What Ever Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger…

With this harsh winter as my excuse, I’ve not been doing my usual daily walking outside which I miss as this time is a key opportunity to commune with mother-nature each day. I used to run but my knees and the joys of getting older have helped me decide that running isn’t perhaps in my best interest any longer. It certainly was not easy for me to say goodbye to my runs and admit that horrid truth either. I never had a fall running even in the snow and icy conditions we’d have but walking is another matter—I slipped on ice a couple years ago and landed hard on my tail bone and cried walking back home as it hurt so much. I am grateful not to have broken any bones.

The March 2014 Family Circle magazine has a 4 minute workout in it and I decided that surely I could find an extra 4 minutes five days a week to get the deed done. I started this past week and boy am I out of shape! Since day 3, I’ve been laughing with myself as I attempt to use my rather sore abs to pull myself up off the floor or get up out of bed. It is hard to imagine that in only 4 minutes I could not only work up a good sweat but feel it the next day and day after that and…so I know I am getting a good workout and it is exactly what my body needs. I’ve found myself saying in some amount of seriousness a mist my jest that this is either gonna kill me or I will get stronger and at those moments I am almost uncertain which it will be too!

I don’t like that I’ve not been exercising this winter. It is rather easy to fall off the exercise wagon. I feel so much better when I get a walk in to start my day. This week I have felt better doing my 4 minute gig and plan when the weather breaks (if that EVER happens) to add my walk to the end of my routine. This will be an even more wonderful start to my day…that is of course, if I live through the next couple of weeks getting my body back into shape!

What helps you get a good start to your day? What kind of exercise program works best for you?

4/13/14

I am happy to report that I’ve been exercising more since I started the 4 minute workout! The simple exercises have helped strengthen my muscles in various places enough that I was able to do a walk/run this week 4 whole days!!! I am pleased with my progress too. I wasn’t sure that I would ever be able to run again and I have done it! Now I am not running any distance, but my ¾ to a mile effort is wonderful for this worn out of shape body of mine! I am eager to continue to strengthen my body and add a bit more walk/run time into my morning routine.

What motivates you to exercise more?