How to stick to your gym plan — and get the abs you want

At the start of the year, I realized that abs do not grow on trees. And as much as I tried to convince myself, laughing alone wouldn't get me the cuts that I wanted. So I hauled myself to the gym and told them, "I want abs."

Sticking to a gym routine

To get the abs, one must invest both time and money. But it's an all too common occurrence that someone spends thousands of pesos on a gym membership, dutifully attends the first couple of weeks or so—and then gradually taper off gym appearances before stopping them completely. The following tips might make it easier to stick to your gym commitments:

Put yourself in a situation where you can't escape it. Pick a gym with branches that are in your daily commute. My gym has a branch near my school, my work, and my house, so I can't escape it. I can't say, "It's too far," or "Ang traffic." I highly suggest signing up with a gym near work. For example, I noticed professionals grinding it out in the gym at 6 to 9 a.m. They start to trickle in anew at around 6 p.m. onwards. It's better to go before or after work, instead of choosing one near one's home. With today's traffic, exhaustion sets in, and taking a detour to the gym will be increasingly difficult.

Scan the schedule for fun classes. Even if you go five times a week, it does not make sense to pay P225 to use the treadmill once and then go home. Gyms are getting more and more competitive with the kind of services they provide, so capitalize and take as many of the classes offered as you can. My gym's class timetable is bookmarked on my laptop, so I can scan for classes that I like at any time. I'm not a fan of competitive, high-impact classes, so I stick to the fun, even peaceful ones like yoga. If you're looking for something less zen and more exhilarating, check out zumba, spin, and other group classes.

Use the extra perks. Save on resources by doing what you can do in the gym instead of doing it at home—your coffee break, or even your morning shower.

In the end, it is up to us to eliminate excuses and just get the work done at the gym. Signing up is a rewarding feeling because it shows we are serious in making positive changes in our lives, but taking that one lone step will not result in lost pounds, just lost pesos.

Get thee to spin class

And now, what you need to know to get grow abs and tone your legs: Spin.

Spinning is the the answer to life. Spinning is the best thing ever.

If you want to grow abs and have toned, non-jiggly legs, go spinning.

Months after challenging myself to get abs, I am finally seeing the results after I started taking spin classes. In the beginning, when I was researching gyms, I was told about this magical indoor cycling class that helps one burn over a thousand calories a workout. I scoffed as it sounded impossible, but after trying out the classes, I have seen for myself that it's true.

The beauty of spinning lies in the music. There's still a really motivated trainer in front of the class, telling you what to do, but the music that plays is infectious and fun, which makes the whole workout the most enjoyable thing you will experience.

To those who want to take a break from running, spinning is an excellent alternative.

"Through spinning, you develop your heart rate in a different way," says Fitness First spinning instructor Jan-A De La Paz. "When you have two alternatives or more, the cardio system will develop better. For example, three weeks you've been running, and another three weeks, you'll be spinning, another three weeks you'll be running again, then spinning. You shock your muscles. The heart is a muscle. So you shock your heart in a safe manner to develop your stamina."

Running may sometimes be unfavorable for heavier individuals, given the impact it has on one's knees. With the proper form, spinning is a safe cardio workout that does not involve having the knees bear the burden of one's weight.

The spin classes I go to use the Les Mills RPM routine, "where you ride to the rhythm of powerful music, where participants take on the terrain with a team coach who leads the pack through hills, flats, mountain peaks, time trials, and interval training."

Here's an example:



The program changes every quarter, incorporating some of the most popular songs on its diverse tracklist, which includes Fall Out Boy, One Republic, Rihanna, Jason Mraz, and Tiesto.

In spinning, there's something for everyone, but most importantly, it involves our favorite muscle group: the core.

"It develops your core. It tightens your core. It engages the core," added De La Paz. "You engage your midsection. It tightens your abs."

And it does all these without you straining your neck with crunches. Every motion on the stationary bike engages the abdominal muscles, giving you a core workout without having to do a single sit-up.

Yes, without having to do a single sit-up.

Spinning. Spinning is the best thing ever. — BM, GMA News