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!