As I write this the weather is sunny outside with a cool temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit. What a great day for some outdoor exercise, wherever you might find it. For my wife and I, the game plan is the beach.
My family (wife and pets) enjoy living in Southwest Michigan just about 30 minutes drive from half a dozen or more beaches. These are not the shark infested beaches of the Pacific, nor the oil stained beaches of the Gulf, neither the tropical storm/hurricane beaches of Florida and the Keys. I'm talking about lakefront beaches surrounding the Great Lakes.
These last couple months of summer have been filled with picnics, games, swimming, boating and fellowship all taking place on the beach. Our favorite times to go are Friday evenings, as we wind down from the week and prepare to enter the rest which the weekend offers. The friends have been great, the activities lively and the sunset-suppers delicious.
We will plan on another such evening tonight. In fact I imagine myself running around the beach throwing a Frisbee or football, maybe even starting a game of volleyball before supper and sundown. I mention this because exercise and workout does not have to be so rigid that it becomes a chore.
I have a ton of fun at the beach just being active. I don't have to worry about how much time I spend doing it, how hard I work at it, or how many calories I'm burning during it, I just enjoy it.
And if you don't already have an outdoor activity that you enjoy, you ought to think about finding one. You've got nothing to lose and, like me, it could become one of your favorite weekly activities!
See you outside!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sauna at Sunrise
Today was the day! Our mission, accomplished.
This morning marked the first morning since coming back from vacation that cooperatively my wife and I woke up with enough time to drive to the Y and get some exercise in before the busyness of life started.
Really I don't know how it happened. We crashed somewhere between 10:30-11:30 pm the night before. Seemingly a minute after I had fallen asleep I found myself sleep-walking to the dresser to throw on my work out clothes. Now the clock said it was 6:00 a.m. but the darkness that I saw outside the window suggested the clock could have very easily been wrong.
By any means, we took the short drive to the Y, where I ran through a quick and abbreviated 30 minute routine involving some cardio, stretching and a sauna. Cardio is okay, stretching feels alright but my favorite part is always the sauna.
Inside the sauna feels great as the sweat runs off your face and limbs, as you breathe in the steamy moisture-filled air, all the while knowing that the toxins within your system are being pushed out through your pours resulting in a better overall health.
Walking out of the Y just around the time of sunrise started my day on a high note. It’s a beautiful day to be alive!
This morning marked the first morning since coming back from vacation that cooperatively my wife and I woke up with enough time to drive to the Y and get some exercise in before the busyness of life started.
Really I don't know how it happened. We crashed somewhere between 10:30-11:30 pm the night before. Seemingly a minute after I had fallen asleep I found myself sleep-walking to the dresser to throw on my work out clothes. Now the clock said it was 6:00 a.m. but the darkness that I saw outside the window suggested the clock could have very easily been wrong.
By any means, we took the short drive to the Y, where I ran through a quick and abbreviated 30 minute routine involving some cardio, stretching and a sauna. Cardio is okay, stretching feels alright but my favorite part is always the sauna.
Inside the sauna feels great as the sweat runs off your face and limbs, as you breathe in the steamy moisture-filled air, all the while knowing that the toxins within your system are being pushed out through your pours resulting in a better overall health.
Walking out of the Y just around the time of sunrise started my day on a high note. It’s a beautiful day to be alive!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Life's Too Busy
A great many things filled out my day today, but the closest I ever made it to working out or exercising was climbing up a flight of stairs (to the second floor) for work, and of course down that same flight of stairs to leave work. The rest of my day was mostly sitting down.
I sat down for everything including eating breakfast, driving to work, working at the office, eating lunch, using the bathroom, driving to class, listening to the professors lecture, reading assigned material, completing homework, driving home, eating supper, etc.
Usually this inactivity is counter balanced as a couple friends and I will blast through a few matches of racquetball on most Wednesday evenings. *Sigh* Not one of us had time for it today.
All in all, this was a sorry day for engaging in activity. So I'm crossing my fingers hoping that the day tomorrow brings will have more than 24 hours in it. That way I might stand a chance of accomplishing the many wonderful intentions that I have for myself and my health.
True story.
I sat down for everything including eating breakfast, driving to work, working at the office, eating lunch, using the bathroom, driving to class, listening to the professors lecture, reading assigned material, completing homework, driving home, eating supper, etc.
Usually this inactivity is counter balanced as a couple friends and I will blast through a few matches of racquetball on most Wednesday evenings. *Sigh* Not one of us had time for it today.
All in all, this was a sorry day for engaging in activity. So I'm crossing my fingers hoping that the day tomorrow brings will have more than 24 hours in it. That way I might stand a chance of accomplishing the many wonderful intentions that I have for myself and my health.
True story.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Lifting School Books And Syllabi
Fall classes for graduate studies started this week for my wife and I and it was quite hectic as we registered for classes here, dropped classes there, picked up more classes and so on.
One such case happened today as I attended a class that required like 5 books, some of which were thick large volume commentaries or dictionaries. I began to imagine how much muscle mass I could gain just by lifting and carrying all the required books to and from class every day.
