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Do you exercise ?

LJP

Veteran

If so, where , and what do you do ? How often ? Has it been a lifelong thing ?

If not , what are your thoughts on fitness and exercise in general ? Bad experiences ? Never got into it ?

I’m always interested in what other people are doing .

I work in a world class fitness centre but you wouldn’t know it ;). I’m a life long sports and fitness enthusiast but have lost my mojo in the last few years since being plagued with osteoarthritis in one knee . I grew up in an athletic family doing very competitive things . I started running as a teenager , and kept it up until my knee couldn’t handle it anymore - maybe 7-8 years ago . I know my way around a gym and can do most things , but my current winter routine ( if you can call it that ) consists of Pilates Reformer Level 2 once a week , one stint at the gym combining a short cardio session on a treadmill followed by random free weights and body weight stuff . Throughout the week I’ll pull out a band or dumbbell and do things behind my desk at work . It’s terrible but all I seem to be able to muster up . Right now at home I’m doing 15 lb kettle bell squats and single leg deadlifts . Have to watch the weight levels on leg exercises . I’m going on the wait list in January for a knee replacement .

Tell me about your fitness life !

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48 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

SarahD8

Veteran

Yes! I am trying to up my exercise lately so I’m glad for this discussion!

For much of my adult life I’ve been an early morning lap swimmer. Well, the pandemic put that on hold but I have just rejoined my gym a couple months ago and I LOVE it!!!

I am not a gym rat though. And I am NOT competitive. Never had any interest in organized sports. I just like to do my own thing.

Right now my goal is to do at least ONE of the following every day: 1/2 mile swim, 25-minute HIIT/calisthenics routine, walk 30 minutes (I walk briskly and my usual route is down and up a big hill). Ideally do TWO of those (generally either swim or calisthenics in the am and walk in the afternoon). I am on a 14-day streak!

I’m realizing that I need to do more gentle movement/stretching though. I did a short yoga routine the other day and was like: oh yeah, my body feels a lot better!

I hope your surgery happens promptly and brings improved health that helps you reconnect with your enjoyment of physical activity!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LJP, you have been active and very sporty your whole life, and it shows! You look fit and healthy. It's no wonder you feel at home at the fitness centre. I hope your knee-replacement surgery comes swiftly and goes smoothly

Personally, I'm not a sporty or athletic person. I don't go to the gym or do weights. I am consistently active, though. I choose one thing and stick to it for years.

As a child: ballet and swimming

From the age of 9 to 21: horse riding. dressage. competitive.

Adult life: Spinning with professional cyclists at a bike lab. Full body practice yoga, intermediate level 2. Lots of vinyassa. Lots of weight baring exercise. Walking doggies and urban city walking all the time! Family outdoorsy days out where we trail or walk in the woods for hours with Sam and Jo.

Fantasy life: I would LOVE to do karate and become a black belt.

Sloper

Veteran

I did not grow up in an athletic/sporty family, and have zero physical aptitude - gym classes were torture.

But I walked, and lived in big cities for a long time - so walking and stair climbing were my exercise. Belonged to a gym briefly and enjoyed the Nautilus machines.

Last few years, after cancer treatments, my back has suffered (just had fusion in August). Radiating pain down the legs worsened even though I did physical therapy to strengthen my core. Since surgery, I’m slowly trying to build strength again. I do physical therapy, a little foot-pedal machine, and 2 lb weights for upper body stuff. It’s a struggle! My goal is to be able to walk with a cane for my next surgical follow-up in February.
-

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, Sloper. You've been through a lot and it's been extra tough. I wish you strength, send healing thoughts, and hope you reach your Feb goal with ease.

Sloper

Veteran

Angie you are an angel! Thanks for the kind thoughts!

Lisa - I hope I didn’t give too much of a downer response.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have walked and done some form of exercise since I was very young. I am not athletic, but I like Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Walking, Hiking, etc. I did take some dance classes when I was young -- maybe one or two years. There was always phys ed in school. I liked gymnastics but not team sports.
I took my first Yoga class when I was 16 years old. My sister took me. I loved it. I started going once a week. That went on for about a year.
In university, I took fitness classes. I also did classes that were on TV.
After graduating, I did classes at a gym, and the aerobics craze started. I did that for years. I bought my videos to take classes at home (The Firm). A few of my friends bought them as well.
I did try running for a while, but I had problems with my feet, so I had to give it up. I always walked long distances. Having dogs helped motivate me to keep walking.
I started doing Pilates in the early 2000s for about five years. I had to stop because I was in a car accident. My neck is permanently injured, and Pilates hurts my neck.
I went back to Yoga around 2005 and have stayed with it. Mr. SF and I do it together.

