No Excuses

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.” – Muhammad Ali


"Transformation is not five minutes from now; it's a present activity. In this moment you can make a different choice, and it's these small choices and successes that build up over time to help cultivate a healthy self-image and self esteem." - Jillian Michaels


Many of us have desk jobs and for the most part, that's a good thing because we don't have to work outdoors in harsh elements on a daily basis.  But it does mean that our activity levels are not what they should be.  

My life has been pretty hectic for the past month or so.  I'm spending a lot more time writing and that means, more sitting.  No one gets healthier from sitting all day so I have a few ideas on how to give your tush a break from the chair.  I've tried all of these and they have helped me to get in some activity when I absolutely have to work on my computer.  These can all be done in short 5 minute bursts throughout your day or during your lunch break.  And taking a 5 minutes to do this for yourself is MUCH better than using the same minutes to visit the fridge for a scoop of ice cream!  
I have a couple of yoga apps on my Iphone that get me moving but my favorite one is Simply Yoga.  It gives the option to choose a 20, 40 or 60 minute work out.  The app has videos that demonstrate the poses to be used for the routine you have selected.  I'm no expert but it has helped improve my balance and flexibility.  Looking down the road, better balance will help me when I start trail running in the fall.

I've also taken up what I call "commercial break work outs."  These are usually a series of various old-school exercises like jumping jacks, squats, planks, crunches, lunges, calf raises and push ups.  This is very effective!  You would be amazed at how much you can get done during a 3 minute commercial break!  And speaking of "old-school", I found a jump rope in my closet a few weeks ago.  I may need to bust that out for some quick cardio!     

Another thing that I do is run "laps" out in the breezeway in front of my apartment.  I like to take Big Baby along when I do this.  It gets us outside for a few minutes and makes us both pretty happy!

So, there ya have it!  A few ideas that are easy, effective and, best of all, CHEAP or FREE!  All you have to do is invest a few minutes of your time to make them work for you.  You (and I) have no excuse to not get in some exercise when it really is pretty easy to fit into even the most fast-paced day!

Happy Trails!
Valeka 

Weather Or Not

Never trust a skinny ice cream man. - Ben Cohen

Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos. - Don Kardong

I must admit, this hot weather has made me a little lax in the exercise department.  In my post, Hotness, I talked about how I've been using the swimming pool to help me get in some exercise without worrying about the overwhelming heat.  So far, it's worked well but I'm a wee bit bored with it already.

I've done some yoga and Pilates but for me, nothing can replace being on the trail. That's where I belong but no matter how much I've attempted to acclimate this year, the heat has been unbearable and my body hasn't responded well to it.  As much as I love getting hot and sweaty during workouts, sunburn, headaches and frequent dehydration (no matter HOW much electrolyte replacement drinks I chug) isn't all that appealing.  This summer, the weather has not been my friend.

But...whether the weather cooperates or not, I still need to keep my butt moving.  If I give myself the chance to sit on the sofa and devour ice cream, I'll do it and do it BIG.  We are talking a double or triple scoop dish with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top!  Not using the inferno-like weather as an excuse is hard to do but it has helped me to explore other options and it does make me feel less guilty if I do indulge in a small scoop of ice cream.

This week, I'll be swimming at Barton Springs Pool, doing some canoeing (which I have discovered that I LOVE), and going to a water park.  In between all of that, I hope to get in some walks...and maybe a little ice cream.

Happy Trails!
Valeka

Because I Can

Run fast for your mother and fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive

-"Dog Days Are Over"  - Florence and the Machine

It's too hot.  I'm too tired.  I'm too heavy.  I don't have time.  There is an Operation Repo marathon on TV tonight. We all come up with excuses about why we can't work out but whatever the excuse may be, it is rarely a good enough reason to not get in some form of exercise.  Yes, there are times when it is necessary to skip a work out but legitimate reasons are pretty few and far between.

This week has been a particularly difficult one for my BFF.  Lots of traveling and worry and very little sleep while still trying to be present at work.  Her father is experiencing a host of health maladies and has been in the hospital for much of the week in ICU.  Saturday morning, I debated whether or not to go for a run because it was an incredibly hot and humid Texas morning and I felt lazy.  I mulled it over and decided to stay in the comfort of my air conditioned home with my pups.  No sooner had I made that decision when I received a text message from BFF letting me know that her dad was going to undergo bypass surgery on Monday morning.  After I got over the initial shock of that, I retracted my earlier decision, put on my running gear and went for a run BECAUSE I COULD.

While I was out running with my dog, my thoughts drifted to all of the people that have been a part of my life that did not have the good health or physical strength to be able to run.  I thought about my paternal grandmother who was extremely overweight (I would say obese but I know she would be offended by that) and got exhausted walking from the living room to her bedroom.  She couldn't lift her legs when she walked and would instead, shuffle her feet.  I thought about my maternal grandmother who had such severe rheumatoid arthritis that she was bedridden.  My grandmothers would not have been able to work out the way that I can.  I thought about friends that I have with health issues that impairs their ability to run the way that I am able to.  I even thought about people that I have seen at the various races I have participated in that are in wheelchairs and how they don't let that keep them from doing what they love.  I thought about my grandfather who was healthy for much of his life and walked every day to the local post office to pick up his mail after dinner. I thought of how he would not have thought twice about whether or not to go out for a walk.  He would have told me to keep running BECAUSE I CAN.  He was blessed with good health and he didn't take that for granted.  None of us with good health should ever take it for granted.  

Enjoy your body and the wonderful things it can do.  Run.  Hike.  Swim.  Bike.  Dance. Yoga.  Do whatever it is that you love doing to keep your body healthy BECAUSE YOU CAN.

Happy Trails,
Valeka