Weekly: exercise in my target heart rate zone (HRtarget) 4x (Happiness Manifesto Declaration #1)

Okay, so I decided in all of my infinite wisdom that hubby and I should go for an easy hike on Labor Day. We both love hiking, it gets us outdoors and goes towards fulfilling this goal, right? So, yeah. In theory, it was a great idea. In practice, well, I haven’t been back on the exercise thing long enough to have a great hike just yet. Add to that the fact that I somehow failed to eat breakfast before we left (no yelling, please, I know it was dumb) and what you have is a disastrous hike that did not make me feel good about my fitness level at all. What it did do was re-convict me that the time has come to address my fitness issues. So today, at lunch time, I took a walk around the complex and, while it wasn’t the fastest I’ve walked and it wasn’t the farthest I’ve walked, it was the best I could do today. And I will do it again every day that I am able. And I will do at least 20 minutes on the elliptical and I will get fit. I was ashamed and scared yesterday and I don’t want to feel that way again.

So, I have kept this up for nearly a week now! Up in the gym room 4 times, giving 25-30 minutes on the elliptical. This goal is going to be an integral part of my success on the Challenge Goal I have set for myself. As cooler weather comes upon us, I plan to add a lunchtime walk to my routine which will actually help in two ways: I will be getting more exercise in AND I won’t be eating lunch out so much as I have been.

Inspired by the quiet commitment SD#1 has demonstrated this summer, working her way to a great level of fitness by consistently working out and watching what she is eating without obsessing about it, I have decided to try a similar approach. So, while on our little camping trip, my husband and I did about a 2 mile “gentle” hike each day and tonight we went upstairs and swept the cobwebs from the equipment in the gym room and I did a good 25 minutes on the elliptical. I really want to do this. I don’t like the way I felt on those esy hikes – I love hiking and I want to be fit enough to enjoy it. I don’t want to whine my way through, stopping for breath every 10 minutes or so. I will be 50 in just 7 1/2 months. I want to be a much fitter 50.

With the winter doldrums just about over here, it’s time to recommit to exercising. I don’t have much of a plan yet, but I am going out for a run this morning and then, at some point this weekend, I’ll get the bike out and get it ready for using it to commute to work. (It’s 20 miles round-trip.)

Well, 25 with my cooldown. I feel good about my workouts. I am not pushing too hard but pushing hard enough. When I get to a good 45 minutes of cardio, I will add in the weights, but for now, this feels like a good place to be with this goal again.

I did 20 minutes last night and again tonight! Not bad for my first week back at it – five workouts, albeit fairly low-key ones. I am thrilled to be back at this and looking forward to the times when I feel great doing it!

I have now completed three easy (but in my Target Heart Rate Zone) workouts this week. 18 minutes on the elliptical last night. Didn’t do a workout tonight because a road trip to Charlottesville and back left me weary. Tomorrow morning, I will be back in the gym room and feeling good about it!

Okay, so it has been about 6000 years since I last reported on this one. Probably because is has been about 5,999 years and 364 days since I last did anything towards this goal. But, guess what? I am back at it and expect that, by starting with baby steps, I will re-discover the joy of daily exercise.

My first report here will clearly show the baby steps aspect: Yesterday, I did 18 minutes on the elliptical at a low resistance level. This morning, I did another 15 minutes. Baby steps. Very important.

in favor of walking on a daily basis for now.

I just need to re-word it so that it jumps out at me easier and gives me a better idea of how to tackle exercise. So, I’m just leaving the team to venture out on my own…