Quote From: ritehere Do you walk or exercise with anyone else? If you don't, maybe it's time to dig up an exercise buddy. It can put some interesting touches on an activity that is maybe becoming routine? On another board, when I mentioned climbing a mountain as a new goal, it was because I felt my workouts becoming routine, and too focused on vanity. I needed a physical goal outside of weight loss. The response I got from the other posters was enough to keep me at it. It was wonderful. Now I've found an activity I really enjoy, and am pursuing it, my husband and I have found others to join us. It 's really becoming "play."
Last year when I hit a major wall, I realized that I had to do something totally different and that was to sit down and really think things out. I had spent the summer walking my dogs every day and doing Pilates 2x a week. Then I bought these shoes and within 3 days, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs - it got even worse when in Pilates I got a charlie horse in my toes, then my arches, and then the back of my calves. I ended up at a foot specialist and discovered that I had bone spurs in both heels and that I was flat footed. I purchased shoe inserts - they were molded to my feet - and then began the slow process back to doing exercise.
Right now, my dogs get walked every other day. I also stretch out my calves in the middle of the walk. And I go to the gym 1x a week. With winter coming, the dog walking will be cut back drastically to not doing it or just walking them around the block. And I will see about doing the gym 2x a week.
Because I'm not in any routine with the dog walking, I can do that for years and years. Each walk is different - garbage days are nuts, when the squirrels are out playing in the early morning - it's nuts.
As for the gym, the routine I'm doing is only up to 2 sets right now. When I hit the 3rd set, I will have to change it after 3 months. Do different machines, etc. Right now, I'm checking the 1/2 Price Book store for books that I found at the library that will help me with the different machines. I do have access to a free personal trainer - so she'll show me how to do the machines. But what I wanted to do was create an at home free weights routines when the weather gets so bad that I'm not going to be traveling on the freeway to get to my gym.
I also have dance practice - we practice different steps to different music every week. It's more fun than work but I do feel it! I do veil work and arm movements which are helping me strengthen my muscles.
