<p>I have found it’s good for me to mix it up. I was starting to walk too many days a week and too many miles a day back in the summer and realized that I needed to break that up with a bike ride or exercise bike intervals or something. I try to never do the same thing two days in a row. I also try not to do the same thing more than twice each week. It’s all good, but each type of workout works different muscles in different ways and, if I can give them a day or two of recovery by doing something else, it seems like a plus. You can tell when you are starting to get run down.</p>
<p>Aside from all that, it’s better to exercise more intensely for a shorter period of time than it is to just slog it out mile after mile, hour after hour.</p>
<p>I agree with the varying it up once you get going. But, then, some people also really find they love to slog it out mile after mile. My sister in law had never excercised until my nephew was born. </p>
<p>She started at the gym four years ago, walking on the treadmill, to lose the baby weight. This fall she ran the Chicago Marathon. So, yeah, each of us finds our own way. She actually ran the whole way. First year she just walked on the treadmill every day, and then she started to speed it up a little bit, and then she was outside with some training group, and they did it together.</p>
<p>She makes my brother look like a slug. And he plays tennis.</p>
<p>I have always vary my activities with seasons. I cannot walk in a summer, way too hot. I swim in a summer, wich replaces all other activities. You can eat more and feel much better than with any other exercise. As I am not a swimmer at all (my D. laughs at my way of swimming), I do only 1.5 miles / day, and at the end of summer can do about 2 miles. (10 years olds on swim team are doing about 3.5miles/practice for comparison). It is much easier to do it at 6am before job, no sun, no kids splashing around.<br>
I love to rollerblade in spring and fall (in combo with going to gym and walking with my H. later). I go for about 6.5 miles. This one is the most dangerous and the most addictive. I have fallen many time going fast, so at least I know that my bones are OK, since I did not break any so far. Well winter time is only for gym and walking. When walking is not possible because of snow, I count shovelling snow as an exercise, also very dangerous one because of back injury. I found variety being very beneficial, I always look forward for rollerblading and swimming. I absolutely cannot run, I never could even when it was requirement in HS. My body refuse to run.</p>
I’m still here. Today is my official start day. I can’t get to the gym today because a snowstorm moved through the south during the night, but I plan to fire up my wii fit today and get busy! I went to the grocery yesterday to pick up some healthy foods and snacks so I look forward to getting back on track with that, too. I need to be serious because my clothes have gotten very tight and I refuse to go out and buy bigger clothes. I’m disappointed in myself that after losing fifty pounds, I’ve allowed myself to gain some back. </p>
<p>I love the water and wish I could swim properly. I never quite got the hang of the alternating face in water/breathing thing. DD, who is a beautiful swimmer and swam competitively for years, teaches swim classes and she’s tried to show me the proper techniques, but I think I get embarrassed because other people are around. instead of avoiding the pool, I need to at least get in and kick board and work my way up to swimming laps. I miss running! I’m envious when I see people out running, but I have a bum knee that gets very irritated when I attempt to do so. I had a series of synthetic cartilage injections a couple of years ago and that has helped a lot. DH and I bought nice bikes the year DD started to college (2006) and we love riding, but don’t do it as often as we should. I have a bit of an addictive personality so, once I start doing something, I tend to be very good about it but, once I stop, it’s difficult to start again. </p>
<p>This is a great place for encouragement and support … keep up the good work, all!</p>
<p>SplashMom,
If you can run, why you need to force yourslef to swim? My D. has been competitive swimmer also, I cannot swim using correct technique, I cannot swim free style at all because of my virtigo. I do only breststroke and back stroke, and kicking. I do not care about people laughing, you do not need to care, let them laugh. Many were laughing when I started rollerblading in my 40s. So, who is laughing now? First they laugh, then they will be envy.</p>
<p>You’re right, MiamiDAP, I shouldn’t care what others think when I’m attempting to swim. I just need to do it. Several months ago when I decided to try running again, I alternated walking for a few minutes with running for a minute or so between. My knee would ache after getting home and I decided it was best to stick with walking, using the treadmill, elliptical and bike. I feel so much better when I’m exercising. I have fallen in to a rut the past few months and I need to get back to what I was doing. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it …</p>
