Yesterday morning I read “The Hidden Benefits of Exercise” and “Why You Should Step Up Your Workout” in the WSJ. www.wsj.com. Worth a read. For me, exercising just makes me feel better overall. If it keeps me from getting sick, aging prematurely, or developing diabetes or something worse, phew. Too bad you cannot buy and stockpile exercise.
Today I finally did some weight lifting. It’s not as fun as running, there’s no “high” when it is over, but I get to watch TV while I do. (I guess I could wear my watch though, huh?) It’s supposed to help burn calories when I am sitting around. Pass the chips. And, my friend Kristy from college is really into it and has good ideas and advice. She doesn’t run, but likes Hal Higdon and turned me onto www.coolrunning.com Months ago she said that doing lower body work would help my running. So, it links to my overall goal.
I only own 10lb weights, but this turned out to be a blessing (as usual a bright side). I got these weights, oh, about 5 years ago. Never used’em. Moved’em to three different homes. They sat in my car for a year. Like that Geico commercial, the one where the 100 bucks has eyes, they were staring at me all the time. I thought I couldn’t lift’em. In classes at the gym, I never, ever, ever got more than 5lb weights. Maybe 8lbs once in a while. I didn’t want to look like a bodybuilder did I??? But, I can lift 10lbs, I’ve done 15lbs with a trainer, and I have improved in consistency since starting this summer. My weights are perfect for biceps, triceps, squats, lats. But these challenge me to improve lateral front raises, which are tough with 10lbs in hand.
Per previous mentions of procrastination, I do a little dawdling to get the right show on (I Am Legend is on), the weights lined up correctly, a good pair of shoes on, drink some water, grab a Frito Scoop, etc.
Jumping Jacks started each round (20 of’em). Then, mostly in sets of 12 or 15, I GO:shoulders, lats (back), triceps, biceps, squats, calf raises, pushups, chest press, abs, L-I-F-T. Mostly in the same order, but I only do the lateral raises in the front once and I try to do a different set of abs (30 each) each time. I take breaks between each set of all of those (the scene in the lab with the dog is during one of those breaks.) The last set of shoulders was a good neck workout. I end on squats, which are wobbly this time.
Then it’s over and so is I Am Legend. The weights portion of my plan to run the Shamrock Shuffle is has begun…
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