2026 Strength Training Accountability Thread

[avondale]

Have you ever done a TRX workout? While not my favorite, I do find it's easy to travel with the straps (which essentially attach to the door to the room) and lets me make sure I can get a workout done in my hotel room if the hotel doesn't have a decent gym. I put it in my better than nothing bucket.

You can potentially do something similar with bands. Basically, take whichever you have at home: bands or TRX straps.

 

[GollyGadget]

Not exactly strength training but I did my second Running Rewired workout today. This was one of the Prehab routines that I'm supposed to do 2-3 times per week. The book offers bone loading and a tendon loading options. Since my tendons are my current pain point, I went with that.

12x helicopter lunges (each leg)
12x calf raises (each leg)
12x sliding hamstring curl

The routine advised doing 24 of each but I was struggling and didn't want to overdo it. I was also supposed to do swiss curls but I don't have one of those giant balls at my house. Google told me the sliding hamstring curls were a good substitute.

In total, it took less than 4 minutes before my run and was a good addition to my warm up. I could feel my hamstrings burning my entire run so I might need to take it easier on those next time around. Lots of room for improvement

 

[KCO5988]

This thread is inspiring me so much! I had only been doing strength once a week the last month or so and I have my marathon next weekend, so I'm not changing anything up right now. Will do a body weight leg workout this Thursday just to keep something going, but don't want to overdo anything right before my race. I'm very excited to increase my strength workouts after I recover from my race though!

 

[nancipants]

Did a 10 minute runner mobility video this morning. Also did IT band exercises, arm running, and a few minutes on my ankle board, total about 18 minutes. I have a nasty blister on my toe and I'm taking it easy for the next week, so gonna focus on mobility and strength work.

 

[nancipants]

Also, I signed up for the Stoked Metabolic Fitness 6-week New Years kickoff starting next Monday. Hopefully this will help give me an idea of what exercises I should be doing and improve my nutrition.

 

[SheHulk]

Also, I signed up for the Stoked Metabolic Fitness 6-week New Years kickoff starting next Monday. Hopefully this will help give me an idea of what exercises I should be doing and improve my nutrition.

I'm interested to hear more about this! Will you post about it on your training journal?

 

[The Expert]

Went to Pilates this morning with an instructor I've only had once and has a very odd method of explaining things. She's kind of like an 80s aerobics teacher and does a lot of repetitive counting and crazy hooting. I don't dislike it, but it's distracting and her classes are HARD. I found out today that she used to be in the circus, which explains why she has us do so much ab and mat work.

 

[GollyGadget]

Completed my second precision workout today

This was the hip circuit and it only took 30 minutes vs 40 for the core circuit. Still lots of made up exercises but now I know a few of them and didn't have to spend as much time learning them . I also added 10 modified pushups to each round since I can't do a proper burpee (yet).

Hip Circuit (2x)

10 x twisted warrior

20 x butt scoots

10 x pigeon hip extension

10 x glute rainbow

5 x standing hip circle

8 x tippy twist

10 x burpees

25 x frog bridge

20 x lateral hops

 

[avondale]

Completed my second precision workout today

This was the hip circuit and it only took 30 minutes vs 40 for the core circuit. Still lots of made up exercises but now I know a few of them and didn't have to spend as much time learning them . I also added 10 modified pushups to each round since I can't do a proper burpee (yet).

Hip Circuit (2x)

10 x twisted warrior

20 x butt scoots

10 x pigeon hip extension

10 x glute rainbow

5 x standing hip circle

8 x tippy twist

10 x burpees

25 x frog bridge

20 x lateral hops

These all sound so familiar, but I don't remember them in detail LOL.

 

[Isabelle12345]

I did a 20 min video online - my kids thought it was hilarious to see me struggle - I have strong legs but such weak arms

 

[SheHulk]

I did a 20 min video online - my kids thought it was hilarious to see me struggle - I have strong legs but such weak arms

Same! But working on it

 

[jmasgat]

Alternative strength training #2…..after doing the Disney Studio tour in Burbank this morning, I went to Silver Lake to do some of the painted stairs. My fairly short walk of 2-3 miles took in ~50 flights/ 500 stairs and some super steep roads. I cannot imagine being a runner here. So a good glute workout.

