Off topic: Exercise
I will start off by saying that I am not a person who exercises willingly. If I had the kind of body type that looked “good” without ever breaking a sweat, I would never exercise. Yes, I know there are still harms to that (skinny fat, etc) but I’m just being real. I’ve never been into sports, and to this day I will still look for any excuse to skip a workout. I resist most of the time! But the desire to skip it is still there. (I also love me some dessert. The thought of sticking to some low caloric torture regimen just to fit in my jeans makes me sad.)
In addition to vanity, I’m also aware of the many, many mental benefits to exercise. It’s amazing what hopping on my treadmill and walking for 20 minutes can do for my mental clarity. I sleep better, I feel more optimistic and hopeful, and my mind is just...quieter. We bought that treadmill on Craigslist a few years ago with the plans of eventually moving it to the garage, but it’s still in the back room. I know myself very well and I’m concerned if it’s relegated to a separate place altogether (it’s a detached garage) my already-whisper-thin motivation for using it will vanish. Out of sight, out of mind. So for now, it stays.
I use my treadmill for the most boring activity imaginable: walking. There was a time in my life when I enjoyed running, but that time did not last long. I managed to do exactly one half-marathon about ten years ago and decided I was pretty much done with running. I prefer walking because:
I don’t actively hate it. This is more important that you might think. I used to think of exercise as a punishment for my body that I had to suffer through. I was a total clock watcher, just counting the minutes until I could be done and do something else. When I finish a walk, whether it’s one mile or five, I usually feel energized and gratified, rather than depleted. People may argue the merits of one exercise or another, I say the best exercise is the one you will do.
It helps me think. This is related to the first point, because every moment isn’t filled with dread (unlike when I’m running or, heaven forbid, doing burpees), but it deserves further discussion. When I’m on the treadmill I’m either listening to music, which helps me brainstorm or make plans for whatever book I’m working on, or I’m listening to a podcast or whatever inspirational youtuber I’ve recently come across. It helps me feel productive. Two birds...you get it.
The aforementioned mental benefits. When I’m walking or doing any other exercise, I am flooded with a profound sense of gratitude for my body and the amazing things it can do. I also sometimes feel guilty for the times I’m lazy and treat it poorly, but let’s concentrate on the gratitude. I find myself thanking God for basically every system in my body. My bones are amazing! They withstand the impact of each step and support my whole body! I love my muscles! They’re not super sculpted but they can still do stuff! I love my lungs and how my blood carries oxygen throughout all those muscles! And thank you for keeping my digestive system in check so I’m not holed up with stomach flu right now!
Over the past year I’ve also taken an increased interest in strength training. I grew up in the 90s, when cardio was king and most “weight lifting” videos for women featured fitness models twirling 5 pound weights around. And I did those videos for many years without (much) complaint.
As I’ve gotten older, however, I have started to read more about the benefits of training with heavier weights. And let me tell you, between seeing older female relatives suffering from falls and the resulting loss of independence, and getting older myself, I’ve had the fear put in me big time. So last fall I started looking on youtube for some more challenging strength programs for women. And that’s how I found Caroline Girvan.
Y’all, if you want to see rapid progress with strength training, please check out her videos. She has an app now, but I have no experience with it, I just stick to what’s free on youtube. Her library is extensive and I love the format of her videos. No distracting chatter, no patronizing “bubble butt” talk, just solid workout programs with an emphasis on proper technique. I found myself rapidly progressing from using 5 pound weights for every exercise to 20 pounds in some cases (mostly lower body and back). I still use lighter 8 pound weights for some shoulder/lat/delt stuff, but the point is I have learned my body is capable of far more than I ever guessed. A year ago the thought of using 20 pound dumbbells for chest presses would have been HILARIOUS. Now it’s standard procedure. If you’re new to her, I highly recommend her 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar program. You don’t have to do it for a solid 24 days, obviously, but it showcases the variety of her workouts and gives a good taste of her format. They’re also shorter, most clocking in around 20 minutes with a few ab workouts that only last 12 minutes.
Do you have a specific workout routine? Does it help you with creativity or mental clarity, or are you one of those odd people who exercise just for the fun of it? And if you’re a CrossFit person, could you please explain the appeal to me, lol?