Probably it would do me good, but in addition to all the books required for the class the professor passed out 4 separate syllabus packets! The papers together were so thick, they could have never been stapled together as one packet, hence the 4-pack. It goes without saying, but I dropped that class for a more reasonable one...
All in all with the rearranging of classes, mapping out homework assignments and scheduling new work hours I found myself today being limited to mental exercises without the benefit of important physical exercise.
*Shrug* Some days are like that!
One such case happened today as I attended a class that required like 5 books, some of which were thick large volume commentaries or dictionaries. I began to imagine how much muscle mass I could gain just by lifting and carrying all the required books to and from class every day.
Probably it would do me good, but in addition to all the books required for the class the professor passed out 4 separate syllabus packets! The papers together were so thick, they could have never been stapled together as one packet, hence the 4-pack. It goes without saying, but I dropped that class for a more reasonable one...
All in all with the rearranging of classes, mapping out homework assignments and scheduling new work hours I found myself today being limited to mental exercises without the benefit of important physical exercise.
*Shrug* Some days are like that!
Monday, August 23, 2010
1-2-3 Ding Ding Ding
Oww! Ouch! Oh that hurts! These were the thoughts running through my head today as I limped around the campus upon which I am studying for my graduate degree.
Yesterday when I was "Mr. Competitive" and played extreme racquetball on an injured knee I never imagined the result would feel like I'd been tortured!
Climbing stairs, getting in and out of my desk chair, driving in the car, even sleep last night was very difficult on account of my knee being so uncooperative with the rest of my body. My left leg is stiff and tight and needless to say I am not planning on any form of exercise or workout today.
You can count me down and out!
Yesterday when I was "Mr. Competitive" and played extreme racquetball on an injured knee I never imagined the result would feel like I'd been tortured!
Climbing stairs, getting in and out of my desk chair, driving in the car, even sleep last night was very difficult on account of my knee being so uncooperative with the rest of my body. My left leg is stiff and tight and needless to say I am not planning on any form of exercise or workout today.
You can count me down and out!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Competive Sports
This will be short and to the point on account of me being out of breath. Today included 2 full hours of graduate student orientation, 6 hours of work, and another 2 full hours of racquetball.
I should probably let you know that I LOVE the sport of racquetball! If you asked me to run laps for 2 hours forget it. If you asked me to play basketball for 2 hours I’d probably decline, and even bicycling and roller skating isn't as much fun for me as a good game of racquetball.
I'm no expert, though I am improving as I play competitively with a couple of friends at a comparable skill level.
Due to a recent knee injury caused by chopping wood and a stray log encounter (a whole different exercise story) I have been favoring my left leg. Which means I should be letting myself heal up and play conservatively... yet it's competitive sports so I gotta play to win right?
Well I played pretty hard, and won a few singles matches, a doubles match, and lost a singles match as well as lost a cutthroat match. Overall I was very pleased and might I reiterate that, hands down, racquetball is one of my most enjoyable modes for exercising!
I should probably let you know that I LOVE the sport of racquetball! If you asked me to run laps for 2 hours forget it. If you asked me to play basketball for 2 hours I’d probably decline, and even bicycling and roller skating isn't as much fun for me as a good game of racquetball.
I'm no expert, though I am improving as I play competitively with a couple of friends at a comparable skill level.
Due to a recent knee injury caused by chopping wood and a stray log encounter (a whole different exercise story) I have been favoring my left leg. Which means I should be letting myself heal up and play conservatively... yet it's competitive sports so I gotta play to win right?
Well I played pretty hard, and won a few singles matches, a doubles match, and lost a singles match as well as lost a cutthroat match. Overall I was very pleased and might I reiterate that, hands down, racquetball is one of my most enjoyable modes for exercising!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Why Mow The Lawn?
*Warning* this may be one of those boring posts...
Today was busy as most days are. I got up around 8:00, ate breakfast, showered, and prepared for work at 9:00.
At work the time just flew as I worked on this, that, and the other projects and before I knew it it was time for lunch.
I had lunch with my wife, something light and then she needed to head to work. This left me to the second half of my day. Unfortunately this second half went a little slower than the first.
If you had walked or driven by our house that day you may have noticed the grass reaching its climax. This climax was a direct result of the unabated growth our lawn had experienced in the 2 weeks we were gone on vacation and the 1 week (for a total of 3) in which I had just ignored the outdoors.
Well I didn't think I could get away with ignoring the outdoors forever so I grudgingly, I mean lovingly (in case my wife reads this), pulled out the mower and cranked it up.
We live on a small city lot and our yard is probably a quarter acre at best. Even still, with 4 trees, 3 flower beds, and a row of bushes it can take me 45 minutes, easy, to mow the whole piece. For this reason, I have decided I fulfilled the requirement for a daily exercise or workout by mowing...
Hey it's something active!
Today was busy as most days are. I got up around 8:00, ate breakfast, showered, and prepared for work at 9:00.
At work the time just flew as I worked on this, that, and the other projects and before I knew it it was time for lunch.
I had lunch with my wife, something light and then she needed to head to work. This left me to the second half of my day. Unfortunately this second half went a little slower than the first.
