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Tag: running

Movement

It is not shocking that my mood is better when I get more exercise. I spent years hating physical exercise and even though I could stick to a routine for a few weeks, or even months, it never really stuck. Somewhere along the way though, something changed and I started needing it, craving it even. There are still days when I really don’t want to get up and move, but I know if I make myself I will feel so much better.

I got a bit lazy over the winter. Oddly enough, my favorite exercise activity now is running with my dog. Running outside. In my neighborhood. On the sidewalk or streets. Even typing the words now feels strange. I have never been a runner and even when I tried to force it, it was always on a treadmill. Running outside is a newish thing for me and it pretty much just sucks in the winter. It turns out I’m not a fan of running in ice and snow and sleet. So I got lazy. We’d still get out on nice days, but more often than not I used the cold or the cruddy weather to just stay in.

Fortunately for me, Phoenix gets a bit crazy when he doesn’t get out for a run (or walk) every day. Since the weather has been nicer, he is D.O.N.E. staying in and so am I. We’ve been walking or running every day again and it has been good. I’m trying to alternate running/walking so I can get at least one of my kids (usually my daughter) out walking with me a couple days a week as well.

The bad thing about running is that it kills my knees. There’s a lot of family history of knee problems and sadly, it seems that is one of the blessings I have received as well. In order to protect my knees, my doctor has given me exercises to do that will help to better support my knees while running. And I haven’t done them, because there is never enough time of course. Well, guess what I have now? Time. A lot of it.

So, because I like to do things all the way, not just start out easy, I’ve been researching workouts for runners. Since summer is coming up and my eating habits have gone significantly downhill over the last few weeks, I’ve now added not one, but two workout routines to my day. In addition to running or walking every day, I’m doing a squat/lunge/plank challenge and an additional 20-30 minute strength workout. I’m not going crazy, but working with what I’ve got at home.

Apple Watch with movement ringsI’m now three days into the routine and feeling really good about it. I’m also feeling really sore in pretty much every muscle in my body, but it is a good sore. It feels great to push myself in this way. I may not fit all of it in every day, but I’m ok with that too. Today I skipped the walk/run, but our riding mower is down (again) so I push mowed the entire yard and I definitely got plenty of steps in. When I was done mowing, my daughter asked if I wanted to join her for her 30 minute PE class workout and I couldn’t tell her no, so we decided to do it on the trampoline and had so much fun together. I got a second dose of lunges and squats in as well as some arm and shoulder exercises and we did some jumping in between sets. For the record, it is even harder to keep your balance while doing lunges on a trampoline.

Today was definitely a good movement day. After taking my second shower of the day, I’m now sitting on the couch and don’t even want to think about moving again…well, maybe to my bed. Hopefully, that also means I will actually be able to sleep tonight.

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6 Days In

Well, so far I feel like I’m kicking 2011’s butt.  I honestly can say I have no complaints yet this year.  So what if we’re only 6 days into it?  I’m feeling very good – energized even – about what is to come this year.

I really have to give a little bit of credit to my in-laws though, because if it weren’t for their visit during the last couple weeks of December, I would probably be as frazzled as I normally am in the new year.  It was such a joy to have them here over Christmas, and they were incredibly helpful with the kids.  Not only did they agree to take Zach to swimming lessons over his school break (which he LOVED!), but by keeping the kids at home, they knocked over an hour and a half of commute time off of my work day.  It was so nice not to have to rush in the mornings, and to actually get home at 5:00.

Maybe it is because I actually got some sleep for a change, or maybe just because we are finally getting back into our routine, but my head feels clearer than it has in a long time and I’m making plans.  I’m so excited about the decisions I’m making and can’t wait to see them unfold.  Some of these are smaller things, like finally making the decision to commit to Weight Watchers again, and others are big, major, life-changing things that I’m not quite ready to spill just yet.  I realize that some of it may fizzle out as time goes on and I decide which are the most important, but for now I’m just going with the excitement.

The first thing I’m focusing on is taking care of myself.  I re-joined Weight Watchers on Monday and am really going to try to stick with it this time.  I weighed myself this morning and am already down 3.5 pounds since I started.  I know I always drop a few pounds quickly at first, but it still felt really good to see that number on the scale!

Thanks to some very gentle prodding from Cagey, I also registered for my first 5K of the year (feel free to follow that link if you’d like to help sponsor me!).  Having a goal really helps motivate me to exercise, so I plan to do at least two 5K’s this year and I’ll have one of them knocked out by the end of January.

Taking care of myself also includes taking care of the craziness in my head, so I am journaling for the first time in years.  It really helps to clear my head, even if it is something as simple as writing down my to-do list for the day.  I hope to get better at this as time goes by.  I’ve already missed a day or two, but since it is my journal, I guess that doesn’t matter that much.

I also want to make a concerted effort to rekindle some friendships and maybe make some new ones.  Even though I’m on facebook and have re-connected with a lot of friends there, I don’t feel like I have many true friendships, mostly just acquaintances.  I know it is pretty much my fault because I hate picking up the phone.  Plus, actually getting out of the house takes some major scheduling and effort so I just don’t do it.  It is time to change that.  I need to get out every once in a while, even if it is just to meet up for an hour and gab.

I also miss my little online community that I used to be part of, so my Twitter account is public again and I want to start engaging more.  I may not have much to say, but I’m going to try to jump in a little more often.  I needed a break for a while and now I’m ready to roll again.  What can I say, I miss the over-sharing!  Besides, because I was on Twitter this morning, I’ve already signed up for my first 5K of the year and will be spending that time with a friend! Double score!

The biggest challenge I have set for myself though, is to improve my photography skills.  I’m learning a little bit all the time, but I want to get to the point where I’m getting the results I want at least 99% of the time.  I want to think through my photos, plan out what I want, and capture what I see in my head.  I have a long way to go to get to that point, but I’m going to have fun getting there!  To keep myself moving forward, I started a new 365 project.  I’ve always been afraid to do it before, but this time I’m not putting any limitations on it (unlike my failed 365 gratitude project).  One photo a day of anything that strikes me.  It may be artistic or it may not; it all depends on the mood I’m in that day.  It may be shot with my iPhone, my crappy point-n-shoot, or my DSLR, whatever I happen to have in my hands.  No limitations.  I’ve made it 5 days so far and I’m already patting myself on the back.

2011, I think I may love you.  Let’s keep this good relationship going for the next 359 days, okay?

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