One of my New Year's resolutions (and, yes, I AM gonna get back to that complete post one of these days), was to work on being Healthy Fit. To that end, I would do x amount of exercise each day, based on what the activity was.
Now, I am not one to exercise for the point of exercise. I've always wished I COULD be like that, getting the endorphin rush from it, etc., etc., but the fact is that I HATE 'exercise for exercise'. With a passion. But, exercising with a visible, immediate end result? Now THAT works!
So, on the days I haven't been SICK (ah-hem) in 2010, I have been getting in my Healthy Fitness. Here's a list of the activities I've come up with to choose from:
If the time is spent on one of the following, 20 minutes is the time allotment. (And, of course, I could always do more if I was having such a grand ol' time!):
- Dancing (Put on ABBA, close the curtains, and GO for it!)
- Wood Splitting
- Snow Shoveling
- Wood Work (Stacking, etc.)
Similarly, if I choose one of these, I'll do 30 minutes:
- Gardening
- Brisk Walking
It being winter, the Healthy Fits (hey, the name works for me - psychological trickery is everything!) I've chosen so far have been wood splitting and snow shoveling.
On Tuesday, it being a gorgeously sunny day, I shoveled the snow away from underneath the solar panels (where it slides down to rest when it melts). I took the following picture a year ago this month, but the picture is exactly what I saw on Tuesday (that's the garage you're looking at).
Now, here's something interesting. Because I want to make sure I'm not cheating myself, I take a kitchen timer when I'm doing my Healthy Fits. And, I would have expected the heavy, wet snow shoveling to "cover" my 20 minutes alotted time. But, ya know what? When I was done, it had only taken me 10 minutes! So, I picked out a new area that needed to be shoveled (the south-facing walkway on the way to the front decks), and cleared a good chunk of that in my remaining 10 minutes. And, the end result? Two big areas cleaned of snow, and my muscles worked! Satisfaction all around. :)
Sounds like a super-smart, sensible program. And what really appeals to me is that when you're done "exercising", you can see something for your efforts. Wood split, snow removed, wood stacked, etc. Pretty soon you'll be able to see a voluptuous, sculpted body, too. (Yeah, that's what I want . . . a voluptuous, sculpted body.)
ReplyDeleteI beg your pardon! Are you saying that I DON'T have a 'voluptuous, sculpted body'?! (Besides, I'm not sure you actually CAN have voluptuous & sculpted at the same time, can you?)
ReplyDelete;p
It's surprising how much cardio you can get from shoveling snow and wood splitting, isn't it?! Whenever I do that type of work like shoveling topsoil or mulch loads I feel like I just went skiing for the first time in years! "Experts" say benefits can be achieved in as little as 30 mins, 3 times a week. While that might not be enough to "sculpt", lol... I am living proof that as little as that can lower your blood pressure. I was told I had high blood pressure last year but I didn't want to take meds at only age 38 so I started with 20-30 mins every other day and my BP came right down!
ReplyDeleteThat video you posted is so cute! Although that was so wrong to give the girl a crochet hook.... I can tell she was saying "Look, even I can do it", LOL! And I see she's got the lined jeans goin' on, but go knit that girl some socks, brrrrrr!!! :)
I hate "formal" exercise too! I like your plan of making work into exercise and doubling your sense of accomplishment!
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