No matter how many planks/sit ups/pull-ups you do, you can still get injured. Unexpectedly. Doing the most mundane task in the world.
Two days ago I had one of those back spasms hit - you know, the ones that make your knees collapse and leave you kneeling on the floor, trying to find some way to stand up without making everything feel even worse? Like that.
I wasn't playing tennis, wrestling around with the kids, running, exercising, moving furniture or doing anything remotely fun or interesting. I was plunging a toilet.
Several hours (and several Advils) later things were much better. I'm taking a couple of days off without working out, then I should be good to go. But it was a harsh reminder that even if you're in decent shape, when you're in your 40s you can really mess yourself in an instant.
So if you're starting a new workout in January (or just puttering around the house), be careful out there!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
After the holidays, time to take stock...
I haven't exactly been living up to my blog's name. I've been focused on lots of things - my kids, my translation business, moving house, organizing the school craft fair... just the normal, every day stuff of life. I haven't stopped exercising - I started going to a kickboxing class, taking tennis lessons, and I'm doing my Beachbody videos several times a week. I've gained a few pounds, but not enough to make a difference in how my clothes fit.
I seem to have entered a new phase of my fitness journey without realizing it. When I first started (almost two years ago!) I was out of shape, 20+ pounds overweight, and exercise had taken a back seat to virtually everything else. At that point, I had to make fitness a central focus, so I could literally regain control over my body, achieve my weight loss goals and get in decent shape.
Once that was done, I had to make a choice - should I keep pursuing more challenging fitness goals, or work to maintain my fitness level and shift my focus to other things? Back in June, I found myself pulling back bit by bit, no longer chasing some "ideal" physique.
At the time, I didn't really think about why I was less focused on my fitness, but now I get it. Last summer, I was spending a lot of time working on math with the kids, traveling around, translating, visiting friends... so I had less time to think about my workouts. I did them, but I dabbled around, only doing the workouts that I felt like doing, not really following a schedule. For a Beachbody coach, this isn't exactly ideal. At a very real level, I felt I was letting people down.
On the other hand, I've realized that once I put good habits in place, fitness just became a part of what I "do". It doesn't have to be the center of my life - or yours - as long as you stay committed to the fundamentals. Working out still plays an important role in my weekly schedule (if I don't get my workouts in, I feel grumpy and bloated). But I feel like I have more mental energy - more focus - to take on other challenges.
I seem to have entered a new phase of my fitness journey without realizing it. When I first started (almost two years ago!) I was out of shape, 20+ pounds overweight, and exercise had taken a back seat to virtually everything else. At that point, I had to make fitness a central focus, so I could literally regain control over my body, achieve my weight loss goals and get in decent shape.
Once that was done, I had to make a choice - should I keep pursuing more challenging fitness goals, or work to maintain my fitness level and shift my focus to other things? Back in June, I found myself pulling back bit by bit, no longer chasing some "ideal" physique.
At the time, I didn't really think about why I was less focused on my fitness, but now I get it. Last summer, I was spending a lot of time working on math with the kids, traveling around, translating, visiting friends... so I had less time to think about my workouts. I did them, but I dabbled around, only doing the workouts that I felt like doing, not really following a schedule. For a Beachbody coach, this isn't exactly ideal. At a very real level, I felt I was letting people down.
On the other hand, I've realized that once I put good habits in place, fitness just became a part of what I "do". It doesn't have to be the center of my life - or yours - as long as you stay committed to the fundamentals. Working out still plays an important role in my weekly schedule (if I don't get my workouts in, I feel grumpy and bloated). But I feel like I have more mental energy - more focus - to take on other challenges.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)