I used to have a well established jogging habit. I built it up over time until I could jog for forty minutes three times a week and for two hours once a week.
Then I abruptly stopped. For years … and all that time I kept ‘thinking’ about starting to exercise again. I knew I could get back in the habit. I just lacked the will. I also started to gain weight - noticeably so. Thus the title of the post.
Well, I finally am getting going. For the past four weeks I’ve been going out to exercise in the morning. My goal has been to ‘exercise’ at least four days of the week and so far I’m maintaining the consistency. At first ‘exercise’ meant simply getting outside the door and going for a walk around a track.
The first time I jogged, I just ran for 100 steps. Then I started counting the minutes that I am jogging. My main rule was that I had to either maintain or increase the time. I’ve been able to keep that rule too.
This morning I jogged for fifteen minutes.
The short-term goal I’m reaching for is to jog for twenty minutes four times a week. Then I will work on doubling that to forty minutes for four times a week. Then I will start thinking about running (once a week) for an hour, an hour and a half, two hours …
But really, it’s just a matter of making sure I get out the door four times a week, pushing myself a little bit but not too much - and being patient. I used to think that I wanted to run a marathon someday. I’m not sure if that’s a real goal that I want to achieve or not. Mainly, I just want to have an exercise habit that is consistent enough that it will help me take off the extra pounds.
I don’t expect anything spectacular anytime soon. But maybe in six months or a year or two years, there will be a noticeable difference. Maybe I’ll even become a thin man again.
We’ll see.
1di on Jul 21, 2008 at 7:00 pm:
‘I don’t expect anything spectacular anytime soon.’
well i do! lol.
good job! we can do it!
together, we can lose the poundage equivalent of a human being…wow.
2gwenevere on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:53 pm:
Next time we start a family challenge, we’ll invite you two to play. It’s great motivation (if you are competitive-and well…I know you are) so it should be great. Winner get a trip to Hawaii!
3danithew on Jul 22, 2008 at 6:59 am:
Gwen, I would be honored to join the Bland Family “Who Will Be Tougher Than Chuck Norris?” family challenge.
I understand the winner has to swim to Hawaii …
4Mormon Soprano on Jul 22, 2008 at 6:33 pm:
Totally Awesome! GO GO GO! (I can tell the same story, except for the part about starting to run again) - keep it up!
5cj douglass on Jul 22, 2008 at 7:25 pm:
I can also tell you the same story - I used to run and actually lift weights - a lot. Ever since my kids came along - well you know. Now that I’m starting to get noticebly bigger - its time to start it up again. Thanks for the inspiration Dan!
6Karen on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:55 pm:
Yay Danu! You GO BOY! Actually, I have been struggling with “exercise” as well. You’ve inspired me to JUST DO IT!
7Zina on Jul 23, 2008 at 1:59 pm:
I need to just do it, too (and I just found out Mabel’s willing to go walking with me, so that’s a little motivating) — as soon as I get over this bad cold. (I swear it’s always *something.*) Anyway your project sounds fun and I’d love to follow suit if I can ever get my act together.
8Walrus Sr. on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:28 pm:
Saludo to the becoming thin man! More important, I’ll bet you feel better! Love, Walrus Sr. (Poppy)