I have a weak upper body. I worked out for years with light weights and could not do a push-up. After doing Yoga and Sun Salutations with Chatarungas, I can do a push-up.

Lisa, I hope your knee replacement surgery happens soon and goes smoothly.

Irina

Veteran

Sloper, sorry to hear about your challenges. Good luck!!
I haven’t been a sporty kind of woman, all that was left behind since early teens. I walked a lot every day and that was it. My son enjoys sports but athletic activities were never a part of our life.

I started swimming in a pool about a year ago, I went to a swimming school as a child and loved it.

But after my injury I had to restore strength in my legs, also a visible muscle loss in my injured leg. I started with jogging outdoors in September.

Now my routine is: lap swimming 40 minutes x 4 times a week, treadmill and running plus some weights at the gym for about 90 minutes x 4 times a week, 5 if I don’t have anything better to do. Daily walks with my husband- about 40 minutes, longer on weekends. My daily fitness goal is 10K steps, not counting walking up and down the stairs inside my house. I’m able to meet it most of the days.

My friends and my husband are surprised by this change but very supportive. In January I will start beginners yoga once a week. Wish I had more time, would love to try Pilates.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I walk daily weather permitting, take care of our yard and garden for exercise.
I wish my upper arms were more toned and during COVID emphasized that area along with core emphasis but did not see results, so I am only doing my daily walks, gardening and yard work in long sleeves!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Sloper best wishes and admiration for your excellent attitude!
I started exercising to videos (yes videos) in college (anyone remember The Firm?) and basically haven't stopped since then although have evolved through dvds and now streaming. I need to include a certain amount of yoga for my mental health and have been doing barre for the last couple of years. You wouldn't know it to look at me frankly, but I am pretty strong .

Irina

Veteran

Jaime, ignorant me haven’t heard about barre before and now I want to do it!
can I learn it myself from YouTube?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sloper, I'm so sorry to hear of your challenges and impressed by your commitment. Onwards!!

Lisa, oi, I feel your pain (literally...). I also have some arthritis in my knees and tore a meniscus 2 years ago -- still am not entirely the same after that. I expect surgery eventually but in the meantime, do what I can. I hope your surgery date comes soon and recovery is rapid and uneventful.

I was never athletic. My distance vision was terrible as a child, so sports were out. I did ride though (once I got glasses, ha!) and I also rode my bike a lot and walked more than a mile to school every day. So I wasn't completely sedentary as a pre-teen/ teen.

Then, for most of my adult life I have lived in walkable cities and walked everywhere. Which added up to quite a bit of movement. I did yoga sporadically. At 50, I wound up working for a fitness company and learned to work out with weights and even did cross fit for a while! I never would have imagined myself doing that stuff until I learned to do it.

These days, my routine on a good week (which isn't every week) is 2 to 3 sessions of kettlebells (I have an online group that I used to work out with in person before the pandemic). 10K minimum steps per day, however I get them -- which might be walks, a short jog or intervals, gardening, a hike, whatever.

In summer, I also ride about 15-20 K on my bike daily -- mostly commuting here and there but sometimes just a fun ride. In winter, I ride much less, but when possible, I still try to get out a few times a week because I find it really helps my knees. Plus, I love riding my bike -- I feel a sense of childlike freedom and joy on a bike that I don't get with other forms of exercise. Except maybe outdoor skating, which isn't much of a thing in Victoria, LOL, or horseback riding, but I have not done that in a long while. I wouldn't mind trying again, though, if I could find a stable that would take a senior beginner!

My bottom line is to "close my rings" on the Apple watch and get my 10K steps in. I am sure I could be doing better/ more with the weights -- this is certainly nothing like the program I did a decade ago! But it is what it is and it's sustainable for now. I think I may try to go back to a proper gym eventually to get more serious about the weightlifting again.

Runcarla

Veteran

My parents were academics and artsy types, but put all 4 kids through swimming lessons. I was the only one who persevered through to bronze medallion and joined a swim team. At 13 I discovered running. X-country in the fall, track in the spring, city club track in the summer. One summer I had a cyclist boyfriend who kitted up my 10 speed with rat traps and we went for 50k bike rides for dates! I trained on my own over the winter and ran marathons (2) in grade 11 and grade 12. My parents didn’t understand.

In uni I swam and ran for fitness. After uni whilst experimenting with various jobs, I worked for a year at a gym, and taught aerobics classes. I learned about weight training, and never stopped running . After a relocation to a northern community with long, snowy winters, I picked up cross-country skiing (skate and classic) and routinely made the 1000k club. I ran a 3rd marathon in my 40th year. I followed the family to a ski hill that same year and picked up snowboarding. To improve my skills, I took the instructors course, and passed. I spent every weekend, the Christmas holidays, and March break at the hill with the family for the next 10 years.

At 46 I added a local short course tri-athlon to the annual routine of a spring 1/2 marathon, and fall 5 k turkey trot. At 50 I got a better bike, and squeezed in a couple extra triathlons. I swam with a masters swim club, biked with a local cycling group, hired a personal trainer for strength training, and ran on my own.

I ‘retired’ from triathlon after the 2017 season, and 20 triathlons. A seniors swim meet in 2019 and 5k run in October 2020 were my last ‘competitive’ events. Running has become difficult due to an issue with my right hip. I ran my last 5k fitness run on my 60th birthday in 2020.

These days a 90 min. weight training routine - 3x/wk is the core of my fitness regime, supplemented with swimming, biking, and yoga classes as the mood strikes. Once a week DH and I take a Tai Chi class (new since September) and 3-4x a week we take leisurely 2-3 hour urban rambles through town.

I have to work my body in some way for at least 2 hours every day, or else I just don’t feel good - body or mind. The lock downs of the past 3 years have been terrible for me, but I have been on a roll since April, and am (thankfully) past the point of those early weeks of post-workout aches.

Just renewed the annual membership at the Y this month!

LJP

Veteran

Wow - Irina I’m impressed with all that you do! How do you make the time and how do you have the energy ? Although I think I’m a fair bit older than you so there is that . After a work day I’m exhausted and sometimes frustrated / annoyed and it’s all I can do to get home , eat and go to bed . Repeat for the week . Ugh . The last thing I want to do is head into the gym where everyone knows me - in the building I’ve already been in for 8 hours . It’s been suggested that hormones are out of whack now ( post menopause ) so I’m looking into that . It’s easier in the summer when walking and biking are an option - I love being outside in the sun getting exercise . My fantasy is to retire at a decent age and go to the gym daily like the women I see everyday at work .

Suz - geez - I thought my 10-15k bike rides on weekends in the summer were an achievement ! Ack - how do you all do this ?

LJP

Veteran

Sloper you are NOT being a downer . You’re being real and honest . I didn’t know you were recovering from cancer . I admire you for sticking to your rehab and having a goal in mind - I hope your recovery continues on a good path .

LJP

Veteran

Gee whiz Carla ! Now I want to crawl into bed and weep . Kudos to you for being able to do all of this . I’d love to move my body more ; as I mentioned above my fantasy life is to retire and spend my days at the gym , lol.

slim cat

Veteran

Not a sporty person by nature I always walked a lot - never learned to drive - lol. Always public transportation and retail job most of the time. Full time SA position and barely any sport activities ( PT last 18 months as sport activity of sorts and some hiking on days off ).
Somebody had a smart watch with counting the steps while working in our team - about 16K steps and more daily.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Time is.a real issue, there is no question. I can't speak for others but I'm fortunate in that my jobs over the past decade have involved flexible hours (at least on some days). That makes an enormous difference -- you can exercise when the mood (or the right moment) hits. Or, where I live, when it stops raining long enough to go outdoors, LOL. (Actually, tonight we have s snowstorm so I just got some exercise SHOVELLING.)

Since my job at the fitness company, I've become like Carla -- unless I get movement every day I'm not a happy. It doesn't have to be vigorous exercise every day but I need to be outdoors in motion. So there is also that -- I know the difference it makes to my mental health and my sleep, so even when I feel tired or don't want to, I try to make an effort and tell myself I can stop after 10 minutes if I really don't feel up to it.

My weights workouts are one hour each - 2 or 3 times per week. And I don't have to travel to get to them -- I do them online, at home. Saves a lot of hassle and time.

I walk for at least one hour a day (as a rule). Often, those walks happen at night after supper. I have gear for walking in the dark in winter, and in summer, it's a lovely time to get out.

I typically go on a longer hike at least once a week, on Sunday morning.

