So running is just about non existent these days with the heat at 95 degrees and the humidity high many of those days too. I am as I mentioned on several occasions, heat intolerant these days. I hate it, I hate struggling to breathe and I hate sweating standing still. So I know I need to keep moving and I do walk as much as I can which is great but recently the heat keeps me inside like a prisoner after morning. I do the stationary bike downstairs in the AC and some Les Mills stuff down there too. That’s good and movement is key so something is better than nothing but I have found a little trick that has made me ride that stationary bike more often than I would otherwise.
I have found that if I bring my headphones and my iPad down with me, I can pull up a video of a group riding in Italy or a spin class or even just a solo trip through Germany and it makes the stationary bike fun all of a sudden. I find that when I do the iPad thing, I ride harder and actually longer on many days that I do if I’m just watching a movie while I ride. I’ll tell you this, I am reluctant to turn up the resistance when watching a movie or TV and riding than I am if I put a cycle-related video on. There’s something about a guided tour of another country where they tell you how high to turn your resistance or how fast to pedal that changes my motivation. Not to mention my Husband’s office is down there so I can’t look like a wimp on the lowest resistance now can I? 😀  Now do you really need a Peloton if you’re armed with an iPad and a bike? Â
It’s all in how you look at it that determines how you go about it. You know: Your attitude, not your aptitude determines your altitude. Whatever it takes these days to keep me active is what I’ll do. Weight just hangs around now that I’ve reached 50 and although I’m not bogusly obese, I feel like I can do better for myself. Go Me!
It’ll get better because I know all things get better with practice. It’s a lazy way to say I did something without fighting the crowd of resolutionists at the gym this time of year and smelling like a hog. My hope is that I can like it more and incorporate it regularly into my new fitness regime. My belief is that I can use it in addition/conjunction to learning how to meditate (another goal for me this year). Strength comes from all sorts of exercise and one thing I need more of is small muscle strength and flexibility. Both can be achieved through Yoga. Tonight I’ll be sure to remember to use my Yoga mat and take my socks off. Last week I didn’t do either and I kept slipping on the carpet.
Monday my son and I walked 2.8 miles.  Walking isn’t exerting myself much but it’s moving and I give credit there for doing something. Tuesday I should have been in my new class but I had to finish up something important at work and left too late to get to the gym to get into the class. I had other things I had to do as well so my time was limited. I came home and did a brief 32-minute workout in my basement with heavier weights than I usually use. I’m hoping heavier but shorter was effective. It’s all movement so it’s good. Wednesday I took a second rest day to go to dinner with a friend. Thursday I should have been in class but I didn’t want to go to the gym for two reasons. One, I promised to have an easier week. Second I’m reworking my caloric intake/macros and needed to rework what days I’ll be doing what and where I’ll be. Tomorrow I’ll do a weight routine and use heavier weights instead of cardio to finish off my promise. Next week experiment #3 begins.
Fifty. Now What? 