The first week of December we started having the girls lift twice a week before practice started. I offered to be in the room as I was already at the school. The school day ended at 3:00, I got off at 3:15 and our practice began at 4:30 or so. This didn’t leave much time to go home, so I stayed and while I was there I would ride an exercise bike.
This was my first step toward rebuilding my body with physical exercise. I was walking more, but the bike was more strenuous. It was also good for winter months in PA when being outside wasn’t always so pleasant.
My general plan was to stick to the diet. Given my calorie count I knew I was going to lose weight. I also knew that once I lost the fat I’d feel better, but wouldn’t have much in the way of muscle. I hadn’t worked out seriously except for my racquetball and steps before all of this happened.
Once the weight was off, I’d increase the steps and bike and eventually work in dumb bell circuits. I ordered a set of weights so I’d have them for January. Nothing crazy, I wanted adjustable ones so I could start light, which I would need to do, and slowly work my way up.
Some people like to join a gym thinking that they will be incentivized to go because they paid. The reality is that you won’t go unless you want to go. I decided I’d put the same money into a set of dumb bells and begin in January once I had been doing the bike for a month, increased my steps, and I’d try some different workouts and see what best suited me.
The bike was good, I got two hours in per week and was feeling better. My weight bottomed out around 153 pounds. I didn’t have a scale at home, but we had one at the practice room, so I checked with shorts, t-shirt, socks and shoes and guestimated a weight to deduct for the clothes. It was pretty consistent fluctuating between 155 and 158 most days.
The key was and always is consistency and being able to work it into your daily routine.
The bike was perfect because I was there already and the bike was available.
I eventually got one for my house and started riding it every morning for an hour when I woke up. During this time I did my journaling, planned my day, checked the weather and the news, and read articles, which made the hour more productive. I also felt wide awake going to work.
Question for You
Have you purchased a membership of any kind hoping it would encourage you to do something you didn’t really want to do? How did it work out for you?
Lesson Learned
You can be a little creative and work things into your life without great disruption, but with great benefit.
Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker 