A new regime
I have to face facts; when it comes to exercise, I’m fundamentally bone idle. The only reason I got any exercise when I lived in Oxford was that I cycled to work, so I had to pedal. Since I’ve moved to Birmingham, I can only get public transport to work, so apart from a walk of about 30 minutes back from the station, I get practically no exercise at all.
I decided that this had to change. The University has a very nice sports centre, and membership for students and staff is much cheaper than it would be to join a commercial gym, so I’ve signed up. My goal is to go to the gym or swim at least four days a week. Ideally, I want to do gym sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, with a swim on the intervening days. It’s ambitious given my previous lack of significant activity, but I want to get into a routine. Even if I initially only swim for a short while, or do a fairly easy weights session, I want to get into a habit.
Which brings me on to my second point; why does anybody try to start a new routine (exercise or anything else) in the New Year? It’s probably the very worst time try and change habits, particularly if they involve going out into the cold very early in the day. In contrast, mid-summer seems to me the perfect time to start something new. You have long days encouraging you to be active, and even getting changed for a workout is less of a hassle when you’re just wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
My plan is to get myself into enough of a routine now that when my enthusiasm becomes paper-thin in the the early winter, sheer habit—-and a reluctance to lose all the fitness and muscle tone I hope to have built up by then—-will get me through it.
1
That's a big new habit. You might shoot for going two times a week for a couple of months, and build up.
I find if I make a new committment like that and I end up skipping a couple of days, then I just blow the whole rest fo the week off since I can't even make 50%.
Just my lazy, non-exercizing .02 worth! Good luck getting to the gym!----- It's funny how different people can be. You relish the thought of exercise in the Summer, I - on the other hand - much prefer training in winter months.
I'm a distance runner by choice (not good at it, but I get it). I work in a technical training college, and am fortunate to get 1 1/2 hours for lunch - perfect for a run of pretty much any midweek length. Running in the summer for me is a haze of hot, sweaty days - midges - hay-fever - glaring sunshine - ratty drivers who don't always see you.
I relish the prospect of rainy days in the summer (tomorrow is looking good!)
The autumn/winter/spring sequence brings very special joys to me. Running past trees turning through myriad colours, running on frosty roads in the early morning, splashing through puddles, running through mud - Spring's early buds. The sound of owls hooting in the trees - the first calls of birds freshly returned from winter retreat - the fact that you're out there (and no-one else is). Frankly, I could go on and on - but my grammar is already terrible!
I agree with you though - you must establish a routine - a discipline. Start slowly, and nurture each gym visit - the buzz you get afterwards will reward you tenfold.
I've been very slack and lazy recently. I injured myself doing Stafford 20 in March, and have not run properly since. My usual lunchtime "running time" finds me sat at my desk working through my Next Actions! I got miffed with myself and my lack of discipline - I've slipped a long way, and it will be a long haul back to proper running fitness. Generally, reading Stuart Hughes' blog gets me inspired to run again - he works hard to improve, and has greater challenges than a grumbling ITB!
I am rambling so much that I should probably add the rest of my thoughts (and solutions) to my own blog (rather than clogging up yours with my drivel!)
Best of luck with your new routine. Savour each workout, and take it easy! All the best.
Kev
by Kev @ 23/06/2005 7:07 pm • Permalink •
2
Mushlette: I know it's a bit ambitious, but I'm encouraged by the fact that I've been four times this week, and after each workout I've felt much more alert and ready to crack on with work than usual. So I'm hoping that this big dose of positive reinforcement will cement the habit. I'm also going to be away in Brazil for nearly a month in September, so I'm up against a bit of a deadline to get myself fit enough to trek about in the back of beyond all day, carrying lots of gear.
Kev: Hehe, well---it takes all sorts! I'm not saying that I don't like winter, because I do, for many of the same reasons you listed. I think my problem with winter as far as exercise goes is the length of the day and low light levels. I don't have Seasonal Affective Disorder as such, but I seem to have a radically different physiology in winter and summer. Also, the only practical time for me to exercise is before work, and because I have quite a long journey, that means getting up at 6 am. Right now, I'm waking at about 4:30 or 5, and feeling relatively perky, but in the winter when it will be dark for hours yet at that time, I just want to sleep.
