Making Tracks
When I first started this challenge, I admit that I didn’t think doing at least 30 minutes of exercise each day for five out of seven days a week would be that big a deal. Sure, it was more activity than I was used to, but this isn’t exactly Comeback 2.0 territory here.
To say I was sorely mistaken is easily my most accurate claim of the young year.
I think the clever part in the way the White House has structured this is that 30 minutes seems manageable and short enough to get you off your caboose, yet once you get to the gym or the track or even outside for a walk, chances are you’ll end up being there for more than half an hour.
I’d say I’ve been logging at least an hour on any given exercise day, with activities ranging from poorly played soccer to weights, a reunion with a Stairmaster, and even my first-ever ride on one of those elliptical machines that seem to be in perpetual motion. (I have never witnessed one of these things being serviced. If Precor ever comes out with a car, I’m buying it on day one.)
Of course, I realized all this was beginning to catch up with me when I was unable to get in or out of the seated position without prefacing the motion with a groan or the word “oofdah.” I was tired. I was sore. And last night I figured I’d just eat dinner and read. (Yes, I’m currently deep into an advance copy of Ozzy Osbourne’s autobiography, but judge not! This is not your typical celebrity bio, and cowriter/translator Chris Ayers does a perfect job of making the whole thing feel like you’re down at the pub while Ozzy spins one incredible story after another.)
But a funny thing happened on the way to the couch: Weary as I thought I was, I had a serious itch to do something. I’d waited all day for the moment when I could wind down, and then when it arrived I discovered myself gearing up… with my dog Julia for a vigorous yet necessarily low-impact constitutional. I was having a close encounter with energy of the non-caffeinated kind.
We headed for a walk in a wooded nearby park that boasts some secluded trails. Winter is in full swing here in Michigan, and the snow was alive with moonlight as the two of us crunched along. On a whim I picked up a walking stick and fell into a steady rhythm listening to my audiobook (The Girl Who Played with Fire) while Julia scooted on the trail’s edge sniffing out the night’s secrets.
After a while I did realize that I had forgotten to do my stretching for the day, so I crooked the stick in my elbows behind my back and did some right there. It was a wonderful night, with a bright sky overhead and my pup racing around for equal parts warmth and adventure. I felt peaceful and much more comfortable with the stretches than I have been on a mat at the gym. Well, at least until Julia came running up and started barking at me, apparently out of concern for the embarrassment of one of her friends spotting us.
All in all we were out for more than an hour, and it didn’t stop there. Upon returning home I found myself assembling a shoe rack, knocking out some dishes, and preparing my lunch for the next day. I really do feel more energized, and while I may be creaking through the halls a bit, I more than welcome the other unexpected things this challenge has brought my way.
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Progress Report: Everything is coming along, and I found this extremely helpful free workout log to download. The authors of the site point out that keeping such a log is one of the seven habits of highly fit people—along with never ordering pizza after midnight, I assume. Anyway, it’s great. My Monday soccer team has failed to grasp the immeasurable benefit of scoring goals when it comes to winning games, but my Thursday team is riding the momentum of last week’s victory into tonight’s clash with Team Excelsior. Here’s hoping they’re bluffing.
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I’m reading this at 8:43a.m. at my desk while eating a [man's] fist sized lemon poppyseed muffin (complete with crunchy top!). I’m overweight (a BMI of 30) and constantly telling myself “I need to be more active!” while the muffin’s fat finds its way to my hips.
I purchased a pedometer over the holidays and, after reading this, I’m now motivated to do a little more walking and less eat-and-sitting at lunchtime.
I am managing to move at least 30 minutes a day, but I would not call it exercise exactly. I am in the process of doing a “clean sweep” HGTV style as well as trying to create a viable business and attend grad school with zero energy. I am also asthmatic so going for a walk outdoors with the current wind chills is a no no right now. However, it is starting to warm up a bit so am going walking for 30 minutes today at the mall then do my shopping. I don’t think the time counts when you are actually shopping in a store! LOL
When I get the junk out of the living room, a Wii will be coming in. In the meantime, I have head phones, music and dance. Not up to 30 minutes yet but increasing daily.
That’s great to hear, Deitra. Growing up my friend Ben used to have a poster he made on his wall that simply said, “More of the Same = More of the Same.” Now, that can seem like a bit of a downer, but it’s come back to me lately and the positive way of looking at it is that the more you do the more you feel like doing. Definitely been true for me. (And the best part is then you won’t sweat that occasional lemon poppyseed muffin. Wow, I love lemon poppyseed muffins.)
Jackie, in the list of activities on the Presidential Challenge, they count croquet and lawn bowling, so I’d say reorganizing your house is a sure bet. (Perusing the list again I was pleased to discover that I could log the hour and a half I spent playing ping pong at my friend’s last Saturday night. Wait, does it count if I had a beer?) I think the idea is just to get you really focusing on how much activity you get daily. After that, almost anything that doesn’t involve Cheez-Its and reruns is gold. And the Wii, by the way, is definitely on the list.
Love following your blog, Matt. More energy is exactly the reason I’ve been trying to work out more. Doing good so far and, like you, have been logging all my activities for the President’s Challenge:
http://www.presidentschallenge.org/activity_log/index.aspx
By the way, cute pup!
We started a “walking club” here at work. We walk around the “block” (LONG block - 9/10 of a mile) every day at lunchtime. We just started last week, but already I’m less winded walking up the stairs and have more energy. Thanks for your inspiration!
Hey Matt,
I have to say I too have begun to renew my relationship with my elliptical as you did the stairmaster. I have been sitting behind a computer all day and gotten too sedentary. The elliptical is a Precor (a gift from my parents when I was working out every day for at least an hour). The Precor is an amazing machine I have never had maintenance done and have had it for about 9 years.
It is great to think of other activities and counting those for burning calories. There was a recent article in SELF that listed what it would take to burn off a donut. It helped me rethink that trip to the vending machine.
Bev
@Grace Wait ’til the president finds out! Psyched to have some company. Of course, my pup is always all ears for compliments. @Sher Hey, one step at a time, as they say. Love the moments when you can feel things paying off. @Bev Tell me about it. After sweating away on the Stairmaster for the first time in ages for about 20 minutes, I was disheartened to learn that I had barely burned off the one bag of BAKED Doritos I ate that day. (I think Precors must be made out of whatever that invaluable substance is they’re rooting around for in Avatar.)
My health isn’t great and exercise aggravates my condition….but I found that yoga doesn’t. So I need to be more consistent. I think its great that when you realized you hadn’t stretched you did it right then. I think that’s a great example of being consistent. Just do it. Thanks for the blog and sharing your experience.
I want to welcome you all to the World of getting fit. Remember: ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ and ’slow and steady will get you there.’ I have taken on a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ member every year at the gym where I workout during the last 16 years and none of them have quit.
I want to encourage your workouts and let you know why it is important. I am now a cancer survivor and it is due in no small part to being fit for the fight. Everything is easier to overcome when you are fit, even cancer.
Morning, info data getting around these days, specially from the major news corperations with the big slants to the left or right. Did you see last nights Hanity and Colmes? haha, that was pitiful! Sorry, I’m rambling on again. Have a Great one!
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