The biking is mostly commuting (shopping, dentist, doctor, meeting friends or work, if I am working outside the home) -- so it happens when I need to go. Usually it's afternoons. And if I've worked out in the morning and biked somewhere in the afternoon, I can work at the paid or creative job in the spaces between. Plus, I don't really respect weekends, i.e. I work at my paid and creative work at any time. This has its own downsides, to be honest -- I have a lot of flexibility but I'm never entirely "off" duty, either.

Synne

Veteran

I was active as a kid I guess, running around outside and swimming in the ocean. But when puberty hit: NADA. I had a brief period of a fitness lifestyle in my late 20's; I read "Born to run" and signed up for a couple of races, I tried martial arts and even did a BJJ tournament! That was so rewarding and so fun! Around the same time I fell pregnant, and ever since then it has been back to nada.

I hope it's different this time around. After my pregnancies I have struggled with back issues and lumbago, sometimes being completely immobile for days... I started bodyweight exercises at home this year, and am now proud to say I can do two military push-ups, and dead hang for 1 minute! Hope I'll improve further, and really stick to it this time.

rachylou

Veteran

My parents and brother are/were sporty. Myself… I remember the first day of kindergarten and they wanted us to play dodge ball. I remember thinking ‘You want me to stand in the center of a painted circle - and not leave - while someone throws a ball at my head. Yeah. Sure.’ Haha!

So… as a kid, I did ballet and rode horses. Rode as an adult too. Got sick of my desk job, became a baker, which is very physical, and got a dog. I walk 4-5 miles a day with my dog. That’s my life now. I do like Miranda Esmonde as a supplement. I really think her thing about exercising all muscles will be really important for old old age, and too many programmes ignore the ‘little muscles.’

anchie

Veteran

I am really really terrible in this respect. I am very clumsy and not very coordinated and was never good at sports, hated PE in school. I used to bike a lot, but not last few years since I hurt my back. I don’t drive so I commute on foot and like long walks. That’s basically it. But just yesterday I squatted to check something on bottom shelf and was not able to get up easily. That really got me thinking that I should do something to get in shape. Not sure what yet, hope to get some ideas from this thread.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

In theory, I’m an exerciser, but in reality, it’s been weeks since I’ve worked out. My body hurts and I’m dreading the upcoming flight. Am going to hit the pool today, so hope it’ll be a little better.

Growing up, I was considered smart, strong-willed, and fidgety. Someone suggested to my mom that I should try sports, thanks goodness! Softball didn’t really take—not enough movement. I took tennis lessons when it was popular in the 70s, but was never on a team. We skated on the pond when it froze. I loved soccer, played until it freaked my mom out that the boys in the league were hitting puberty. Joined swim team in 7th grade, swam through high school, sometimes wonder what would’ve happened if I’d joined the college team. The coach, who I’d known since my first year, asked me my final year why I’d never tried out, cause I would’ve been good. Rrrrgh. I learned to lift weights at swim camp, and the one year I played basketball.

Movement & sports just feel good to me. At a picnic, I’m on the volleyball court, playing football or frisbee. At the beach, I’m in the waves. If I go out, I like to dance. With my son, I wrestled and toss things back & forth. At times I’ve done 20-25 mile bike rides regularly. I prefer walking/biking to driving a car, and am looking for a place to live where that will be a feasible way to commute. In more formal fitness pursuits as an adult, I’ve lifted and swum (not “laps”, more like an HIIT workout) on and off, and ever since a neighbor took me along to yoga in my early 30s, I’ve done that at times too. Iyengar is my favorite.

I’m definitely the outlier in my family in this. My mom doesn’t enjoy feeling her body move and work. That had never occurred to me as a possibility until she said it about a decade ago. My sisters dutifully do what they consider necessary. One enjoys the outdoors; the other has been resigned to getting old ever since surgery 1.5 years ago.

I’m trying to have a relationship with a guy I met in the gym 20+ years ago. He has made it clear that it’s important to him that the person he’s with be in shape, and I check that box. He stays in shape too, had surgery similar to my sister‘s and was back onstage dancing professionally half a year later. He’s a fitness instructor, so assesses accurately and gives advice when I ask. Some women might find that oppressive; I enjoy it, and I like it when he likes how I look (even in non-exercising ways; I might start waxing my upper lip, which he’s never mentioned, because I think he’d like that). If we stay together, it looks like I’ll be working out til death do us part.

Sloper, I appreciate your comment! These conversations are for everyone. I’ll be rooting for you for that Feb appointment.