Sorry to hear about your injury---that must be very frustrating. I am actually starting to get a bit of a buzz from it, and as I said, it is making me feel much more energetic during the working day. I am, though, wondering what the heck my pectoral muscles do all day. They certainly don't contract on a regular basis, because a few reps on butterfly pec-deck thing was a killer!
by bsag @ 23/06/2005 8:06 pm • Permalink •
3
Good luck with this. I used to be a fairly regular user of the Uni pool at lunchtimes when I worked on campus and, assuming we're talking about the same Uni here, summer is the best time to use it as it's nice and quiet. As I used the pool on and off for um.. nine years, it definitely worked for me that if I'd taken the trouble to build up a bit of fitness over the summer, come October when the students started back I'd be in a better frame of mind to keep going during the busy period once xmas term starts. Even just knowing 'I can do x lengths in y minutes' seems to help motivate me to go and try again. I miss the uni pool actually. I now work miles away from Brum and the only gym near work has a year-long waiting list to join it. I'm definitely getting faster at running for the train though
by JonH @ 23/06/2005 8:07 pm • Permalink •
4
Exercise is sooooooooo boring my brain hurts just thinking about it. It hurts and is boring, sounds like victorian sex. I don´t need discipline I need brain shutdown for exercise. I need exercise, I just haven´t found a way to fool myself into enjoying it. Yeah yeah endorphins (or some such thingies) and such. I think cocaine is probably more effecient in that regard. I wish you (honestly) good luck. But don`t bite off more than you can chew. Grow into it.
by john(jc.) @ 24/06/2005 8:06 am • Permalink •
5
Sorry, I can't restrain myself from pointing out that us Southern Hemispherians actually are starting in the middle of Summer when making resolutions for the New Year. Not that it's something I've ever done, but theoretically...
by megan @ 24/06/2005 11:06 am • Permalink •
6
Hi, I commend your effort and resolve. I enjoy your blog very much. You have exposed me to other great sites too. Thanks, Jim.
by Jim Scolman @ 24/06/2005 3:07 pm • Permalink •
7
the most important thing to remember -- and truly believe -- is not to get too discouraged by missed workouts, if you actually do miss them. most of the battle involves getting into the routine. for some people, this routine flows naturally like any other routine. people of my ilk have a much more difficult time even starting a new routine or good habit like this, so it's even more important to take each day's little accomplishments and move on.
also, try to vary your workouts enough to keep them interesting. i've been skipping the gym lately while the weather's perfect for longer cycling excursions before dark.
just starting your quest for fitness places you well ahead of most people. keep it up!
by n8 @ 25/06/2005 4:06 am • Permalink •
8
I wish you luck with the new regimen, I've lost count of the number of gyms that I've joined and failed to keep up. I find one of the main problems is getting there, and getting changed, once I am doing exercise it isn't too bad (or it wasn't until I achieved my current heights of unfitness). If I could go from my normal state of indolence to exercising without any of the intermediate messing around, I don't think that I would have any problems.
Don't forget that a 30 minute walk a day (or 60 minutes if you walk both ways) adds up to quite a lot of exercise over the course of a week.
by keith @ 27/06/2005 10:06 am • Permalink •
9
JonH: Yes, it's the same one. I can imagine that it gets a lot busier in term time. However, I'm banking on the fact that students don't generally get up early
john(j.c.): Eh, it can be. Particularly treadmills, which are an awesome combination of boring and disorienting
. I find that I quite like weights machines though, possibly just because I have fantasies about being able to crack walnuts in the crook of my elbow (which---let's face it---is never going to happen).
megan: You're quite right, and that was very northern hemispherocentric of me
. I'd be interested to know whether everyone's resolutions are any more successful for being made in Summer?
Jim Scolman: Thanks!
n8: Good advice. I'm trying to keep my motivation up the geeky way by tracking my progress with graphs. I took 30 seconds off my 1 km time on the rowing machine today, which probably means I was taking it very easy last week.
keith: I'm with you there. I also find the whole changing business a real chore. I've always wished we could get changed like Mr. Ben, with a couple of seconds to morph from one outfit to another!
by bsag @ 27/06/2005 4:06 pm • Permalink •
Page 1 of 1 pages