So here is my daily dose of exercise- give or take a few.
I wake up at 5 a.m. and go down to our gym and run 20 minutes. It’s harder to run right after you woke up because your body is still half asleep so I only recommend it if there is absolutely no other time you can squeeze it in (my case); otherwise I would suggest waiting until you are fully awake after your morning routine.
When I started running again in a regular basis I only ran 3 times a week for 20 minutes and averaged 10 minutes a mile which I though was pretty darn good for a self-professed running-hater. I hated running with a passion. I mean what is so pleasant about sweating, feeling old and tired, your body swollen and sore, your muscles tangled with all sorts of weird bumps that hurt when you touch them. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little bit but you get the point- most of us agree running sucks.
So I suggest finding a running buddy or someone who is also running and will motivate you to keep going- or at least make you feel guilty when you don’t go. That person for me is M, he makes me feel like a pansy when I don’t run and although I dislike him at the moment (I’m not above swearing at him in my head while he runs ahead of me when we run up Grand Ave.) I appreciate that it works.
Now I run 20 minutes 6-7 times a week and average 7:30/7:45 a mile which is a big improvement. I have also learned to not hate it as much and actually like it sometimes- weird! Sometimes when I’m running outside I feel so free and relaxed that I spread my arms and run around like an airplane.. Don’t knock it until you try it.
The point is that although I may still feel disdain for running, nothing beats all the benefits that I have felt in my body and daily routine since I started. When I get to work I feel like I can take on anything; I feel alert, motivated and very awake. I don’t worry about my weight because I am burning those extra 350 calories every morning. I don’t crave candy or frosted treats; instead I crave apples, bananas, and hearty healthy vegetables. It’s amazing!
I should market running as the latest drug, or crazy super healthy berry like the Acai berry fad- I would make millions…
If you absolutely feel like you can’t run anytime soon then you should walk. I walk most days (when M doesn’t give me a ride) to the bus which is 0.4 miles, we take the A Dash to 1st./Central and walk to their school which is 0.3 mi away. I drop them off and walk to work 0.6 miles. That’s 1.3 miles of walking that you don’t even notice. In the afternoon I walk back to the school and repeat the process in reverse which gives me more than 2 1/2 miles a day in walking. When I feel like taking my time we walk home from the school. We walk more and get to chat while we look at the shops and restaurants on Spring St., Broadway, and 7th St.
The lesson here is that you can sneak in exercising throughout your day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator even if it’s only for a couple of flights. If you’re craving something you shouldn’t eat, go for a walk and when you get back if you’re still craving it then go ahead and indulge but after your heart rate speeds up- your body will probably decline that Snickers bar.
So there you are, simple things for simple beginnings. Eat less, exercise more. Calories Burned – Calories Eaten = Whether you lose, gain or stay at the same weight! 🙂
Susana Benavidez 