<p>^Just remember how good you feel after, it will make you going. It is also much easier to walk outside. I do both elliptical (2.7 - 3 miles in 30 min.) and walk with my H. - close to 4 miles in any weather, except when it gets too hot (70+ F). We do it instead of dinner. We eat at different time and different foods except for Sunday. It works for me, but not so good for him. Yeye, just go for it and never stop!!! Another benefit of exercise - less time to fill after work.</p>
<p>Splashmom: You might want to find a Total Immersion swimming instructor. I swam competitively in high school in college and then took a TI class about ten years ago (a friend of my husband’s is an instructor). It takes swimming back to the basics and then rebuilds them–I found I had a much smoother and easier swim stroke when I was done–and breathing was much easier as well. It was two one-hour sessions, not a huge time investment.</p>
<p>Interesting how this thread seems focused on exercising. I guess it’s inevitable for people our age. I’m hoping that this exercise habit will be the start of other good habits. Next on my list is a regular bedtime. Or cutting out white flour and sugar. My ultimate goal is to be more productive and engaged in my work. But first, the exercise…</p>
<p>Re changes in diet: I have decided to try my best to drink only water or green tea…going to take it one week at a time as I am something of a diet cola junkie. Not as bad as my mom, who drinks it for breakfast!, but still much too often. I’ve started having clementines for dessert instead of low-fat ice cream. I think I may buy some bananas. A sliced banana with a little Hershey’s is a good substitute for ice cream as well. I like sweet things. </p>
<p>Today, I did a mile+ on the elliptical. I haven’t used it much lately and now I know why…whew! </p>
<p>Put me in the ‘can’t swim for toffee’ camp! My D is also a competitive swimmer (she gets out of sorts without enough chlorine exposure) but I am not buoyant. Wearing goggles is a big help when it comes to putting my face in the water but I still look like a Gila Monster swimming. Just not my native element. </p>
<p>Splashmom – What Wii games do you do? I got JustDance 2 for Xmas…5 songs and I’m dripping! We also got Active Life Explorer which comes with a mat to run on. I do that one with the DH and we are absolutely knackered after a few go-rounds. But the time just races by so that we hardly notice that we are working out.</p>
<p>After 7 days, I figured it was safe to join this thread. I hate exercising and have always come up with excuses. I had been a virtual employee and am now retired due to my job being eliminated, so really have no excuses. I have learned that I just can’t commit to exercising outside the house (tried a gym and Curves over the years) so am relying on my Wii Fit Plus. I doubt I will ever get to the level of many of you but figure every little bit helps.</p>
<p>I finally realized that my major excuse was that I needed to finish my two cups of coffee before I could start, and I drink so slowly that it was usually lunchtime before I was ready, then I always had something else I needed to do, and I do much better in the mornings than later in the day. So my new habit is to exercise after my first cup and so far so good.</p>
<p>At the moment I’m doing the Advanced Step a few times in a row then maybe a nice jog or bike ride around Wii Island with the Wii cat. Or maybe lead a parade. This thread has inspired me to track down an old pair of 3 pound hand weights which I’m working into one of Step routines.</p>
<p>I would also like to eat better but as a very picky eater I just have not been able to adjust my preferences. I tried over and over to like fish and never did, and recently discovered that I’m allergic to fish oil pills (gave me a rash) so maybe my body knew that all along. I also don’t much like most green vegetables or beans, so that limits me. I don’t really eat too much, just everything I eat seems to be carbs, fats, and sugars! But I’m really trying to find alternatives.</p>
<p>I laughed at the “bedtime” goal - I probably shouldn’t have checked out the entire first season of *Rome<a href=“which%20I%20never%20saw%20since%20we%20don’t%20subscribe%20to%20HBO”>/i</a> - it’s addictive! Especially with my husband out of town for 10 days taking care of his elderly mother. No one to make me feel guilty for staying up til the middle of the night. I tell myself I’m on California time (we’re in Illinois) since our son lives there now.</p>
<p>I could cross-post this with the “organization” thread - I have a closet full of clothes that I bought as my weight went up - I have gotten rid of everything that will never fit, or that I wouldn’t wear even if it did fit. But I have many favorites that I hope to shrink back into. So even though some of the clothes haven’t been worn in well over a year, I would feel like I was giving up if I gave them away.</p>
<p>Add me to those who can’t swim. I like it but I also am not buoyant.