If you had walked or driven by our house that day you may have noticed the grass reaching its climax. This climax was a direct result of the unabated growth our lawn had experienced in the 2 weeks we were gone on vacation and the 1 week (for a total of 3) in which I had just ignored the outdoors.
Well I didn't think I could get away with ignoring the outdoors forever so I grudgingly, I mean lovingly (in case my wife reads this), pulled out the mower and cranked it up.
We live on a small city lot and our yard is probably a quarter acre at best. Even still, with 4 trees, 3 flower beds, and a row of bushes it can take me 45 minutes, easy, to mow the whole piece. For this reason, I have decided I fulfilled the requirement for a daily exercise or workout by mowing...
Hey it's something active!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Cars Are Always So Reliable...
Well this week my wife and I are just getting back home to Michigan (Eastern timezone) coming off of a 2 week vacation in California (Pacific timezone).
Last night we told each other we would be getting up around 5:00 am to go workout at the YMCA. But guess who hasn't adjusted back to the Eastern timezone yet? ... Yep ME! So no workout this morning.
Instead I woke up about an hour before I was to be at work. The first 30-40 minutes awake were very relaxing as I felt I had plenty of time to get ready. After showering and eating breakfast it was time to head out.
We have two cars at our house and I would usually just take my car, but it was in the shop. Maybe I could just take my wife's car? I thought. Not today, because she needed it later in the morning, so to compromise I just asked if she would drop me off. Of course she said she would.
Well we get into her car and turn the key... and nothing. Blast it! Her battery is dead, and I have to be at work. I ran to the back of the house grabbed one of our two mountain bikes and headed off. By now it's about 10-15 minutes till clock-in.
I am fortunate to live near my place of employment, I know some employees have a half hour or more commute one way to work every weekday! I live just under 3 miles from my work.
Even still, how many people do you know who take a 3 mile bike ride within an hour of waking up in the morning? Yeah, this was brand new for me.
Anyways I pedalled and pumped my legs as hard as I could and man was I tired when I got to work. The bad news, I was a couple minutes late. The good news, (counting the bike ride home) I got in 6 miles of bicycling and probably exercised more than I would have had I woken up in time to hit the Y.
Life is full of surprises!
Last night we told each other we would be getting up around 5:00 am to go workout at the YMCA. But guess who hasn't adjusted back to the Eastern timezone yet? ... Yep ME! So no workout this morning.
Instead I woke up about an hour before I was to be at work. The first 30-40 minutes awake were very relaxing as I felt I had plenty of time to get ready. After showering and eating breakfast it was time to head out.
We have two cars at our house and I would usually just take my car, but it was in the shop. Maybe I could just take my wife's car? I thought. Not today, because she needed it later in the morning, so to compromise I just asked if she would drop me off. Of course she said she would.
Well we get into her car and turn the key... and nothing. Blast it! Her battery is dead, and I have to be at work. I ran to the back of the house grabbed one of our two mountain bikes and headed off. By now it's about 10-15 minutes till clock-in.
I am fortunate to live near my place of employment, I know some employees have a half hour or more commute one way to work every weekday! I live just under 3 miles from my work.
Even still, how many people do you know who take a 3 mile bike ride within an hour of waking up in the morning? Yeah, this was brand new for me.
Anyways I pedalled and pumped my legs as hard as I could and man was I tired when I got to work. The bad news, I was a couple minutes late. The good news, (counting the bike ride home) I got in 6 miles of bicycling and probably exercised more than I would have had I woken up in time to hit the Y.
Life is full of surprises!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Introduction
A little bit about myself...
I was born in the state of Lousiniana (Who dat!). Grew up in the state of Texas (Yeeehaw!). But here recently I have moved to state of Michigan with my wife and our two pets (Benne; a Bichon dog, and Cassie; a Himalayan cat).
For the next several years both my wife and I will be pursuing our graduate studies programs in the field of Theology.
A great inspiration to my day-to-day health is my wife who has a contagious energy and passion for staying in shape physically, as well as mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. As such, we have a current membership at a local YMCA where we pump iron or work on cardio a couple times a week.
I don't have the perfect routine, but because I care about my cardiovascular health, muscle mass, endurance, body weight, and my general well being both for today and for the future, then I'm going to keep on exercising, working out, and learning as I go along. I hope you will choose to exercise and workout for your health benefit too!
I was born in the state of Lousiniana (Who dat!). Grew up in the state of Texas (Yeeehaw!). But here recently I have moved to state of Michigan with my wife and our two pets (Benne; a Bichon dog, and Cassie; a Himalayan cat).
For the next several years both my wife and I will be pursuing our graduate studies programs in the field of Theology.
A great inspiration to my day-to-day health is my wife who has a contagious energy and passion for staying in shape physically, as well as mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. As such, we have a current membership at a local YMCA where we pump iron or work on cardio a couple times a week.
I don't have the perfect routine, but because I care about my cardiovascular health, muscle mass, endurance, body weight, and my general well being both for today and for the future, then I'm going to keep on exercising, working out, and learning as I go along. I hope you will choose to exercise and workout for your health benefit too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)