Now THAT'S Motivation!

This past weekend, my family and I went out of town to see my in-laws. In the town where they live, they have this really nice lake/park where you can fish, run, walk your dog, etc. When we are in town, my husband and I will run to the park from my in-law's house, run around the lake a couple of times, and then run back home. It all adds up to about four and a quarter miles. Well, this past weekend and much to our surprise, they were having a special event at the lake. It was a fishing competition for the kids and there were boatloads of people in attendance! We ran our normal pace to get to the lake and then when we arrived, our pace picked up quite a bit. It is a very motivating atmosphere when a whole bunch of people are watching you run by on your route!

After we got finished, we talked about how, even if we wanted to stop and walk for a few minutes, there wasn't a chance of stopping. We definitely benefitted from the extra motivation and were able to get in an extra good run!

Great News!

Approximately 2 years ago, my parents were walking for exercise about 3 times a week and they seem to be feeling well, strong, and healthy. I was so proud of them because they had never participated in any type of formal exercise routine until then. However, for some reason, they just stopped walking and said they were too tired or didn't have enough time. My parents, now in their 70's, are experiencing a decline in their energy levels. I have tried to encourage them to start walking again since the weather is nice just to see if it improved their stamina. Now, for the good news. My Mom called me last night (as she does every night!) and told me that she and Dad had just gotten back from a walk! To say the least, I was thrilled. I hope that the exercise will benefit them like I think it will, but we will have to wait and see.

The first step is always the toughest, but it is a step in the right direction!

Finally!

After the holidays this year, I, unfortunately, gained five pounds. I have been struggling since, to lose the weight. I realize that five pounds doesn't sound like much extra weight, but since I have a small frame, it make a difference in how I feel. I have been exercising and trying to watch what I eat since January, but not until today, did I see a difference on the scales. Finally, I have lost three of the five that I intend to lose and I am so excited! I was so pumped when I left the gym today.

Going through this process reinforces the importance of sticking to a plan, even if you don't see results right away. In the long run, the benefits will surely come!

Too Good Too Be True

Every so often, I wake up in the middle of the night and am unable to get back to sleep. I end up turning on the T.V. and flipping through the channels, just to make my eyes tired. It is amazing how many diet and exercise programs that people are selling in the middle of the night! The sales pitch for one of the products for sell was some sort of pill that you could take to make you lose weight and you wouldn't even have to exercise! The commercial showed these very fit looking people with great figures and claimed that they achieved their bodies by taking this pill. I am sure that they probably sell quite a bit of their product, but I am afraid that the consumers are going to be terribly disappointed. I believe that the saying that goes "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is" us quite true!

A healthy lifestyle and fit body only comes with a dedication to eating right and getting exercise.

Never "Felt Sorry"

Over the past few weeks, I have had two conversations with different folks about working out. After talking with them, one of their comments was, "After working out, I have never had the thought, 'I wish I hadn't done that!' " The other comment was along those same lines and it was, "I have never felt sorry that I have worked out after it was over".



Once you begin to exercise, you have already overcome the mental challenge that comes when you try to talk yourself out of working out. I typically don't have to have a conversation with myself when trying to decide if I am going to work out. However, I do have days when I'm tired or don't feel well and I believe that it is "okay" to take a day off. I am reluctant to do so because of the same reason I don't skip going to church: the first time you skip is the hardest and then it gets much easier to miss. I don't want to get into a bad habit or even open the door to that possibility!

Tangent

I realize this blog is suppose to be centered around exercise, but I am going to talk about something a little different this week.

I had a special friend to pass away this week. His name was Leroy Carver and was 84 years old. We sang in the choir together at our church and I never saw him without a smile on his face. He was a special person to so many people, young and old, and was an inspiration to all he met. He embodied the action of love as he went about his daily activities and he showed that love is not a feeling, but is a choice!

I want to be more like Leroy as I walk through my daily routine and am trying to be more engaging with folks that, even though I may not know them, show love to them.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter.

Don't Feel Like It

Do you ever have one those days when you just don't feel like working out? It is not that you are sick or that you are too busy; you just don't have the "want to". I seldom have a day that I don't want to work out, but I had one of those days today. I would be willing to bet that most people would say "just take a day off - it won't hurt" and I am sure that they are right. However, I decided to head to the gym at lunch, like any other day, and give it my best shot. Well, to say the least, my best shot was pretty weak. I ran about 1/2 as far as I usually do during my lunch workout and then I walked the rest. Normally, after my exercise, I feel rejuvenated/invigorated/energized, but it just didn't happen for me today. I know for a fact that this feeling won't last long, because it never does, but it does make it challenging to get to the gym.

I guess what I would say to encourage folks to exercise when you don't have the "want to", DO IT ANYWAY!!! : )

S P R I N G

Spring is the perfect time of year to start or re-start an exercise regimen! WHY, you ask?

S Stamina - We can take advantage of the extra daylight, by increasing the length of our workout. Why not spend an extra 10 minutes doing something that is so good for your mental and physical health.

P Pretty Weather - Get outside and enjoy the pretty weather. Most of us spend 95% or more of our time indoors. The fresh air will rejuvenate our senses.

R Ride - Riding bikes is such a fun activity to do with your family or friends.

I Include - Include your family in your routing and enjoy the flowers and trees as they are blooming.

N Now - Don't give up now on the idea of reviving your lifelong fitness goals.

