But @sushiritto , you DO have a routine to exercise - that’s the routine I’m talking about - not always a specific form, not always a specific time, but the routine to get something done.
I know this right now. When my H whose only real form of exercise besides some yard work is walking (which is good! And I’m glad he does it even if he’s slow and not always consistent) has been “caught” downstairs on the exercise bike twice in the last week, exercising simply for HEALTH is all the reason I need to keep moving.
Is there anyone here who denies that exercise doesn’t benefit health??
My husband and I did a bike ride around our neighborhood for over an hour this afternoon. I would love to venture further, but seeing how most public bathrooms are closed, we don’t want to venture too far.
I’ve also done some exercises with weights, and will do more as the day goes on. I’m working on doing planks and some other abdomen exercises, in addition to lifting light weights and using a kettle ball for squats.
I am a lightweight, but figure whatever I do is better than nothing.
We keep the weights in our family room, where the TV is, so while we’re watching both my husband and I tend to do a little. I pass through several times a day, and do 20 of this and 40 of that… adds up over time.
What’s really helped me keep going with exercise is to sign-up for classes. I do yoga regularly and I’m so much more likely to go to the studio than I am to do a yoga session at home. When I’m home, I always seem to find a reason not to do X, Y, or Z or say that I’ll do it later (which never happens)… If I have signed up for a class–I’ll go. It was the same with weight training–if I was paying for a trainer or a weight class, I’m there. On my own–I’m still trying. Now that everything is closed. I’ve found that virtual classes–where you show up at X time–are much better for me. I do them. I guess the one good thing about this isolation is that I realized I can workout or do yoga at home. Having a set time for exercise also is very helpful. I always feel better when it’s over.
As much as eating food is a routine. For me at least. I need to eat to survive, but I can’t eat the same thing every meal of every day. Exercise is survival. I need my heart, lungs, legs, arms, brain, etc. to operate as close to peak performance as possible. Exercise helps prevent chronic disease, improves blood flow, increases good cholesterol and so on. That’s survival to me.
BTW, my workouts are unknown and revealed the evening before the day of the workout. If I remember the expression correctly, I have another T-shirt that says “train for the unknown, prepare for the unknowable.” I like that, gives me more motivation.
I have a friend who is dong the backyard Ultra which started yesterday morning and is being recorded by each participant on Strava. He is over 130 miles now- it’s a last man/woman standing kind of thing. The rules for the backyard ultra. Everyone is doing their own 4.167 mile loop (or using a treadmill), streaming via Zoom. They have 1 hour to finish the loop, then they can do whatever until the hour is up. Then they begin another loop. Can you even imagine?
Checking back in. I am keeping up with my run/walk program and am up to 45 min run 3/walk 2. I can feel my fitness returning with every outing and so far my old injury has been nothing but an occasional twinge.
I am still coughing from my illness that started 4 weeks ago but get through my workouts okay. However, the nights that I run are worse for coughing than the nights that I haven’t run. So hopefully that improves but at this point that is life.
On non-running days I am walking or hiking with H and the dog, or H and I take the tandem bike out.
@1214mom my suggestion for great ab exercises is to look into Pilates mat ab exercises. My mid section is my “problem “ area at any weight. I’ve had great success at strengthening my core through Pilates. Some of them seem simple but are killer and work.
While we are on the “C-lockdown,” I have been encouraging my Mr. to go on nightly walks. He can’t run due to a bum knee, and running for me is a little iffy at the moment, so we have been walking on the neighborhood trail, averaging 3-5 miles daily. Today we took a new route and ended up walking 7.5 miles. Of course, when we passed a food truck of our favorite restaurant, we just had to stop - got some fish and chips and a bottle of wine appropriately called “Spring Run.”
Day 19. I took yesterday off with the exception of 2 walks. One was to work and back (3.5 miles) to get supplies and the other was 2-2.5 miles with H. My body needed the break. Today was back to the grind. An easy regular run - 9ish miles and then Phase 3, Week 3 AAA. I felt strong with it. The 3 benching sets of slow 3 count for 10 reps were easy with 40lb dumbbells. Hardest part is getting into position.
