Someone just informed me that sitting in front of the TV watching my favorite shows on Britbox is not exercise. WHAAAT???
I have to be honest here. For much of my adult life, I viewed exercise as a dirty word.
That's not to say that I haven't done it. I just haven't been able to stick to it on a regular basis.
Two years ago I really got into the swing of it. I was going to water aerobics, regular aerobics, and walking.
Then I injured my knee and right after that healed the pandemic struck. That is when I took up channel surfing as a sport, and I packed on 15 pounds over sixteen months.
Last week I talked about my current journey to find my way back to happiness through healthy habits.
When I got my blood test results back and saw things marked in red I googled them. at that point, I was ready to sit down and start writing my will. However, my PA told me I was fine and she wasn't worried about any of the results.
(Note to self: Do not allow Laura to use google as a medical expert.)
However, she did not say I could forgo exercising, so I am working out a routine. I love to walk, but it is too hot to walk outside in Georgia right now, Emory just shut down the Wellness Center and the indoor track due to the Delta surge, and walking up and down my hallway every day is boring.
So I have created a plan for a routine because I think when we get into an exercise routine we are more likely to stick to it.
I will walk that hall for 30 minutes some days of the week. Even though it is boring, I will use that time to think of ideas for my blog., and plan my day.
Did you know they have aerobics workouts on YouTube? Since I am an old elderly senior aged like fine wine person I qualify for Silver Sneakers and their classes are on YouTube.
I can use my Amazon Fire Stick to access their workouts on my TV.
Here is my plan. I will walk three days a week and do aerobics for two days. This will take care of my 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
We all have different fitness levels and abilities. My friend told me the other day that she can't stand long enough to walk or do aerobics so I suggested chair exercises.
There are so many benefits of exercise.
This information is from the CDC.
- Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better.
- Exercise can help with weight management
- It can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease
- Being physically active lowers your risk of developing several commonly occurring cancers.
- Doing aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening physical activity at a moderately intense level can slow the loss of bone density that comes with age.
- Regular physical activity helps with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions affecting the joints.
If you can't do 30 minutes at one time starting out, break it up into 5 or 10-minute increments. Don't get down on yourself. Any exercise that you do is better than none and we all have to work at our own pace.
Find something that you love and have the ability to do.
- Ride a bicycle
- Ride a stationary bike
- Roller skate
- Swim
- Do water aerobics
- Lift weights
- Dance
- Walk
- Jog
- Roller skate
I'm proud of you for trying and you should be proud of yourself.
I know that I want to feel better both physically and mentally as I go through the rest of my life, so I am vowing to exercise regularly.
A healthier body and mind leads to a longer life span and a happier life.
*Always consult with your doctor before starting an exercise plan*
I'm new to following your blog. I'm always looking for ways to live simply & serenely!
ReplyDeleteI gained around 10 pounds last year....I think everyone did! Last fall I stepped on the scales & the number really did not make me happy. Here's what I've done...
I started keeping a habit tracker journal. I weigh myself every single day. Every Day. I know, I've heard bad things about focusing on the scale but I read an article last fall that gave some good points for weighing daily. Even though I weigh daily, I don't get hung up on the number. My purpose is that if the number is higher than the day before, I make sure to more careful what I eat that day. If the number is lower...it motivates me to keep eating well. I've lost about 15 pounds since November doing this.
Another thing I do is stretch. I read recently that stretching is more important than getting our heart rates up as we age. So I stretch every day...or try to. Read up on stretching. You need to go slow, breath deep, hold the stretches for 30 seconds (or 15 seconds & do them twice). It's helped my arthritis tremendously! My joints feel so much better. I feel so much stronger.
And the third thing I'm doing is trying to plank every day. I plank on my forearms, not my hands. When I started I could not hold a blank more than about 5 seconds...seriously could barely get off the floor. Now I can hold it for 60 seconds but it is hard. I also try to walk every day. I track my walking by minutes, not steps & I count even if I've only walked 15 minutes that day. Seeing my walking tracker filled in with something is encouraging.
