Entries Tagged 'Health and Fitness' ↓

It’s mid February, time for an update on my 2008 Commitments. In the original post back in December, where I laid out my commitments for all the world to see, I said I would give updates throughout the year. Here is the first update of each commitment:

• Ride at least 4 days/week for total time of over 200 hours during 2008- Well, so far I am a little behind. Right after the 1st of the year my nagging ankle tendinitis flared up and I took almost four weeks off. As I sit here in February I have less than the 16 hours or so of riding I need to be on pace for 200 hours. But, compared to last year, I am not that far behind. The good thing is that I saw a sports medicine podiatrist who says I don’t have any structural damage and I can at least keep riding as long as I ice/stretch. I am going to cut back a little on the riding intensity but hopefully I will be OK.
• Learn something new every day- So far I am keeping up with this one. The “Intellectual Devotional” is really nice. It is easy and quick to read and the subjects are good. Most of the stuff is not “essential”, just nice information on a variety of subjects.
• Become more flexible- This is really going to take a while! I am completely inflexible, worse than I thought. I have been stretching religiously every night and things are getting a little easier but I have a long ways to go. This week I had a session with a sports massage therapist (part of my treatment program for my tendinitis) and she was amazed how inflexible I was. She showed me some new stretches that seem to be much more effective at helping me gain flexibility in my hamstrings and calves, which is key for me. I am able to reach a bit farther that on January 1st but I have a ways to go.
• Visiting with out of town friends- We have contacted each couple and reminded them that we need to get together this year. As to when and where, we still have to plan that.
• Obtain advanced investment management designation- This is still on the back burner. I haven’t really proceeded past the intial investigation stage. I have a choice of two that are worthwhile to pursue but I haven’t picked one yet.

There you have it. I am making progress on four of the five commitments so I feel pretty good overall. Already this year there have been some challenges to overcome which I feel good about doing. There will be more I am sure and I will keep you updated.

How are you progressing on your commitments for 2008? Use the comments to let us know.

Boy, it sure feels good to be exercising again!

After a nearly four week layoff due to a recurring injury I finally got back on my bike and rode outside yesterday and today. I hadn’t done anything since January 7th and I was really itching to exercise. It’s amazing how our bodies miss the activity. I think I went through a little bit of withdrawal by not being able to workout. My time on the bike, especially outside, has become part of my life and when I can’t do it I get a little down. Exercise gives me a chance to clear out the cobwebs, work the stress of daily life out of my body, and get back in balance. I really need my exercise!

What did I learn from the past four weeks?

1. I’m not in my 20’s anymore and because of that I need to pay more attention to my body. Being able to perform physically is not automatic anymore, it takes work. Just about everyone of my friends who is over 40 has experienced the same thing.
2. My body takes longer to heal than when I was younger. I have had more injuries in the last 3 years than the previous 40 and I think it is related to age. I just need to take a little longer before and after a workout to warm up and cool down. Stretching is more important than ever.
3. Physical activity is important to me and I miss it when I can’t do it. During my time off the bike I noticed that my emotional state was not quite as stable. I found myself getting frustrated just a little easier. Also, my sleep didn’t seem to be as deep. After just one workout I feel measurably better.

I am so glad that I am working out again. My body seems to have lost a little fitness but I should be able to gain that back fairly quickly. My main focus now is to keep healthy so I can continue to work out. I have committed to more frequent stretching as well as increasing my strength, especially in my “core”. Hopefully, things continue to improve and I remain injury free the rest of the year.

What does all of this mean? I think the bottom line is that we all need to make sure that we get regular physical exercise. The benefits cannot be ignored. But, at the same time, we need to take care of our bodies to make sure we can perform like we want to.

If you haven’t been to the doctor, go and get a checkup to make sure you are healthy enough to start an exercise program. Then, start slow, build up, and then stay consistent in your workout regimen. Make sure you take time to prepare your body by warming up and cooling down properly. Enjoy your time working out and make it a regular part of your life. Pretty soon you will crave the exercise and your body will thank you every time you break a sweat!

What do you do for exercise and what benefits do you get from it? Tell us about it by posting a comment.

Just how flexible are you? No, I’m not asking about you ability to adapt to new situations (that’s the subject of another post to be) but rather your ability to touch your toes or lift your leg without pulling a muscle. Seems like a strange question, but life is more fun when you are healthy and in shape. Flexibility is a key component of overall health. Exercise is easier and you have a lower risk of injury. I am probably as guilty as many of you when it comes to a lack of flexibility. In fact, my lack of flexibility probably contributed to my recent injury.

I have committed to becoming more flexible this year and so far I am doing OK but I have a ways to go. Stretching is something that takes time, you can’t improve a lot overnight. But, if you work at it on a regular basis you will see definite improvement. So, how do you get started? Well, there are plenty of resources available to you on the internet. This site is a good place to start, along with the Wiki Page on stretching. If you are a fan of the “Dummies” books, as I am, they have one for stretching.

You don’t have to spend hours each day stretching in order to get the benefits. As little as five to ten minutes can make a big difference. If you exercise, make stretching a regular part of your warm-up and cool-down. Your risk of injury will be cut down and your performance will increase. Even if you are not a workout fiend you can benefit from regular stretching. You will be able to perform regular day-to-day activities with less stress and strain.

So, put on some workout clothes, load up your Ipod, or, if you want to see the original “Rubberband Man”, watch this video of the Spinners on Burt Sugarman’s Midnight Special from 1976 and start stretching!