G Go - Go for it!

Free Weight vs Machines

I have always incorporated the use of weights into my weekly workout routine. Over the years, I have swung from using only machines for my workout, to a mixture of machines and free weights, to only using free weights. As of two weeks ago, I added back to my typical routine of only using dumb bells, the utilization of a few of the machines.

I am not sure which approach is best, but I have heard two different viewpoints. With the use of machines, more control is applied to each movement and so it cuts down on the variation within each repetition. Coming from a different perspective, the use of free weights do not limit your range of motion and each exercise can be tailored to your individual body structure to get the most out of each rep.

As we get older, the importance of exercising our muscles and maintaining or increasing our strength becomes more important. If you are not currently including any weight lifting into your exercise routine, I would encourage you to try it. Start out with light weights, whether on a machine or using dumb bells, and build up slowly. You just might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

Each Day is a Gift

I attended a funeral for a coworker this past week; he was only a few years older than me. I was reminded that we should treat each day that we have to live as a gift. Just because we think we are young, doesn't mean that we have the promise of tomorrow. To get up every day and to live a healthy life is a privilege; one that shouldn't be taken for granted. I have a new appreciation for family, life, and health after having been reminded how precious life is this past week.

I would encourage someone considering an exercise program to start today; don't put it off to tomorrow.

Music to My Ears

Over the years, as I have been exercising, I have discovered that I have two totally different workouts when I listen to music and when I don't. I am not sure what it is specifically about music, but when I am using my nano, I tend to run stronger and faster than I do when I don't have my music in my ears. It seems strange to me that having music can impact your physical strength and stamina, but I am convinced that it has the ability to improve my overall workout.

If you need a boost to your workout, try incorporating music and see if that doesn't help!

Good to See

I was in Las Vegas this past week for a conference. I stayed in The Mirage and it was a really beautiful hotel and casino. The grounds of the facility were immaculate. Unlike some of the other hotels in Vegas, The Mirage has a cardio workout facility that is complimentary to hotel guests. I have stayed at two other places in Vegas and have had to pay a minimum of $20/day to use their workout equipment! The set-up of the exercise room was really nice and they had top-of-the-line equipment. One of the mornings that I went to workout prior to the start time of my meeting (about 6:00 a.m.), the place was packed with exercisers. Every piece of equipment was being used by someone. I had to put my name on a waiting list in order to get a treadmill.

It is always encouraging to see other folks motivated to stay healthy, even when they are out of their normal routine and away from home - even in VEGAS!

Getting There is Half the Battle

A few days ago, I was talking with my husband about his workout that day. He mentioned that he was really tired and didn't feel like going to exercise. He had to run some errands and so he went by the gym in spite of his desire to layout for the day. He figured that even if he did something, it was better than nothing. He discovered that, after he started his routine, he started feeling better and more energetic and ended up having a great workout.

If you can get yourself to the gym, or wherever you exercise, on those days when you don't "feel" like exercising, you will have overcome half of the battle to working out.

Beach Running

For the past five years, I have gone with about ten ladies for a long weekend trip during the last week of January. We have been on two cruises, to Fredricksburg, and to Galveston. We are going back to Galveston for this year's trip and it starts tomorrow! I am so excited to be away from work for a few days, but getting out of my daily routine impacts my workouts. I am not too fond of running on the beach, because it is just too dang hard! I normally end up running on the streets through various neighborhoods when I am in Galveston. However, this year, I am going to challenge myself to do my runs on the beach. I will probably end up with sore muscles as a result, but that is a good thing, right?

I think that it is good to try new workouts occasionally, even though it makes exercise more challenging.

Diversion Tactic

The other day, I was talking with a friend at the gym while we were getting ready to go back to work. She was telling me that she had not been able to work out for a few days due to part of her family being in the hospital. After a few days of being at the bedside of her father, she was finally able to take a break - and what did she choose to do, you ask? Well, she took the opportunity to go to the gym to get her mind off of her stressful time and exercise her body.

I am convinced that using exercise as a diversion tactic during times of not feeling well, stressful times, or just a busy season of life, will help one to have a better outlook on life!

Sore Muscles

I was talking with a friend that I, not only work with at my place of employment, but we also workout together at the gym. We were discussing the fact that when we have sore muscles after exercising, we feel like we have had a successful workout. This week, I started spending more time in the weight room and have experienced some sore muscles. It is not so sore that I am unable to walk normal, squat down, etc., but enough so that I know that I have worked my body beyond the norm. It may sound strange to some, but it is a great feeling to experience.

Let's hear it for sore muscles!

Workout Partner - It's A Good Thing!

Having a workout partner is a way to ensure that you have a successful exercise program. Being accountable to someone else is, sometimes, the only motivation one might have to workout. Since I have been married, my husband, Terry, and I have enjoyed working out together. Of course, it hasn't always been possible to do, but when it has been, we have tried to fit in it into our daily routine. Terry has his own business and works from home and so he has enjoyed running for his exercise. However, he has recently decided to join a gym and start incorporating weight lifting into his routine. I am so excited that he has made the decision to add this to his exercise program, because this will enable us to go on the weekends so that I can get in some extra time with the weights.

If you have someone that you could get to be your workout partner, I would encourage you to do so. Not only will you be doing them a favor by getting them to exercise, you will have more motivation to stay committed to your daily routine!