I also am not the go to the gym type of person. I find what works best for me is just getting outside of my house and walking. Luckily I live in Ca and in a beautiful area with some nice hills. I have a few different routes that I can vary.
I have kept up my walking accept for a break on Sat. I find the best time for me is around 3;30 or 4 pm. That is the time I find myself wanting a high carb snack. Went to PT today and did 10 minutes on the bike. Part of me wants to count that as my cardio for the day but I know a walk will do me good. If nothing else but in the goal of making it a habit. The pain is less but not gone. It is slow going but I think we are making progress.</p>
<p>As far as a non health related habit I would like to start is bringing in all my junk each night from my car. H washed the car this weekend and made a comment about all my “junk” in my car. Empty tea bottles, junk mail, receipts and of course an assortment of jackets and sweaters. I can’t blame the kids anymore since they are out of the house or drive themselves in a different vehicle.</p>
<p>Guilt is a wonderful thing. Seeing this thread all day forced me to go walk the dog, even though it’s cold, gray and rainy. Admittedly, I ate a crappy lunch, but at least I did go walk.</p>
<p>Guilt! Seeing this thread and the Health and Fitness thread where people run and head out to the gym in ice and snow gives me major guilt. It has been cold lately. I am pathetic that if it is in the 60’s I really don’t want to go out and exercise. It is sunny out today but it is cold! i don’t know what temp but I know most of you would laugh at what I find cold. So, out I go!</p>
<p>Marilyn, exactly my problem! Since I work on my own, I found my morning “routine” with coffee and reading was getting longer and longer so that I would conveniently run out of time to exercise. Forget doing it later in the day, there were all the other chores I had left for that time, and not surprisingly, exercise never made it to the top of that list either. So, that’s why I decided to do my gym routine before anything else, including coffee. Anyone who knows me can appreciate what a HUGE commitment this is for me. I used to practically crawl into the kitchen for my first cup. After 10 days though, it seems that my body is adjusting a little bit. Mind you, I haven’t given up coffee, I just have it now after the gym.</p>
<p>Believe me when I say if I can do this one thing for -so far- 10 days, anybody can accomplish a similar goal. This is the first time in my life that I have actually done something like this. I mean, this is the first time that I have publicly made a promise to myself. I thought I had no will power or self discipline whatsoever, or at least I lived like I didn’t. But nowadays, I’m starting to see a glimmer of potential inside me. Like, I might actually accomplish this goal, in real life, and not as just another item on my to-do-maybe list.</p>
<p>Mousegray, bravo! You mentioned the specifics in Switch… your specific is: I will exercise before I have my coffee. And I’ll now mention my other book on creating habits: Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, which is sort of about dog training. Sort of. You’re trying to train yourself, and that works better with rewards. You’ve created a reward for exercising, of course: your morning cup of coffee! Good for you.</p>
<p>We have wii Fit (BMI, Aerobics, Strength Training, Yoga, and balance games) and wii Sports (Bowling, Tennis, Golf, Baseball, and Boxing). I like both and was really good about using both for quite some time. In the past few months, I got out of the habit, but I started again today. I notice once I starts exercising, my eating habits improve. I just feel better when I exercise. I want to feel that good again and I will!</p>
And he plays tennis.</p>