Slacking...

Y'all. The last time I had a good walk was Monday! And that wasn't even a mile!

I got off of the bus early and walked to work, half outside and half in the skyway. I've done a little exercising here and there this week at home, but I am slacking seriously this week and I am not happy! But, such is life, and all I can do is carry on. Tomorrow is another day, and Saturday is yoga day!!!

Have you been keeping up on your exercise goals? What do you do during the week when you can't make it to the gym/get your run in??

I'd like to hear from you!

Yesterday

D and I went to our neighborhood YMCA Saturday, which is in New Hope, MN. The New Hope YMCA is the kind of Y that I remember from my childhood. Kids everywhere, parents hanging out watching the swimming lessons, gym and weight room busy with people taking classes, running and sweating. Even though the Y of my childhood was older, (a LOT older)

South Chicago YMCA today.

the vibe was still the same. Lots of people of all colors playing together.

We walked on the track which is above the gym. The kids were busy taking a basketball fundamentals class. Nice to see them learning together while the parents watched. There was an exercise class going on across the hall. It just made me happy to be there with so many people. 

Saturday morning

Saturday morning found D and I at our wonderful yoga class at the downtown YMCA. Myra is starting a new beginner's series where she will take us from the beginning to advanced poses in our practice. Check out her blog, A Joyful Practice.

I so look forward to Myra's class on Saturday morning. This class is the most strength training that I get all week, and I feel good about myself after each practice session. Come on by next Saturday morning at 9:30 and practice with us!

Are you always hungry?

Have you seen this article about obesity and why we are always hungry?

It explains a lot. Exercise is important in maintaining lifetime fitness, but what you eat makes a lot of difference as well. I have never been much of a dieter. I love to eat, and the new info on weight loss now suggests that eating a low-fat diet isn't really that good for you. Yay healthy fats!!

Rethinking Weight Loss and the Reasons We’re ‘Always Hungry’

WINTER!!!

Yay! Winter is finally here and since it’s too cold to walk outside this morning, I can recap my last few days of what I actually did.

Wednesday I still hadn’t made it to the gym, so I got off the bus early and walked 0.59 miles to my office. Even though it wasn’t a mile and a half, it got my heart rate up, loosened up my ankles and hips, and I felt good when I got to work.

Then our buddy Christopher C. sent me this:

(Link in case you can't see the video)

Awesome, right! (Thanks to Ezinne Okparaebo for making her videos public!). So, I was ready to roll on Thursday when I FINALLY made it back to the gym. I walked on the treadmill for 38 minutes, and actually worked up a sweat! Yippee!!! When I really get back to my regular routine, squats, deadlifts and clean and presses will be added to that little walk.

On Friday, I went to Myra's 5:45 one hour yoga class so I could free up my Saturday morning. Her Friday evening classes are lovely, with low lighting and candles(!) everywhere on the floor! That was the second Friday evening class that I attended and it was great, just like I remembered. It was packed with people, the city lights were shining in through the windows and it was good to get a good stretch at the end of the week.

So stay warm, everyone. The temperature as I write this is -9 degrees!! Good luck to the Vikings and keep it moving!

I walked almost 2 miles this morning. The morning was dark and clear, the stars were out and the air was crisp and clean. I love being out in the early mornings! I felt good even though I hadn't had enough sleep (GO VIKES!).  The plan is to walk Monday and Friday mornings and go to the YMCA Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Let's see how this week goes.

Back to the Y!!

Yay! D and I made it back to our beloved Saturday yoga class with the best yoga teacher there is, Myra. If you ever take a yoga class at our downtown YMCA, take Myra's class. She is so talented at helping us connect our minds with our bodies while reminding us to be present. I feel so good!

2016 will be a great year!!

Well, I'm 50 years old.

Me at the bottom. At Soundset 2015.

On December 11, I turned 50. I had been looking forward this milestone for quite a while and when I woke up that Friday morning, I really thought I would feel different somehow. I know, I know. I was the same as I was the day before. But living for 50 years on this planet brings a lot of thoughts to mind.

My main recurring thought was that I had achieved what a lot of people haven’t in my position; I have mostly maintained a fair amount of physical fitness up to this point, and I am very grateful. Since my birthday always falls during the ‘Holiday’ season, I had fallen off of my workout routine the past month. I hadn’t been to my weekly yoga class in a while, and the morning walks I usually do with my partner had fallen by the wayside with her nagging knee injury and the decline in the weather.

So now that the new year is upon us, I have decided to hold myself accountable by blogging my exercise antics for all the world to see! I am a terrible procrastinator, and I LOVE to eat! So instead of making some outlandish New Year’s resolution, I will confess my sins to you, the reader, and let you keep me in line!