Wedding Blog
I hate the gym. Note, I did not say that I hate exercise. I just hate feeling like a hamster in a wheel, which is how being at the gym makes me feel. I prefer competitive sports like squash or activities like biking that allow me to get from point A to B and see things. I can’t stand the monotony of the gym. The physical aspect isn’t so bad, it’s just staying in one place for at least 30 minutes doing the same motion is NOT at all appealing to me.
Proof that I am not a couch potato! Me and BM Seattle after one of our bike rides.
View from the Ballard Locks, Seattle. The reward of a glorious bike ride.
Therein lies my problem, I would love to to tone up for the wedding, but with winter blues and no outdoor or fun alternatives, it’s hard to get motivated. Mr. Canary has been really devoted to the gym these past couple of months, and he’s always the one who lures me into going. He offers to drive, carries my bag, and waits while I take my sweet time getting ready… even if it’s 9:30 at night.
I’ve also considered taking more classes since I enjoy them more than the elliptical or treadmill (which I’m always paranoid that I’ll slip and fall on my face!) Some of my favorite classes in the past were Urban Rebounding (cardio exercises on a trampoline) and Hip Hop Dance, but none of the gyms in my area offer anything remotely fun like that. But I need to get in better shape!
Today, I also discovered Spark People’s great guide to getting in shape for your dress. My favorite is the demo feature where they show you how to do the exercise (which is great because reading the “how to” instructions makes my head hurt). This may be a good alternative for those nights where I feel like vegging in front of the TV with Grey’s Anatomy and skipping the gym… now I can add a bicep curl routine and watch McDreamy all at once!
But besides all the things I’m already doing, I still feel like I need to pump up my regimen since I’ve only got 8 months left until the wedding. That allows me enough time to adjust without being too aggressive with the workouts.
How have you been staying in shape? Anyone know of any other fun indoor exercise activities that I could get into?
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Could you get some fun workout videos and do them at home? It would almost be like going to a class.
I LOVE SparkPeople. I’ve lost 10-15 pounds on their program since August.
I’ve just discovered the joy of workout DVDs and I’ll be posting about that sometime in the next few weeks. There are some super fun ones out right now, especially hip hop dancing. I would recommend checking out Collage Video (www.collagevideo.com) which is a great site for workout dvds– they do a complete breakdown of each DVD and they have reader reviews.
Also, Buff Brides is a fantastic book with a great six month regimen that combines weight lifting and cardio. It has great reviews online and I’ve found really helpful so far. Tip: it’s a softcover book and won’t stay open while you’re doing the exercises. For $4, I took it to Kinkos and had it turned into a spiral bound book. Now it opens flat and stays open so I can follow along with the exercises.
I used (i will admit I haven’t worked out much since my wedding) DVDs and Exercise on Demand leading up to the wedding. I did Crunch Burn and Firm Pilates with Ellen Barret (available on amazon) 3 times a week, and that was great. It was the perfect mix of toning and cardio.
This is by no means an indoor excercise but it is something that FI and I enjoy doing in the winter…snowshoeing!
Snowshoes now are made of light metals and are very easy to walk/climb with. You get to see a whole new view of things in the winter, and you stay surprisingly warm (I always wind up taking layers off so I dont start sweating).
I know it seems dorky but I swear, it is fun 
kickboxing is really fun! and it burns a ton of calories. you’d probably like it if you’re an active girl!
i’ve wanted to look into doing cardio striptease, but does it really count as working out? has anyone done it before??
I also hate going to gyms and the monotony of all the machines!
Have you tried indoor rock climbing? its really rewarding and definitely a point A to point B activity
Its great for toning your muscles in your back, upper arms and core muscles. But you use your legs too, so its an overall workout.
I’ve been training for half marathons (the Big Sur half is absolutely beautiful), spin, and rock climb (indoors and out). Let me tell you my arms are toned and bufftastic!
i’m pretty unathletic and really hate the gym…i feel a little bad cause my fiance has been really good about going to the gym a few times a week cause he wants to look good for the wedding, but i haven’t done anything!
i’m thinking about signing up for a yoga class…they’re a good way to relax and tone your muscles a little.
you could try taking a ballroom or swing dancing class with mr canary…you’d get some exercise and learn some moves if you dance at your wedding!
How about exercise classes on Demand. If you have Comcast, they offer a variety of classes by Fit TV. They have so many options that you could practically do a different class every day and not get bored.
My fiancee and I are taking ballroom dancing lessons! It is only 1 night a week - but it mixes things up a lot - and it is really fun!
It also will help for our first dance and stuff. We really like it! Maybe you could even going to a salsa club on Friday nights or something!
I’ve also been swimming lately - but it has gotten a lot colder here recently and i haven’t been there in a week….
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Mrs. Canary, New York
Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Journalist/Editor
Engagement Date: February 16, 2007
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Blogging Since: October 19, 2007
Venue: Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers
About Me: I'm a born and raised New Yorker who loves all things crafty and artsy, food (cheese and dessert!), magazines, and shoes. I'm a power shopper always on the lookout for good deals or great quality-- sometimes I'm lucky and I find both! I love to dance and "shake what my momma gave me" but can also really enjoy a quiet night in with Mr. Canary and a good episode of Seinfeld or curl up with a good book.
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