange for me doing laundry and cleaning their rooms (which I want to do anyways because their messes make me twitchy). Tuesdays and Thursdays are non-yoga days but also are super intense class days, so I am considering lifting in the gym before my yoga classes. The gym is mostly empty that early, so I won’t be uncomfortable, plus it’ll be good for me to have a forced stretch after lifting. Because I want to get STRONG. Is that a good idea to have the yoga class right after lifting? Or should I try it on Tuesday/Thursday instead?

If I'm not lifting on the TT, and instead am lifting before my morning yoga class (it's at 10:50 if you want the exact time) should I work out those days? Or do they become "rest days" that I should only count my walking on? My step count should be higher those days as I'll be walking all around campus for my classes.

Maybe trying to do weekend zumba classes? Or will that be exhausting? I want to do SOMETHING on the weekends, though. Probably run. Because my campus has a 5k and even though I finish it walking every year, this time I want to at least jog it.

And most importantly- I will do my best to keep on eating clean! Because that dining hall dessert table is hella tempting.

Any advice? Comments? It's all appreciated.

laceynwilliams

If your yoga class is stretching-based, I think it would be perfect after lifting. You're supposed to stretch after lifts anyway, so lifting in the hour before yoga sounds perfect. For a more intense, strength-based yoga class, I'm not as sure. Maybe try it for a couple days and see how your body feels?

NotJustADieter

It's like a yoga 100, PE-requirement filling sort of class. So more stretching. It's designed for college students who need to fill the PE credit but don't like outside (aka, me).

rmdaly

I'm a planner. And from your description, you are too. I would recommend writing down at the beginning of the week what you plan to do and either circle it if you completed it or cross it off if you didn't. At the end of the week, look at what worked and what didn't and see if you can make modifications for the next week. As weeks progress, you might see a pattern. For example, there might be certain days or times when you just don't exercise.

Be careful about doing too much and getting too tired. When I get tired, its much harder to resist the deserts.

Good luck and have fun at college. Make some friends in the weight room.

NotJustADieter

Yeah, I'm a pretty hardcore planner. Have to be- I have anxiety and having a routine helps with it a lot. I like your ideas though- I'll absolutely do the crossing off and circling. It's fantastic!