Looking ahead, I want to try mobility training and I recently discovered Animal Flow, might get into it over the summer. I wouldn’t mind a regular tennis date, if it could be mixed. (The one adult team I tried was all women, and didn’t feel right to me). I just got a new lifeguard certificate and plan to take a Water Safety Instructor course as soon as I can find one. Drowning ranks much higher as a cause of death for Black children and adults than for others, because fewer know how to swim. I’m hoping that guy, with his connections in fitness and Black activist communities, will help me set up learn-to-swim programs for Black people. Another fitness-adjacent goal i have is doing a turn on https://sea-watch.org/en/ Being involved with immigration and refugee issues and learning Arabic are most important there, but it requires a level of physical robustness too.

Bijou

Veteran

I love doing karate (took it up in my 40's and am now a 2nd Dan black belt - with a view to progressing to 3rd Dan in 2024). I like the formality of karate and the community spirit of my club. Karate is high intensity, so I walk and go to the gym to support my cardio fitness.

My weekly schedule is:
- karate training formal classes - 3 hours a week
- gym cardio sessions (elliptical, rower and exercise bike) - 2 hours a week
- walking - 4 hours a week
- ocean dip - 1 session a week

The ocean swim, is more a dip in the ocean, swimming only about 200m in the waves. The real point is for flotation and the cold which helps with muscular aches and pains. I don't enjoy plunging into the icy water, but it works brilliantly and once in, I love it!

Anonymous

Fitness has always been a big part of my life- but nothing competitive at all. My attitude to life is "that looks like fun I should try that" so this will be long

I'll start with the things I haven't done much of- cold weather sports and ball related sports. Only a little ice skating as a kid, and tennis off and on. I did team sports in gym class cause they made us, but otherwise not.

Walking and running: I take short hikes in the woods by my house, but never anything major like the Appalachian Trail. The area where I live is pretty flat, so it's not strenuous. I tried to pick up running, but am off it RN. I *should* do it to strengthen my lungs, but I'm focusing on other things.

Water sports: I swim a few miles a week, all backstroke, and love it! It's meditation to me. Been doing it about 20 years, on and off based on pool access. Paddleboarding I do weekly May-October, started in 2018. I want to try surfing and waterskiing!

Rolling sports- a little rollerskating as a kid, and biking. I bought my bike in 2019 and was going daily when I WFH. I've just done about 26 miles max, but want to train for a Century.

Martial arts- I have an orange belt in Shoryn Ryu karate, that I got in my 20s I think, but haven't leveled up cause I can't remember katas. I did a little Tai Chi about 20 years ago, and of couse I do archery now- started in 2020. I want to try Capoeria and Akido.

Horseback riding- I did all the time as a kid, some lessons, lots of trail riding and just taking the horses and running. Not much jumping, no dressage. Doing the horse archery last month made me remember how much I liked it.

Yoga- been doing about 25 years, mostly Yin and Vinyasa. A little Arial and Buti. I like it most on the paddleboard though I'd love to try arial silks!

Dance- a little Salsa and Merengue and a lot of cabaret style belly dance. But my memory is S for combinations, unless I write it myself, so I don't perform. I want to learn Samba too. I also do poi spinning, I guess about 15 years, but am definitely still a beginner. And I've done lots of aerobic dance, Jazzercize as a teen and Zumba more recently. I can remember those combinations easier cause they're done to pop songs!

General gym- Barre, Pilates (not Reformer, just balls and rings), Pound, Body Combat, Body Pump, Spin. Basically I took all the classes at the gym that were available near the time I got off work. Not doing them formally now, but I lead DH in exercize with Barre, Pilates, weights (he likes kettlebells), kickboxing, and yoga.

So I've never been inactive. I've always had several fitness things going on each year. It just changes based on season, availability, and my schedule.

I'm Really hoping to be able to stop working while I still have the health to do all the things I want to do!

April

Veteran

Goodness, I am feeling like a slug.

None of my family was sporty. Younger cousins from a distant state are very tall (one is 7 feet) and yes, there are a few stellar basketball players among them but they were far from us in age and geography.

I did ballet as a little girl and later gymnastics - both my mother's attempts to get me to lose a few pounds while not doing anything that could be considered tomboyish.

I have a very sturdy railing in an upstairs hallway where I do barre stretches. I am still in PT to rehab my shoulder after a broken bone last summer and to work on my balance, which is terrible due to a degenerative neurological illness.

