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.