Poll: What form of exercise do you prefer?
Our last poll
In December we discussed the reasons for why we eat nutritiously and stay active. No shocker with the results there: 68% of us do it for the combined benefit of being healthy and feeling/looking great! 20% like to treat their bodies well primarily for aesthetic reasons with the added bonus of a healthier body, and just 12% do it specifically as a preventative against health problems. Really makes you think about where our priorities lie in this society.
January’s Poll
(I know. I’m late with this one. My bad).
As complained about noted in the past, the weather has a huge effect on our health. When the wind is knocking down the decorative trees on the river skating path, that’s a good indicator to me that I’m going to be sitting down for the evening and not moving from my couch. Probably accompanied by a bottle of wine and whatever food I can scrounge from my pantry (having not gone shopping since the last warm day, of course. Venture outside for fresh produce? Too much effort!).
My cardio has really been suffering. Ever since I started wearing a pedometer every day I have been doing great with getting in lots of steps, but many of those are from pacing around indoors as opposed to spending time outside. Moreover, I haven’t been doing much in the way of variety when it comes to my cardio activity; too cold to go out dancing or skating and I just don’t have it in me to be a winter biker. All of this has led to me gaining a real appreciation for strength training.
I have to credit boot camp for teaching me the beauty of strength training, but even without boot camp to keep me motivated, I’ve been able to keep it up a fair amount. You all rock for keeping me accountable with the 100 Reps Challenge! At the moment I’m following the strength training program suggested in The New Rules of Lifting for Women (and yes, there will be a review of this book in the future!), and I love the feeling of my muscles getting stronger. A year ago I wasn’t all that interested in strength training; now, I see that there’s real value and enjoyment in it.
I stretch as well, but not nearly as much as I ought to. So I’m going to start including a session of yoga a couple times a week in my planner to ensure that I do it- I am so much more likely to follow through with a plan if it’s written down and I get the satisfaction of checking it off once it’s completed.
So the question this month is: Between aerobic, anaerobic, and flexibility exercise, what is your favourite? Even though I now understand why some people are so obsessed with strength training, cardio is still my favourite. It’s my “me time” to reflect and write (anyone else do their best writing in their head when there’s no paper or computer available?). After an hour of just about any kind of cardio activity I am beaming and feel absolutely fantastic.
Answer the poll and then expand upon your answer in the comments! Why is it your favourite? Which is your least favourite? How has your preferred type of exercise affected your body? I’m fascinated by the changes I see when I start favouring one form of exercise over another. You?
[polldaddy poll=1333115]
Ha…I love being the first person voting on a poll! Makes me feel like my answer was THE BeST!…even though, I know that’s not the point of a poll, blah blah…MY answer RULES!
I love strength training. LOVE circuit style strengthening.
btw–I totally write better without computer or paper in tow..but can you really call that writing? I mean i guess it all comes from your head at one point…um, I think I’m going off on a tangent here..have a good day!
weightsweightsIRONIRONweights 🙂
Cardio all the way. I like to burn all the calories off to maintain my weight. Plus its easier to do something else to distract you from the fact you’re exercising – watch a DVD whilst on the exercise bike etc. Plus I feel less guilty for watching rubbish on DVD as I’m doing some healthy at the same time. And I find it much easier to keep going at a low level than to exert the effort required for strength training.
I like the feel of jogging or walking outside – back to nature and all that. Although foiled by the snow today – its below freezing outside and snow showers on and off, don’t think I can face it!
Cardio! I’d rather spend 2 hours running than 15 minutes lifting. But, I understand the importance of strength training so I’ll slog through it!
I addressed this issue in my recent video post 🙂 I’m a yogi/strength-trainer.
Honestly, I prefer variety. I want to do everything and sometimes I can make myself a bit crazy worrying about what exercise I should be doing vs. what I want to do…I find that stretching & flexibility will often take a back seat because I feel like I should be getting my cardio & strength training.
Right now I am trying to take a step back and let go of worrying about what I “should” be doing, and think about exercising to make myself feel good. In the end, that’s what it’s all about anyway, right?
I love strength training! Get that HR up and go! I do also enjoy a run to clear the mind!
I like to mix it up, though I find cardio to be the best for head-clearing purposes. There’s nothing like the “good” sore from a great strength training workout, though. It makes me feel like I’ve really done something!
Rupal- you’re adorable:) Am all about the circuits! I call it writing, I guess in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way.
MizFit- and YOU are a huge part of the reason why I now like the iron so much! Have you ever been a cardio person?
Jellybean- even though we burn off more calories during the day from strength training, it still FEELS like there’s more of a calorie burn from the cardio, doesn’t it? (and agreed about feeling less guilty!)
Gena- it’s definitely good to do a little bit of everything.
VeggieGirl- we’ve seen videos of you dancing. Will there be future videos of VeggieGirl yoga-ing and lifting? 😀
JavaChick- I love your attitude towards this. You’re completely right. (Am guilty about the stretching taking a backseat too).
Mark- it feels so good to get the heart rate up.
Dara- mmm exercise soreness. Love it.
I voted cardio, although I do lots of stuff. Aerobic fitness is the best foundation we can have. Picking up heavy things and putting them down again may be fine, but it won’t get you to those bargains first when they open the doors at Macy’s at 5 AM and the stampede is on 🙂
I had trouble choosing what to click. I picked cardio, because walking is my favorite activity, but yoga is what I actually do every single day (although some days are skimpy) because going out for a walk means leaving my father alone, and I purely HATE using my exercise bike, which I bought last year after spending nearly six weeks staying indoors to avoid pollen. I like weights, too. I had never tried strength training until about three years ago when I joined the Y to get yoga classes, and now that I don’t go anymore (father is 96) I miss it, but it’s not as essential as the other two. After we are in a better financial position I’d like to buy some weights to use at home.