If I didn’t exercise first thing in the morning, I’d never do it. Most of the time, the thought of running or lifting sounds so unappealing. But this way, I’m done before my brain wakes up and convinces me otherwise. If I could curl up in a recliner all day and eat pizza, chocolate, and junk (and still be fit!), I’d be one happy camper indeed.
I love running. I can’t do as much of it as I used to nor am I fast, but I enjoy it. I have to admit what I like about it is the meditative aspect, the way I can let my mind roam free while I run. Maybe it helps my attitude that for a few years I couldn’t run and missed it. I don’t like getting up in the morning to do it, but know if I don’t do it right away the opportunity could be lost. I do like being out early and alone, especially now. That’s not to say every run is great. I am always glad I went out and did it, but there are times during the run when I am wanting it to be over.
Other things I enjoy but can find excuses not to do, like swimming. Some mornings i just don’t want to be outside so naked. The idea of being in a swimsuit in the cold or hitting the cold water, bleh. What gets me in the pool are friends waiting, so not so helpful right now, and how it does feel good after that initial shock of cold. I warm up and begin to enjoy the movement. I stop thinking about my tummy or my thighs and feel good in my body.
Motivation issues? Not so much with running because it is a great outlet for me, a chance to get away and think my thoughts. Everything else? Yes.
I joined the Strava challenge! It’s interesting how much they had to loosen it up compared to the past challenges when you had to be outside on GPS and had to have the setting so anyone could see it. Now- it’s whatever- to accommodate the times! I’m glad Lulu jumped in to do this.
I went downstairs to my treadmill for 2 miles walking. I’m making myself be good… seemed to go OK. That meets my requirement for the challenge for today.
Ran 3 miles this morning. That isn’t far, but I’m working on running faster so it felt very hard. I was able to do a minute a mile faster than the pace I normally run, so I’m happy with that. It rained a little. Got wet. Didn’t die. Felt really great about 10 minutes after finishing. Good start to the day.
I won’t have much time later today between piles of work and my youngest kid needing some good together time, but am going to squeeze in push ups, planks, squats, etc. every time I’m on hold for a call or have a few minutes. I like all that stuff a lot better than running. I’m all slow twitch, have to really work at the fast twitch stuff. If a building falls on you and you need someone to lift it off, I’m there for you and can help. If you’re about to fall over a cliff and I need to run 20’ to save you there’s a pretty good chance you’re going over the cliff by the time I lumber over.
LOL @milee30 Great post! @deb922 I hope we get that discount! They may need the sales, but the challenge is pretty loose- anyone could put stuff down on Strava!
@MomofWildChild and others who know about these things, please talk me into or out of buying a Garmin watch for my husband. I’m thinking the Forerunner 945, but open to suggestions. He runs a lot (5-6 days a week) and we also bike a fair amount (once a week-ish). He expressed interest in the Garmin, and right now REI members can get 20% off 1 item, so I’m thinking of using it for the watch. (I think the coupon ends today, so I need to decide pretty quickly).
He has Apple everything (phone, iPad, computer), but he specifically mentioned a Garmin watch. He didn’t mention which one (he said he didn’t want to get one right now, but I suspect he will be happy if I get him one).
I know he tracks his speed per mile when running, and his distance. Plus he writes it down each time he runs. He likes to track how fast and how far we’ve ridden while biking, but we have no bike computer right now.
I’m figuring this could be good for both, and we wouldn’t need to get a bike computer.
Advice anyone?
Thanks in advance
I can talk you INTO it. I have an Apple watch for daily life and also wear it for running ALONG with my Garmin Fenix 5S (I think that’s the model I now have). I think Garmin is absolutely the best technology for running/GPS and I bet your husband would love it. They can be complicated- but you don’t have to use all the features. I think the 945 would be great- it even has music streaming. Go for it!
