- You can start slow and still reap benefits. In January, my goal was to exercise three times a week for twenty minutes a time. Since it was January and we had cold, snow, and darkness, I used the treadmill. Then I upped my goal a little each month. Just getting active made me feel better and more positive. And now I walk outside most days for 45 minutes.
- You can multitask while you exercise. If I use the treadmill, I often just listen to some upbeat, loud, EDM music. When I walk outside, I listen to podcasts that I downloaded or work on praying for family and friends. If I ride my bike, I'll often pack snacks and books, and read and write in the park for a while. If you feel guilty just going for a walk for a walk's sake (which you shouldn't- but if you do), have a goal in mind. Walk to the library. If you only need a couple things, walk to the grocery store. Walk to visit a neighbor.
- You can just walk. Some of the best days of exercise are ones where I just walk and think. No music, no podcasts, no end goal just the sounds of the birds and thinking.
- You can eat more if you exercise. I love chocolate. Good quality chocolate. When I did the cleanse at the beginning of the year, I felt great, and was losing a lot of weight, but I knew once the cleanse was done, I'd want to eat cheese, bread, and chocolate. Exercising gives you more wiggle room in your food choices. I am making better food choices, but I still love a nice Chocolove Toffee and Almonds bar occasionly. I have kept off all the weight I lost during the cleanse and even lost a few more pounds. Without exercising, I'm sure I would have gained a lot of this back.
- You can skip a day, but don't be surprised if you don't want to. At first, I had to push myself just to get three days a week in. Now, there's been weeks where I go everyday, or only skip when it's down pouring. I feel so good after a nice walk that I crave just getting outside.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
5 Things Exercise Has Taught Me
I have never been a fan of exercise. At best, I viewed it as a necessary evil. At worst, it was a waste of time. But, after a hike this fall, that proved that I was severely out of shape, one of my New Year's resolutions was to exercise more. I know it's good for a person's health, both physical and mental and many great writers swear getting outside and walking is necessary to the creative process- Henry David Thoreau, C.S. Lewis, Stephen King, Charles Dickens, and I venture many more. As a sufferer of long Wisconsin winters, I figured it would help with my self-diagnosed seasonal affective disorder. I also was hoping it would help my clothes fit better and give me more energy. So, basically I was expecting a lot and not sure exercise would be able to deliver, but in the past four months I've realized quite a few things. Here are my top five.
Labels:
2016 goals,
exercise
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