Cardio for me too. I find myself looking at the clock with strength training.
I wish I were a strength training lover! Maybe I will get there. But what I love about cardio is if you are pressed for time and only have 30 minutes, I can work up an AMAZING sweat and get 3.5 miles in on the treadmill. But 30 minutes of strength training and it doesn’t give me that same exhausted, worked out feeling. Like I said…maybe I will get there. I’m trying to at least incorporate different TYPES of cardio rather than just running. 🙂
Hi Sagan,
My first love is strength training – although I’m a big fan of biking, and recently – it’s been good to get out and run too. Biking and running give me a chance to not only burn some calories, I also find it to be very good for me mentally. Strength training is something where I just really need to focus more on the task at hand. It’s all good!
I like how I look and feel when I do regular strength training, but I’m with you Sagan, on writing volumes and solving all the world’s problems in my head as I walk around the park. Love to walk! And it’s amazing what I “write in my head” on a long walk and I can’t wait to get back to the computer to write it all out 🙂
I love circuits too. A little bit of weight and a little bit of strength. I find that I get the best results for my body when I do this style of workouts exclusively for a couple of months.
I find the exercise goes by faster when I watch t.v. while on the elliptical or treadmill!
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I love it all! It’s true, I’ve pretty much never met an exercise I didn’t like. But there are some I love more than others. I heart my cardio & my yoga. And my dancing. Okoay, I’m done now!
I like what strength training does for me, but to be honest, I enjoy cardio more. I can go somewhere else in my head while I’m doing cardio. 🙂
I voted for yoga but I wouldn’t classify the yoga I do as stretching… I would put it in cardio or weight training. Vinyasa is so yummy.
I love cardio. I will do weights, but cardio is my fave.
The gym saves me. I used to dream of having my own cardio equipment at home to use, but I think that it would probably end up gathering dust and dirty clothes. I like the variety of equipment that my gym offers. I REALLY like that I can put my child back with the babysitter and get a much needed break – and exercise to boot! And it’s a social experience. I don’t like to do classes (major clutz here), but I enjoy seeing friends at the gym. And, I’m paying for the gym – that’s a big motivational factor for me too. I want to get my money’s worth out of it.
So for me, I’m all about cardio (and weights to a lesser extent) at my gym. Now just have to find a way to get there more…
Dr. J- excellent point. I knew there was a reason I’ve been so interested in speed and endurance.
Mary Anne- sounds like you’re pretty well-rounded when it comes to your exercise. Dumbbells are relatively inexpensive so I like to use them. But I have been known to use heavy books and/or beer mugs when I didn’t have access to weights. The things we do to get in exercise…
Tom- I hear ya on the boredom factor- that’s what influences me on my exercise choices. Gotta keep everything FUN.
Holly- any bit of variety is great!
Lance- it IS all good:) They each have their own merits; on days when my mind is preoccupied, I know I’m better off doing cardio than yoga/strength training. I want to be more focused on the task at hand with those activities.
Jolene- agreed! Now if our world leaders went for long walks every day and took a tape recorder to voice all their thoughts I bet the problems would be solved right away 😀
Asithi- a little bit of everything seems to do the body a whole lot of good.
Biz319- ha yes, having some form of entertainment makes the time fly.
Charlotte- Can I just say I adore your fitness experiments!
Cammy- its nice to give the mind a wander 🙂
Maggie- “yummy”… such a good summing-up of exercise.
Eileen- and with your kind of marathon skills I would sure hope you enjoyed it!
Cathy- the money factor certainly keeps me motivated- part of the reason why I kept going back for moremoremore with boot camp.
I like to mix up my workouts. Interesting results so far. Great idea!
I have to say, I’m still searching for the form of exercise that leaves me wanting more. I do enjoy cardio, but am drawn to the benefits of moderate weight lifting. That’s why I’m here–looking for the right fit!
I like a little bit of everything, but lately I’ve been more into cardio for medical reasons. I’m pretty much stuck to the spinning bike (no running for now) and some floor exercise (stretching, hand weights, pushups, planks, etc).
Basically just walking. Of all the things I’ve ever tried it’s the one I always seem to come back to. I have this crazy idea that someday I’ll end up walking the Pacific Crest Trail. Doubtful…but still fun to think about.
What a great poll! I’m surprised so many people love cardio and so few dislike exercising altogether!
ps.. I left a little award on my blog for you 🙂
Walking is my favorite with cold weather induced cardio jogging. I jog thru the shady spots to get to the sunny spots to try to warm up again haha
i do like cardio, but i have some biomechanical issues that make me not love it to its full potential… the weigh (haha) weights give me definition is also quite nice!
Oh my gosh, I have been away for far too long… I love the new picture at the top of the page. Looking good!
Strongandhealthy- mixing it up is good stuff.
Sara- keep searching! You’ll find the right exercise for you. I suggest boot camp, belly dancing, walking, and the fitness challenges on my challenges page 😀
GandC- Love that even though you can’t do some forms of exercise you’re still getting in lots of activity. That’s real dedication.
Charlie- I smell another fitness challenge! I’ll walk the Pacific Crest Trail with you 🙂 ADORE walking.
Healthy Ashley- polls are such fun. And thank you for the award you sweetheart!
Scale Junkie- ha I’ve been doing the same thing with the jogging bursts to stay warm.
ttfn300- hehe definition is always excellent.
Leslie- thanks! I’m having fun with this new look.
I like running/walking and yoga!
Cute poll widget! So, I’m all about running. It is what I do 90% of the time. However, I recently picked up a class called work-it-circuit at my gym. It is a circuit class where we do aerobic stuff, core stuff, and weight stuff. I love it (my husband likes it too, or at least he pretends too) and I feel so much stronger!!
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