more intense exercise

Lately I have heard repeatedly from spinning and aerobics instructors that if I work harder, I will burn more calories after I leave their classes.  Initially I was sure this was a ploy - a mental game - one to diminish my mental focus on my physical anguish, and push me to work through the pain.   One week as I expressed my discomfort - which lasted for three long days - after the previous week's workout, my aerobics instructor assured me that my aching muscles simply meant that my body was continuing to burn calories.  I wasn't so sure, but I did like the idea.

Honestly, it just sounded too good to be true, don't you think?  So, I decided that all instructors must have formed a consortium and settled on that explanation to subdue the complaints and not lose attendees.

The article, For an Exercise Afterburn, Intensity May Be the Key, presents a link to a recent study carefully conducted to determine if this "myth" is true.  (Apparently there have been many studies attempting to do the same, but have never had conclusive results.)  The researchers found: "that when studies are done properly (many are not), extra calories are burned in the hours after exercise - but only if subjects exercise at least as hard and long as Dr. Knab's subjects.  And if they exercise even harder, they burn even more calories afterward."

Oh, so cool.  So, tomorrow I have aerobics at 10 a.m.  Usually I dread it a bit, just because it is such a challenging workout, and I am so sore for days afterward.  Now, I am much more motivated to go and workout - even harder.  Wow, how powerful is a little motivating thought like that.

The Price of Freedom and Relaxation

We finally joined the YMCA near our home. We have deliberated for months now, visited a few times, participated in sports programs, and somehow resisted the strong pull from their blatant, hugely tempting advertisement of "free daily child care" in the fantastic kids' play area.

Somewhere during our deliberation, I decided that a membership would be similar - in a very small but very vital way - to my mom or sister living next door. I decided, due to the frequent absence and common exhaustion of my resident husband, that a gym membership is quite possibly a necessity for my (and my family's) mental survival during these years of residency. I requested a membership for Christmas, (I so let my husband off the hook this year!), they gave us a great "scholarship" due to our "low" income, and I am now working a bit from home, so hopefully our monthly budget will continue to support our decision to join.

And, ooooh, now I can honestly say that the two hours of available child care every day is... completely marvelous. My two youngest boys literally hop into the younger kids' play area with wide eyes and great big smiles. every. time. I. take. them. Pounding it out on the treadmill, using weight machines, swimming, spinning, stretching, just a short distance away while they play happily, well... I can't even begin to express my feelings, really.

I wish I had discovered years ago the personal, deep feelings of relaxation mixed with freedom available immediately upon obtaining and regularly using a gym membership (with free child care).

It's only been two weeks though. I read that all gyms experience a huge increase in usage during the month of January each year. We'll see if my current fascination, addiction, and apparent total dependence on my membership continues throughout the year. I hope so, it's so cold outside!