I realised yesterday that the times when I had been successful in losing weight was when I consistently (ie 4-5x/week) did long (1 hour) exercise classes – spin, running group, step, body jam – all of it. Also I wasn’t drinking much alcohol and was eating REASONABLY well but certainly not counting calories. Counting calories is boring. It was fairly easy and I did not even realise I was losing weight till I stepped on the scales.
Simple explanation- ~500-600 calories burnt per session = big calorie deficit.
Do I have the time ? HELL YEAH I have the time – If I blog this, facebook and generally pissfart around, I have the time to do the exercise. The thing with exercise classes is that they lock me in for an hour, I have never walked out of a class early, but if I go to the gym with the intention of doing 1 hour of cardio then I usually only do 20 minutes.
All this namby pamby about “chronic cardio”, “exercise doesn’t help weight loss”, “just a 15 minute workout is all you need” may be ok for some but does not work for ME. And actually I quite enjoy the aerobics classes – just gotta get up the head of steam to get there (overcome lethargy or can’t be arsed).
On that note, yesterday arvo I went to my first spin class for a while. She whupped our asses. I did not enjoy it at the beginning but later in the class I went to my happy place and certainly felt good after. Then I felt ok this morning so I went to step class. My legs are now officially buggered. Think I might make it a light one (pilates) tomorrow.
I just read Scarlett’s blog – there was a great link there for the nike men vs women ad. Yeeehah! Will have to think of that one when am in Japan.
I have also read some other good blogs – see Shauna’s friday link feast. There was one blog about “mind apples” – you need to do “5 a day” – 5 things a day for your mental health. So here goes. I am gonna PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK:
I have had a busy week, doing my NHMRC research proposal and am nearly finished. I have been quite disciplined about it and should get it finished today, instead of working through tomorrow night (I have to present it on Tuesday). I have still managed to do good work at work and exercise. Yeeehah (omg that is my second yeehah this post whoops now the third.)
ONLY I WEEK TILL JAPAN YEEEEEEEEEEEHAH!
Demons, dancing, doctorates, debauchery. 
I agree with you Cilla, my hour a day or so of exercise is what keeps my weight on track. For me getting out for a run or ride, or even putting headphones in and doing a workout in the front room is stress releasing “me time”. I think there is something in the chronic cardio thing though, in that it is good to not push yourself too hard every session, that is have some nice easy ones.
I totally am against the 15 mins is all you need mentality. I think it reinforces the idea that exercise is something we “have” to do. If you are loving it, then 15 mins is never enough 😉
Btw, are you going to run the Imperial Palace track here? It’s around 5km and a great run + you get to do sightseeing at the same time.
I agree – classes are a great way to make sure you have done enough – lately I do about two – three classes a week (well before I went away on holidays that is).