Is 3 weeks worth doing?

Oishii
Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I enjoy and miss lifting, having done a few months of SL when my pre-schooler was a newborn. I have 3 weeks when I could go to the gym and put my son in the crèche a few mornings a week, but once the summer holidays hit and my eldest is off school, I'd have to stop as my eldest is too old for crèche and too young for the gym. I am very tempted because I know I would enjoy it, but if I have to stop after 3 weeks, is there any point?

Or, should I try to get into a body weight strength routine so that I can keep it up year-round? I have Convict Conditioning set up on Fitocracy or the strength exercises on the wii that I could do, I just find them a lot less rewarding than lifting.

Replies

  • Carol_
    Carol_ Posts: 469 Member
    If you opt for the 3 weeks and learn as much as u can..there should be something u can do at home...after that to fit in ur everyday life.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    Carol_ wrote: »
    If you opt for the 3 weeks and learn as much as u can..there should be something u can do at home...after that to fit in ur everyday life.

    Not really with SL, as I would need all the equipment and a spotter to do it at home. I considered building a home gym in a shed, but without a spotter I'd be too scared to do low-rep weights.
  • ummyasminah
    ummyasminah Posts: 95 Member
    I think it's worth it -- 3 weeks may not be the longest but it helps your body refresh its memory of proper lifting form. I would go for it and then do bodyweight exercises when you have to start working out at home again. You'll be more motivated to maintain the strength that you gained in those 3 weeks!
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    Is there any point in doing something you enjoy? What other reason do you even need?

    Feeling really sad to stop? (Pathetic, I know...)
    ummyasminah wrote: »
    I think it's worth it -- 3 weeks may not be the longest but it helps your body refresh its memory of proper lifting form. I would go for it and then do bodyweight exercises when you have to start working out at home again. You'll be more motivated to maintain the strength that you gained in those 3 weeks!

    I like this way of seeing it. Thanks.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    I would find a routine that works with your kids. The more distracted you get by other things, the less likely this is to happen (at least in my experience). I would spend these weeks looking for something that will be doable on the long run, i.e. in the next 6 months for example. Are you a single parent? Can't you get anyone to babysit e.g. twice per week to lift without distractions? Are there any classes you can do with the kids? Or a class for your oldest, so you can still go to the gym once school is over?
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    We plan on running as a family. I work part time and my parents have the little one for half the week while I work, so all my 'baby-sitting' is used up by that. We are pretty active as a family, and I don't drive so we get a lot of walking in, but it's the strength exercise I'm missing out on. I want to up my cardio fitness again, but I have all the tools for that already.
  • hhazzouri
    hhazzouri Posts: 103 Member
    Oishii wrote: »
    Carol_ wrote: »
    If you opt for the 3 weeks and learn as much as u can..there should be something u can do at home...after that to fit in ur everyday life.

    Not really with SL, as I would need all the equipment and a spotter to do it at home. I considered building a home gym in a shed, but without a spotter I'd be too scared to do low-rep weights.



    Power rack with safety bars eliminates the need for a spotter, not sure you can set one up in a shed though.
  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    do it for 3 weeks and then find another mom/dad/nanny to swap childcare with so you can keep it up. and they could do something they love too.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    edited May 2016
    Well....are you set on doing SL or are you open to starting a different program you can do on your own at home? Something with weights that you're good with doing by yourself? There are a lot of programs out there....

    My usual gym schedule is going to fall apart once school is over, so I ordered Dumbbells and I'm going to get a bench and make the best of it at home. No way I'm giving it up!
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    hhazzouri wrote: »
    Power rack with safety bars eliminates the need for a spotter, not sure you can set one up in a shed though.

    some of the guys on bodybuilding.com have their home gyms in their sheds. i guess it just depends on the shed.
  • feisty_bucket
    feisty_bucket Posts: 1,047 Member
    hhazzouri wrote: »
    Power rack with safety bars eliminates the need for a spotter, not sure you can set one up in a shed though.

    Yeah, good suggestion here. As an intermediate step, you could get some adjustable dumbbells and something to do pullups on, and get a ton of benefit from that too.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    It depends on what makes it"worthwhile" to YOU. Obviously you won't see massive strength gains, so if that's what matters, no. Iif doing something you enjoy and has a small phydical benefit makes it worthwhile to "you" then yes, do it.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Oishii wrote: »
    We plan on running as a family. I work part time and my parents have the little one for half the week while I work, so all my 'baby-sitting' is used up by that. We are pretty active as a family, and I don't drive so we get a lot of walking in, but it's the strength exercise I'm missing out on. I want to up my cardio fitness again, but I have all the tools for that already.

    I mostly exercise after work. If you pick schedules just before/after work, maybe you can talk your parents into keeping the little one(s) a bit longer and/or adjust your work schedule to allow for it.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Oishii wrote: »
    We plan on running as a family. I work part time and my parents have the little one for half the week while I work, so all my 'baby-sitting' is used up by that. We are pretty active as a family, and I don't drive so we get a lot of walking in, but it's the strength exercise I'm missing out on. I want to up my cardio fitness again, but I have all the tools for that already.

    Is there a reason the kids cannot spend a couple of evenings with their dad so you can go to the gym then?
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    feisty_bucket wrote: »
    hhazzouri wrote: »
    Power rack with safety bars eliminates the need for a spotter, not sure you can set one up in a shed though.

    Yeah, good suggestion here. As an intermediate step, you could get some adjustable dumbbells and something to do pullups on, and get a ton of benefit from that too.

    Dumbbells would be good as I'm sure my husband would use them too and I wouldn't be as scared of dropping them on myself! I might see what Fitocracy has as dumbbell routines. I would still want whole body, I think.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    Oishii wrote: »
    We plan on running as a family. I work part time and my parents have the little one for half the week while I work, so all my 'baby-sitting' is used up by that. We are pretty active as a family, and I don't drive so we get a lot of walking in, but it's the strength exercise I'm missing out on. I want to up my cardio fitness again, but I have all the tools for that already.

    Is there a reason the kids cannot spend a couple of evenings with their dad so you can go to the gym then?

    He doesn't finish at a reliable time and as I don't drive it would be a long time away each evening, when there's stuff to do like cook, etc.

    In 2-3 years time my youngest will be in school and I plan to stay part time so I can join the gym properly again then.
  • ryangreve
    ryangreve Posts: 3 Member
    I picked up a set of PowerBlock dumbbells and an inexpensive bench. The Dumbbells are adjustable in 2.5lb increments (except for 12.5 lbs and the 10 lb increments above that). Basic set is 50 lbs. each side. I have 4 dumbbell specific workouts I rotate through that cover the whole body. Only hangup I have found is something to work the hamstrings. In retrospect I should have picked a bench with the leg curl/extension attachment. Otherwise it is a pretty sweet setup and I don't have to travel to the gym (or pay a membership)

Categories