So the question is — “Phit (… that’s the moniker I picked for myself, after experimenting with such gems as “PhitGirl”, “Phitter” and “Phittess” — see, aren’t you happier that I decided to keep things simple?! …
, what sort of an exercise regimen do YOU partake of?
Funny you should ask! My primary form of aerobic exercise these days is — running.
The space left here is intended for all those who’ve known me for more than a couple of months and, as such, know me to be the postergirl for not running. To recap: I’ve never run — not in my teens, not in the fittest parts of my 20s (and there were some of those!), not when my high school gym teacher threatened me with a failing grade. I’m happy to walk, hike, walk a bit more … but running has been my long-time nemesis. For starters, I’ve got chronic asthma, triggered by pretty much anything and everything, and the combination of strenuous exercise and the great outdoors seemed a bit too chancy. I distinctly remember thinking during my stint at 135lb and regular gym-attendance, lo, about a decade ago, that the fabled “runner’s high” might be worth taking the plunge … until I realized that aforementioned high wasn’t supposed to set in until at least an hour into the run. Oh. Nevermind.
That I’m running quite a bit these days — somewhere in the vicinity of 10 miles or so per week (… stop laughing, ye marathoners! …) has to do with aforementioned Couch to 5K plan. The brilliant minds behind this program have made a convert out of me — a slow, plodding, but enthusiastically running convert. Tomorrow’s the big day: My graduation from the program, after three days of running for 30 minutes straight. Thereafter, I’ll be jumping into another program, again, one mentioned earlier: Hal Higden’s Spring Training for novices. (It might be worth noting that this program is supposed to prepare the “novices” — note to Mr. Higden: Hal, dear chap, if your “novices” can run for 3 miles at a stretch, you’ve never dealt with someone of my caliber! — for being able to enter a marathon training program. By my calculations, I’m therefore in the pre-pre-marathon preparation phase at this point. Not that I aspire to running one of those suckers anytime in the near future!)
In addition to running, I’ve been jab-ing and roundhouse-ing through a weekly kickboxing class, as well as occasionally flirting with the cardio-equipment the local (expensive, universty-funded) gym has to offer: You know, elliptical trainers, hill-walking on treadmills, recumbent bikes, etc. With the academic year being off to an early start next month, I’m determined to also take my first ever spinning class — only about 7 or 8 years behind the American phitness curve, I might add. And then there’s yoga, which, really, is great for stretchiness and body-weight strength training, but I’m still looking for an instructor who’ll spend less time on trying to get me to become one with the universe and expand beyond the boundaries of the room, and more time on helping me figure out how to not fall over during the more basic stretches.
This, finally, brings me to the other important category of exercise: Lifting. Resistance training. You know, weights. For the past week or so, I’ve been lifting several times per day, courtesy of my moving my sizable library (… and those other, lesser parts of my life, like dishes and winter clothes …) across town and from basement to third floor. I’m feeling my triceps, my quads and a wide range of other muscles I wasn’t aware were still “in there, somewhere”. When this adventure comes to an end tomorrow, I’ll have to get serious about figuring out a consistent weightlifting plan that won’t completely overwhelm me, either with the complexity of moves (… I’m a klutz, remember? …) or the amount of time required. I’ll keep you posted on these efforts — and would love some input from you as well. One basic element that I may re-add to my routine is the 100 Push-Ups challenge. I whimperingly gave up in week 3 (… because, you know, just because you’re too damn proud to start in the category into which you really belong doesn’t mean that your body will miraculously rise to what you throw at it.
One final worthwhile resource for the motivationally challenged, like yours truly: StickK — check it out and start committing yourself
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