I always have to remind myself that I actually do like to exercise. Odd, isn’t it? I’ve never had to remind myself that I like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Yet everyday I find myself thinking “Ugh, I don’t want to walk today.” Then I tell myself “But you must walk today! Get over it, fat ass!” Then, 20 minutes or so into my walk I’m feeling the groove, the endorphins are kicking in and I’m all “Hey, I’m feeling pretty good. I do like exercise.” I’m like Sam I Am in Green Eggs and Ham every single day of my life. Or I’m suffering from constant short term memory loss like that guy in Memento. Or I’m just me and not some character in a book or movie. Too bad. Life would be much easier if it were scripted. But I’d probably forget my lines anyway, what with my short term memory problem.
Post navigation
Later: Holiday Showdown
Earlier: Breakfast
Home: Main index
I’m like that. I think it’s from years of hating exercise, it takes a while to break that habit.
First off, I just found your blog in a weird round-a-bout way and after searching through it a bit, decided I like it and want to read more. Congrats on your uber dedication and awesome attitude…truly an inspiration. Just out of curiousity, I read that you walk five days a week but exactly how long (far?) do you walk each day? I’m interested in picking up walking again as it’s the most reasonable for me but have no idea what an appropriate length of time is. Just wondering what your plan is and what’s been working for you.
Thanks. Keep it up!!!
brita – I’m not a fitness expert, so you should double check whatever I say. However, it’ll vary depending on what you can handle. When I started, I went .4 miles at about 2.9 miles per hour and decided that was enough :) Nowadays I’m up to about 3 miles a day.
Probably the best way to figure out what you can handle is to figure out your target heart rate. I believe it’s recommended that you do 20-30 minutes a day at a pace that gets your heart going between 55 to 85 percent of its maximum rate. If you google “target heart rate” you can learn more.
I just try to push myself hard enough so I’m working, but not so hard that I hurt myself. I also have to constantly remind myself to keep pushing and making the workout harder and more challenging as my body adapts to it.