Do you have a set schedule?

[Deleted]

Or do you just wing it?

I have found that lately I have been brushing off workouts and justify by telling myself that 'I will make it up tomorrow' and of course I never do.

I was thinking of making a set workout schedule and follow it every week: like run Mon, Weds, Fri; strength train Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun off.

Do you find that this helps you to workout more often and hold yourself more accountable?

[gt7301b]

I have a standing skating lesson on Thursday mornings and Friday is usually my rest day. Other than that my schedule is pretty flexible. The key for me is to not go home if I am working out after work, my house is a serious time suck.

[runaways]

I have a schedule but it's a bit flexible in the sense that I will rearrange days to work around the weather or the rest of my life if necessary. Getting in all my workouts for the week is non-negotiable, barring sickness or something.

[cinco]

I write out my training schedule for a big race months in advance in pencil. A week or two before I'll look at DH's schedule (he does shift work and it is all over the place) and the kids schedules and work from there. It still gets changed at the last minute for things that always seem to come up. Somehow I usually make my mileage goals, but rarely as planned. In general I run 5 days a week, strength 2-3, and fitness/spin classes 1-2 x (although not when my mileage is high). There is no way a set day schedule would work for me. I think b/c things come up often with DH's schedule, I always jump on a time when I can get a run in and rarely push it off. I have this voice in the back of my head that says, "you may not get another chance to w/o the rest of the week", even though I usually do.

[jordylee]

I have a set schedule about half the time (when I'm training for a specific race), but the rest of the time I just wing it. I find that I do MUCH better when I'm following a set schedule. Like you, its too easy for me to blow it off if I just wing it.

[G22]

I really only write out a training plan for the big races (half and above). Anything less than that, I just wing it depending on my schedule and the weather. I go into the week knowing what I want to accomplish, and do my best to get it all done.

[sadlebred]

I usually ride 5 days/week. I always take Fridays off and always ride Sat.-Sunday. The 3 days I ride during the week are are flexible and depend on what else I have going on.

[spunkypenguin]

I usually stick to a schedule. I just finished up my Spring races, so I'm taking some time to do whatever suits my fancy that day (or nothing at all, if that's what I want!) Next week, I'm going to go back to running 2-3 days a week, lifting 3 days/week and cross training 1-2 days per week.

[abramos]

I go to boot camp every M/W/F at 6 am. I know I have at least 10 other people waiting for me AND I pay for it so it is motivation to get me out of bed.

As of the other days, I put it in my calendar and set alarms. I am a morning person so if I do not workout in the morning, it will never happen.

[Deleted]

If I have a race, yes there is a set plan, but it is flexible if work/weather or something else gets in the way. I always make up the miles.

Sometimes, the smaller races are part of the training plan for the larger races.

I'm better with a plan, I actually enjoy having one. But then, I make lists a lot. I'm that kind of person.

[mrshandy]

Yep, I always have a training schedule. It's on the fridge. I stick to it for the most part. If it's not written down I don't do it.

[bostonmichelle]

I've only been running for about 6 months, but I've found if I don't have a schedule written down I don't stick to it. I feel like I have to get up and do it or I don't get to check it off the calendar.

[labbie]

Other than long runs on Sat or Sun, not really. I prefer not to run two days in a row, so that drives what days i cross train. But that will change in a few weeks when I need to start training for a sprint tri this summer.

Sent from my XT1080 using proboards

[hannahb]

Not really. If I'm training for something I will have a general idea of what workouts I want to do that week but the days are flexible.

[emilyinchile]

I have definitely gone to Crossfit on days where the main reason I get out of bed is because I don't have a good enough excuse to explain my absence to the other people who will notice that I'm not there. This doesn't really help you unless there's someone you can workout with, but it has made me see the power of accountability! I think a schedule would help.

[katyintx]

I'm with bostonmichelle and mrshandy. I have to have it written down. If it's on my schedule I'll do it, and I like having the whole schedule written out on the fridge.  In fact, I just picked my next marathon next year based on what runs were scheduled around Christmas and a wedding I'm in, because I don't want to run that much in the subzero WI and MN temps!  And I HAVE to stick to the plan! 

[kams]

I do exactly what cinco does: I have a schedule months in advance, but adjust the week or two before to fit in to the family schedule.

[mandiespharm]

I workout three days on one day off. Sometimes when my on day falls on a day I have to work and can't make it to any scheduled classes then I'll go four on one off. Our box has a pretty wide variety of class times so I can go when I want to on my days off from work. That's about as much scheduling as I do.

[katietornado]

Having a schedule helps me immensely, whether it's for exercise or eating.

I'm doing a powerlifting program right now that has me lifting heavy 3 days a week, with at least one rest day in between. With that kind of schedule I have like no wiggle room to just skip a day. It's kept me on track for the past 9 weeks!

[agswife]

I used to. Having a baby messed it all up, ha. I'm hoping to get back into it over the summer when I'm on break from work. It looked something like this:
Sunday: run & bootcamp
Monday: full body weights and spin
Tuesday: run
Wednesday:run
Thursday: rest or light cardio
Friday: elliptical, full body weights OR run
Saturday: full body weights (if I didn't do them on Friday), spin

[rondonalddo]

DH and I both have a set schedule. With both of us working and commuting and a 3-year-old at home, it's the only way to do it. I go to the gym after work on Mondays, in the morning while I take DD to childwatch on Wednesdays, and we go together as a family on Saturdays. DH goes in the afternoon on Tuesdays and takes DD to childwatch, goes after work on Thursdays, and then goes with us on Saturdays. If we need to skip a day, it's no big deal, but it keeps us accountable.

[wambam]

I can't imagine NOT having a schedule. Yes, every week I train MTTFS and take Wednesday and Sunday off. My workouts are planned several weeks out.

[cole]

I keep a written schedule on the fridge and cross off what I complete and highlight what I skip.

Shame is my only motivation a lot of days.

[Deleted]

I absolutely have a schedule, though I will adjust on a weekly basis as needed.

[emuni04]

If I'm not training for a race, I just go off a general plan. I keep it flexible.

I'm not training for anything right now, so my general weekly schedule looks like this:

Sunday: run
Monday: rest
Tuesday: run/HIIT workout, lift
Wednesday: bootcamp workout DVD
Thursday: run/HIIT workout, lift
Friday: rest
Saturday: long run, lift

[arch01]

Yep-otherwise I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning to go work out!

[jamalynn]

When I am not training for anything, I have days that I plan to run due to everyone's schedule. It changes up sometimes, my DH knows, I run early on Tuesday mornings so if his schedule changes, he has to let me know because I plan to be out running. If I am training for something, then I so a lot of what cinco and kams do.

[sitnspin]

Because I own my own fitness studio and instruct, yes - I have a strict schedule.  I do not consider when I am teaching "my workout", but I do burn calories.

Mon - Spinning
Tues - Spin Fit Total Body
Wednesday - personal trainer
Thurs - was taking a TRX class, but they cancelled it.  Now I either do yoga or go to Planet Fitness to lift.
Fri - 2 Spinning classes
Sat - Spinning
Sun - off