What the heck is Street Parking?

In August of 2022, I decided to kick up my exercise routine several notches. I had been super consistent since the beginning of the pandemic with going for long walks many times per week, but I was still feeling super out of shape. Simple tasks like tying my shoes were a daily risk of a pulled back muscle. I joined Street Parking (streetparking.com) on August 22. This online program offers daily workouts, and most of them can be completed with a pair of dumbbells. The founders named it Street Parking because they transformed their garage into a gym and started parking their cars on the street. (I imagine they have a driveway, but Driveway Parking doesn’t have the same ring to it.)

Reimagining fitness goals

My long-term fitness goal is to be fit by 50. This is sort of a joke since that’s nearly two years away, but it helps me keep a long-term mindset rather than “drop 20 pounds in four weeks” goals that have failed me every time in the past. I started off doing 3-4 workouts per week as I got used to a higher level of functional strength training. About three months in I started doing 6-7 workouts per week. This week I’ll hit my 75th day of logged workouts which earns me the Street Parking 75 hoodie!

I’ve had seasons in my life before where I ran for months at a time or had a gym membership or that short window of doing CrossFit. I never liked running. I always struggled with going to the gym consistently. I felt constantly injured while doing CrossFit. This feels different.

Consistency is key

With Street Parking I feel motivated every day. The online community is incredibly encouraging. The workouts are challenging, but I don’t feel like I’m being pushed to be so extreme that I hurt myself. It’s a “more than nothing” approach that builds consistency. I am now a person who works out. I dig that.

My garage gym

A set of dumbbells can be used to do the majority of SP workouts. Many movements are body-weight exercises like push-ups or burpees. I use the 20-pound dumbbells more than anything else. I’ve had some of this equipment for years and some things I’ve added recently to allow for variety in my workouts.

What is different this time?

I’ve had starts and stops with fitness throughout adulthood. (See 2012.) Someone recently asked me if there was anything that helped me be consistent this time vs the previous “drop 20 pounds” goals in the past.

That’s a great question! A few things came to mind immediately.

1. The pandemic created a special need for self-care which led to consistency in daily walks. So one habit of self-care was already in place.
2. I enjoyed some benefits of those walks but was not satisfied with my overall health. I knew I needed to do more. Or rather different exercises. I considered how to stack another healthy habit atop the already-established habit of daily walks.
3. I found a routine that removed some barriers and was attainable. Having a program that tells me what exercises to do removed the barrier of not knowing how to work out. Workouts that didn’t require leaving the house or owning a bunch of equipment made it attainable.
4. It’s important to have people cheering you on! I’ve found the SP community to be super encouraging! Besides that online community of people I don’t really know in real life, I have several friends with whom I share my fitness updates like hitting a new milestone. At the time of this writing, I’m two workouts away from earning my 75 hoodie!

Non-scale victories

Hilariously, I haven’t really lost that much weight since I started Street Parking (about 3-5 pounds). I thought for sure that in four months of rigorous exercise, I would have lost 15 or 20 pounds. I’m learning that one needs to consider many other metrics along with the scale, as it is only one metric. What I have noticed is that clothes fit differently and I feel way more confident about my body. The stronger and leaner I get, the less I care about how much I weigh.

Consider joining Street Parking

Although there is no incentive for me to encourage others to join Street Parking, I think it’s a fantastic program. I don’t receive a commission or a free month off my subscription. Nonetheless, I really love what they’ve put together, and if it can help someone I know to achieve their fitness goals, then I am all for it.

That’s all for now. Guess I’ll check back in six months and see if I’m still doing this. (I am pretty sure I will be).