Also, we were on the tour and had to tiptoe/whisper past 2 guys outside doing an interview/taping. Turns out it was Bob Iger and newly named CEO Josh D’Amaro.

Okay, at some point I will comment on any “real” strength training.

 

[SheHulk]

Alternative strength training #2…..after doing the Disney Studio tour in Burbank this morning, I went to Silver Lake to do some of the painted stairs. My fairly short walk of 2-3 miles took in ~50 flights/ 500 stairs and some super steep roads. I cannot imagine being a runner here. So a good glute workout.

Also, we were on the tour and had to tiptoe/whisper past 2 guys outside doing an interview/taping. Turns out it was Bob Iger and newly named CEO Josh D’Amaro.

Okay, at some point I will comment on any “real” strength training.

I didn't know there was a Disney studio tour! Sounds like you had a great experience, strength training can wait.
We've been watching Wonder Man and I've been wondering if a lot of it is filmed in Disney studios. May have to book a tour next time we are in LA.

I did 30 min lower body Runner's World routine. I'm cycling between the same 2-3 routines but I will branch out once I get stronger and/or bored.

 

[nancipants]

Not specifically strength training, but I did a 20 minute IT band yoga video this morning.

 

[The Expert]

Also, we were on the tour and had to tiptoe/whisper past 2 guys outside doing an interview/taping. Turns out it was Bob Iger and newly named CEO Josh D’Amaro.

They showed part of it on GMA this morning!

I didn't know there was a Disney studio tour!

It's SO SO SO GOOD! Well worth the hour long trek up to Burbank from the OC if you're ever at DL with half a day open.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Joining in...although, not sure how detailed I'm going to get as my gym time always feels like a lot to type out and also gets a bit repetitive...aside from the little things. i.e. which movements/machines I'm trying to either up my weights, flexibility settings or number of reps per set/additional sets. I also USUALLY go to the gym at night (5-6 days a week), so MOST posts will be next morning.

Last night was upper body, plus I always throw in a little bit of dedicated core work. It was a pretty standard night. I hit eight machines on the circuit and put my core work after chest press, shoulder press, seated row, and lat pulldowns just to break things up. After that, it was triceps, biceps and delts.

FWIW, I also choose to do a high intensity warmup on the elliptical most nights. I boost both the tension and spacing between the pedals and then treat it like a 30 minute spinning class...but on an elliptical. I know some people feel I should be doing this AFTER I lift. I change it up like that sometimes, but I prefer it before.

 

[SheHulk]

FWIW, I also choose to do a high intensity warmup on the elliptical most nights. I boost both the tension and spacing between the pedals and then treat it like a 30 minute spinning class...but on an elliptical. I know some people feel I should be doing this AFTER I lift. I change it up like that sometimes, but I prefer it before.

I've been jumping on the elliptical before strength training many days also, just because I feel like it loosens me up! I love it. Maybe I'd like it after, too, but I don't think I have time for both.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I've been jumping on the elliptical before strength training many days also, just because I feel like it loosens me up! I love it. Maybe I'd like it after, too, but I don't think I have time for both.

I occasionally do a light walk on the treadmill or jump on a recumbent bike after lifting, especially on leg day, but nothing more than 5-10 minutes. I feel like the adrenaline rush I get from the intense cardio fuels my lifting session by putting it first

 

[BradleyCB]

And I'm back. I had a fun little adventure with either food poisoning or norovirus from Monday night through yesterday. Never fun.

I ended up doing a 20 minute lower body routine this morning after a walk. Excellent class! The instructor focused on unilateral circuits with heavier weights. Single leg dead lifts, split squats, and weighted single leg hip bridges. My muscles were shaking all over the place by the end of each circuit.

And I threw in my four pushups for day!