We visited our elders this weekend (90 and 89). I saw yet again that two things are essential as we age: flexibility and strength. Balance and cardio fitness would be good too but the ones that are crippling the elders are really that they are "tight" and have little muscle strength.

catherine

Veteran

Oh, yes. Competitive swimmer for many years, ballet en pointe, first degree black belt, and ski instructor. Frustrated and determined golfer (started age 50).
Now yoga 6x weekly, treadmill daily, and hiking, golf, and biking.
I’m with Carla. Movement is the only thing keeping me sane.

Irina

Veteran

Lisa, I’m very fortunate that I work from home 3 days a week still and the fitness facilities are minutes away from my house. I swim early in the mornings and go to gym on my launch break or after work.

I have never had a motivation to do sports. I tried gym about a decade ago but found it boring and thought that walking for 90 minutes daily is enough cardio. I have no upper body strength and it was very difficult to use crutches for more than 3 months especially on the stairs.

After the injury I was afraid I would never regain the strength in my leg and will not be able to walk long distances which is a big part of my lifestyle. So, it took an injury to make me exercise and quit smoking, I should have exercised to prevent getting injured.

It is hard for me to make a decision and start with something. But once I find my routine, I follow it easily. I think that all you need is to find yours.

nuancedream

Veteran

After working at a computer all day, physical activity is the only thing keeping me from completely losing what's left of my mind. I do yoga and Pilates twice weekly. I do kettlebells and free weights at home twice a week plus I do gym workouts. If I can't do any of the above, an urban hike will suffice. I miss tennis, kayaking and biking during the winter. I don't do winter sports at all.

Laurie

Veteran

Hi Lisa - first, i hope you will give yourself a break. You are in pain, so your lack of motivation is likely is some part because your brain is getting signals to not push that body part. There is almost nothing worse than chronic, abiding, and increasing joint pain. I speak from experience! The fact you are doing as much as you describe is admirable. I'm sure there are other gentle, non-impact things you could add, but you ARE exercising. Good luck with the knee replacement journey.

I was a 5x/week runner from age 20-52. Then the joint pain stopped me. Now, my motivation to exercise every day comes first, and strongly, from my desire to reduce pain from back surgery and hip replacements since 2014.

April raises a hugely important point about maintaining strength and flexibility as we age. My 84 year old mother, who suffers tremendously from osteoarthritis in every part of her body now, is falling regularly and cannot get herself up. There have been numerous discussions of the "sit-rise" test related to longevity.( This article might be behind a paywall, but I saw other, similar articles when I did a quick Google. ) She is going through a systemic flare up and her entire body is so tensed and rigid that it's adding to her pain. My point is that I am acutely aware of exercising for lifelong durability as I watch someone suffer who did nothing toward this goal in her own life. (92 yr old Dad, no arthritis, still walks and stretches almost every day. Amazing).

I continue the routine I've done for the last 4 years since my L4-5 discectomy - early morning at-home (or transportable to hotels while traveling) strength workouts with straps, bands, and body weight, affiliated with a trainer. "Hard" workout 3x a week. daily set of exercises for sciatic/tailbone pain relief, stretching/myofascial release videos on the off-days. Walking 3-7 miles, but this has waned with the dark and cold, and I need to force myself outside. I tried to start jogging again but it's been fits and starts, mainly struggling with the cardio but pleased to not have joint-related pain (or I would not even be trying to do it).

Exercise is essential for my mental and physical well-being. We need to be firm with ourselves to obtain and maintain an appropriate routine but gentle, too, and listen to our bodies.

LJP

Veteran

I'm pleased , and amazed, to see such dedication and adherence to routine here. Part of my work in the medical fitness facility is making "new people" - often non-exercisers , feel comfortable and motivated AND proud of doing something for themselves. Quite often there are major health concerns or a completely sedentary lifestyle to consider.

I'm the classic case of knowing everything and able to work with people on their health journeys , but don't do enough myself . Until I left my sales job 3 (?) years ago , I was a dedicated gym goer, doing Body Pump (Goodlife) 3 times a week and spin class at least once a week. I was in great shape. Then ,it all fell apart. Suz, to your point about being on a flexible work schedule, that was me for 30 years too. I also disrespected weekends (lol) but loved the ability to do what I wanted when I wanted. So I had all the time I wanted to maintain a fitness routine that worked for me.

Being chained to a 4 -5 day 8 hour workday now, I have turned into that person who can't find a way to make fitness a priority . Work saps my mental and physical energy, and I need to rest and sleep to get back at it again the next day . In summer it's not a problem, but in our cold, icy winters make walking outside a risky proposition. I have never recovered from breaking my Goodlife routine, and it really shows. Again, I'm in awe of all of you who make this work - you are committed and that's so important.

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