Please explain "Cross Training" to me....

[becky2500]

I absolutely LOVE step aerobics, and LOVE Cathe. I try to rotate through some of her DVD's that I own, so I'm not always doing cardio or always lifting. I do tend to do more cardio though. Since it's been snowing here where I live, I have gotten out to cross country ski, and I have dabbled with running, although I HATE running on a treadmill. I do incorporate yoga also. Anyway, I have hit a plateau with my weight, or at least it's not coming off as easily as it has in the past. How can I shake things up a bit? Am I cross training?

Becky

 

[Flyweight]

RE: Please explain

From Wiki:

"Cross training in sports and fitness refers to the combining of exercises to work various parts of the body. Often one particular activity or sport tones and exercises certain parts of the body, but not others. Cross training aims to eliminate this — jogging, for example, is excellent for endurance, weight loss, flexibility and prolonged use of large muscle groups (such as those in the legs). A jogger may lift weights in order to build muscle and increase upper body strength, things that running cannot provide."

Sounds like you're cross training to me!

I'm a huge cross trainer -- I play a bunch of different sports, mostly because I get bored doing the same thing. Also, it's good to train different muscles in your body to even things out and prevent injury (ie. you wouldn't want to do a lot of ab work without also exercising your back).

Maybe you're plateauing because you're close to your ideal weight? We'd need more information to know.

 

[becky2500]

RE: Please explain

Thanks for the information....I have a friend who has mentioned a couple of times to me that I should find a different exercise to "add variety". I guess because I'm always talking about Cathe, and maybe not mentioning the yoga, or the occasional run. I have however, invited her to come x country skiing with me, so she knows I do that too. So her comments just made me think, am I really doing enough, or do I really have enough variety? That's where this ? came from. As you suggested, I am close to ideal weight. I just want to lose the last 7#, and I'll be at my personal goal weight, although I am starting to wonder if my bod just wants me where I'm at now.

Thanks for the info!

Becky