I have done a lot of different things over the years. I used to LOVE to dance with Richard Simmons! I have a big fitness center that I can from my backyard. And I have ridden a bike and walked in my neighborhood (lots of people do!) But I love getting out in nature best. We've figured out the shadiest trails around here and when the weather has a nice breeze, we love walking in nature. That helps me...body and soul! And sometimes it's nice to mix it up. But whatever...get up and get moving is what I tell anyone that's interested! I'll be glad when the weather cools for both of us! Thanks for doing this series. I'm loving it!
ReplyDeleteI like the walking videos by Leslie Sansone on Youtube. If the weather is bad, there is a variety of her stuff to choose from, from easy to hard.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you on gaining weight. That comes very easy for me exercise not so much!!! I love to walk too but both my knees have been pretty bad so I just got approved for gel put in both knees. I hope that will work and I can get back to walking before the snow flies. I never thought of walking the halls we also have stairs here that I could go up and down too. Good suggestion. Have a great day and stay safe down there. My gosh the Covid numbers for you southerners is horrible. xoxo Kris
I know I feel happier once I've gotten exercise or been busy physically. That good old serotonin feels good.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I exercise everyday on my Pilates Reformer. No it's not the professional one that costs thousands.
ReplyDeleteI bought it from QVC years ago. A company makes them for the masses. It's excellent.
I love it and it's physical, mentally and health therapy.
You have a good plan! Maybe you can inspire me to do the same. I've gained about 12 lbs. also and trying to get it off. I have a long hallway in our house that goes through the dining room, then kitchen then back to the hall. Some days I walk that circle for about 10 minutes and kind of power walk... should do it longer but it's better than nothing. I would love to get some sort of little machine where I can do some cycling or stairs up and downs, that I can fold and put away. I've seen one but now can't remember what it was. Looked very good. I used to use the Nordic Track which I LOVED but got rid of it when I quit using it after I hurt my knee. Have had a tread mill too but hardly ever used it. It's too hot here to walk unless I get up early to do it and my excuse is I'm not a morning person. I need to change my ways on that front as health is more important than sleeping in! Keep inspiring us! xo Marilyn
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your mention that exercise was a dirty word...yup! I've recently started walking again and trying to swim when the weather cooperates. I think your plan sounds great. It helps to know I'm not alone on this quest! I agree with Marilyn...keep inspiring us!!
ReplyDeleteI agree - exercise is so important! I have been exercising regularly since my mid-20's, (I'm aged like fine wine, too, lol!). Now that I'm retired, I have time to work out five days a week. I used my eliptical, free weights, and do yoga stretches. I find that watching TV on an iPad while on the eliptical really helps the time pass, and if it's a good show, I look forward to my workout (See, TV can be a sport!). It definitely helps mentally, too.
ReplyDeleteI have actually lost weight during Covid, simply eating less, but I need to up my exercise. I used to walk most days but since it's been hot, I haven't been so good about doing that. I have no excuses because I have a treadmill in the basement. I never use it! I do yoga and stretching most every day, but I know I also need aerobic activity. I also try to do things for strength and ab work such as planks and squats, but again, I need to do more. My mom is 81 and walks all the time - she's very healthy and in good shape!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. Lavender Dreamer shared your blog on her post so thought I would pop over. Thanks for sharing. I have always been one to really be faithful with some kind kind of exercise and then I would allow myself to get in a slump with it. Struggled to be faithful for sure. But, after a hit with Covid, and a struggle to build back energy I sure changed a lot about lifestyle. And one was to be more healthier with exercise. I do a mixture of things and it works for me. With asthma I have to be careful but there is so many things one can do to help themselves. I follow several coaches online with Christian yoga, beginners Pilates, low aerobic workouts, free weights and etc. I use a glider as well. But it works best for me to mix up my exercise routines. It is still hard to be faithful as so many other things beckon for my attention. But, I can still hear the words of my grandmother from years ago. "Baby, take care of yourself as best as you can so no one else will have too". Glad I was introduced to your blog. You many have just inspired me to do a post one day about what works for me. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
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