DozenDiets.com

 Picture from Wrightsville Beach near beautiful Wilmington, NC!

It’s a bit daunting to share “beach” pictures as I am sure most anyone on a diet (or contemplating one )can relate.  Still, it seemed appropRiate since I wanted to share the standard workout I have been doing. First, a disclaimer. I am not a fitness expert nor am I a personal trainer. I am not skinny and I am not the perfect picture of physical fitness. Still, this is what I have been doing and I have noticed moderate gains. It is not too hard and it is fun to me.

If someone reading this sees a major flaw in my work out plan feel free to let me know. Remember though one of the mantras of dozendiets.com is that different things work for different people and it has to be based on what my body likes, what fits my schedule and what I enjoy. I would encourage anyone looking to start a program to think about the following:

• Can I stick with this long term? Meaning, if you kick it at the gym and really hit it hard for a month but are then so burned out you never go back, then you have not improved your situation much. Your workout should be something you can see yourself doing for more than a year (hence the reason I do not, as a rule, work out before work. I am not a morning person)
• Will this work for my current physical condition? Meaning, I weigh 232.0 pounds. I am not going to start training for a marathon. My kness might not make it. If your back is in bad shape, maybe free weights are not for you. If your hips and/or knees hurt, then a non-impact workout like an elliptical trainer should be high on your list.
• Will I enjoy this? Meaning is it reasonably fun to me. Don’t get me wrong, exercise should involve effort and effort is sometimes hard, but it has to be enjoyable. I love to run. I don’t love to swim laps (I like floating in the ocean though). I know swimming laps is GREAT for you, but it holds no allure for me so I will not add it to my plan.

With those few guidelines out of the way, here is my plan:

• I run between 2-3 miles every other day. I want to work up to 3 miles every other day and then eventually 3 miles 5 days a week. That is my goal. I am not there yet.
• I do perfect pushups on their recommended schedule (which is about every other day).
• I do 3 sets of 10 curls (currently using 30 lb dumbbells)
• I do 3 sets of “Planks“. I do 5 reps and I hold each one for 15 seconds (I want to work up to 30 seconds)
• I stretch 2-3 times a day. I don’t think this helps with weight loss, but I feel better about myself when I am more flexible.

There you go. That’s my work out plan. What’s yours” Got suggestions for me? I highly recommend a wicking sort of “technical” t-shirt for working out, but when you are cooling off, check out some dozen diets gear. I’ll add more as the whim strikes me.