BL: reach Activity Level 2

...I won’t dream of reaching activity level 2, but I’ll try to stay active.
We walked 1,5 hours today through the park to the sunday supermarket and back, with pauses to feed the hungry ducks. It felt great, especially with the snow.

Bf and I have gone walking together, with the occasional breaking into a 1 minute jog.
I really want to continue this. Making the time for fitness is key.

“Everything is walking distance, if you have the time.”
- Steven Wright

...but I am so doing this! I have been swimming, nordic walking, cycling, painting, gardening… It all adds up! I have been a most active girl this past week, even doing strength exercises. It gives me an enormous buzz, plus I have more energy, not less.

I did my sparkpeople.com strength work out. Cool.

Last week end, I went nordic walking. Twice! About 50 minutes on Saturday, and an hour on Sunday (the turquoise dots).

I also walked from home to Max Eeuweplein and back (the purple dots)!

My big nemesis is my lazyass. I’ve got a good excuse not to go swimming during the coming 5 days: I’ve got the work mobile phone with me in the venings, therefore I can’t go swim. If I get a work call, I have to answer it straight away, so I can’t be swimming in the pool.
Nevertheless, I can do other physical activity, and although it’s not sport, there are two things that will keep me moving this week end:
Tonight, I have volunteered to help sorting through and repackaging bags and bags of donated clothes for charity, which will take at least two hours, if not more.
Over the course of the week end, I hope we will finish the paint job in the bedroom and get started on the rest of the paint jobs still to be done in the house.
Painting is not a workout as such, but you can’t do it sitting on your fat behind, so I see it as part of the activity programme.

Last night, I swam for about 35 minutes. The pool was very busy, so it wasn’t an as pleaseant experience as the last two times, but still, I put in the effort and felt very tired afterwards, but happy.

Friday evening, I went swimming again, with pretty much the same exercise as on Thursday. The lady at the counter recognised me, which is kind of cool. I like to feel “local”. I know it was only my second swim, but I feel that I will be doing this more often. It’s only 10 mintes away by bike, so there is no excuse at all.
Saturday was another sunny day. We cycled into the Amsterdamse Bos (forest), flew a kite and enjoyed the sunshine.
Today wasn’t so much exercise as work. Painting for a few hours is not aerobic, but still more activity than sitting on your arse.

Last night, I went swimming. I swam about 25 minutes of breast stroke and 5 minutes of crawl, which I’m really crap at. ;o)
To finish off, I did three (very short!) lanes of back stroke (more like a Dead Man propelled by his legs going up and down) and 3 attempts to dive for 15 strokes, 1 of which was successfull.

In my office, there is no staircase between the ground floor and the first. The only way to get up is by elevator. I work on the second floor, so instead of going up all the way, I took the stairs from first to second floor.

Here is the article with the levels.
I am currently a level 1 person.
I cycle to work every day, but that barely gets up my heart rate, and it only takes 15 minutes each way. So I guess picking up the couch-5-k plan again would be a good idea.

From the site:

Level 1

This is the ground floor of movement. Your daily life may involve constant walking; perhaps you’re a nurse or teacher. Or you make a conscious effort to move during the day. You take the stairs at work or walk during your lunch break. You aren’t involved in a structured fitness plan, but you search for ways to squeeze in some form of movement on a somewhat regular basis.

Light aerobic exercise: 60 to 90 minutes per week
or
Steps per day: Approximately 3,500 to 5,999
Strength training: None

Level 2

At level 2, you follow a structured and consistent, although moderate, exercise plan. You stick to at least three, 30-minute workouts per week. Your workouts may vary from the treadmill or stationary bike to a fitness DVD to a regular morning walk in the neighborhood. You don’t do any strength training.

Aerobic exercise: Three times per week for 90 to 150 minutes per week
or
Steps per day: Approximately 6,000 to 9,999
Strength training: None