sunday!

[green]

Today is a rest day, so I just did 15 minutes of gentle yoga this morning and will go for a nice walk later. Probably after dinner when it's cool.

I am stepping up the strength training. Instead of doing whole body strength 3 times a week, I'm doing:

upper body -- Mondays and Thursdays
lower body -- Tuesdays and Fridays
core -- Wednesdays and Saturdays

with my rest day being Sunday. this sounds like a lot but I've thought about it and read about it and it seems about right for what I want to do. If it's too much for me, I only have one week of the calendar filled out, so I can change it up next week.

I'm also looking at the 100 pushups, 200 situps, etc. site. I think I'm going to start with situps (what they call situps are actually crunches) since I'm already pretty good at them.

I lost another pound this past week! \o/ That's 6 pounds I've lost so far in three weeks. I am LOVING the sparkpeople site. I've made some friends on there and everyone is so supportive!

I feel so good and strong.

I am interested in what people use as their motivation for exercise. Do you have someone who is your inspiration, or are you working towards a goal? Or is it the motivation you get from being able to hold the pose or lift more weight or climb higher, jump further, etc.?

I have a bunch of pictures of fit women lifting weights or just flexing saved as favorites on flickr. For a time I just looked at the pics to get motivated. Now, I find that has changed and what is motivating me is my potential. Like yesterday, when I did my 50 pushups, that motivated and invigorated me into trying for more. I WILL do 108 pushups with Shiva Rea. :)

Comments

[shanaqui]

I loved the 200 situps program. Good luck! I hated 200 squats, though. I completed it, but ughhh. Good luck with all of this, of course.

My motivation is a) because I love the feeling of knowing I can do [x] for longer/better/whatever, b) because I can feel how much good it's doing my stress/anxiety, and c) feeling happier in my own skin. In that order. Well, c) used to be higher up the list, but not anymore. I'm already much more comfy with my body.

[green]

Thank you!

Those are good, good reasons to be motivated.

[rydra_wong]

I feel so good and strong.

\o/

For me, the motivation is that I LOVE climbing (I have in fact just come back from climbing, so I am full of endorphins and squee). I love how it feels, I love pushing my limits, and I love seeing just how far I can take it. And I love yoga because it feels really good, and again, I love looking for that edge, that place where a deep stretch happens.

It's been thrilling and amazing for me to discover that my body has this potential, and to suddenly start thinking of things like splits and handstands as possible goals for me. It's completely changed how I relate to my own body.

I love other forms of exercise because they support the climbing, but I also find it very satisfying to move something really heavy.

Also, I really like having some muscle; it's hard for me to gain muscle, so when I've got any at all, it makes me happy to admire my muscles and think, "I made that!" *g*

[green]

All good things! You talk about climbing and make me wanna do it! The gym I'm joining (when I can afford it) has a climbing wall, at least it did the last time I was there a few years ago. I could possibly try it! \o/

[rydra_wong]

Try it! Maybe you'll fall in love with it! Or maybe you won't, and you'll fall in love with some completely different form of movement, and that will also be awesome! *g*

The cool thing is starting to realize that you can try any of these physical activities if they appeal to you. And if you try it and hate it, it doesn't mean you've "failed" at x or y or z -- it just means it's not your thing, and something else will be.

[alphaviolet]

How strong would you say someone needs to be to use a climbing wall?

[rydra_wong]

The short version: if you can climb an ordinary ladder, you're strong enough to start at the climbing wall.

You genuinely don't need to have any more strength than that (and I can say that because I didn't when I started).

The long version: this is a long post I wrote for 3W4DW about why climbing is awesome and why it's possible for all sorts of people who may not imagine it would be possible for them.

ETA: If you're curious, this is something I'm always happy to answer questions about.

[alphaviolet]

That's really cool. I hope to get there too someday (with being able to develop physical potential).

[just_ann_now]

Why are you calling this a rest day? The stuff you're doing today is perfectly good exercise *g*

My motivation? I'll be 57 years old in three months. My weight is the lowest it's been in 35 years. I look great. I feel fantastic. I love my body and what my body and I are doing together. We want to keep doing it. We want to do it MORE.

[green]

YAY! Sounds good to me!

[alphaviolet]

As I think I posted here before, my main motivation is doing exercises I enjoy - either because they're fun or because they are outdoors (or both).

[green]

Yeah, I think I asked this before. I just like the answers, I guess. :) Thanks for your input, bb.

[alphaviolet]

YW. The word that came to mind was hedonism, at first. Basically, I try to keep exercise fun and easy.

[green]

I am all for fun! And I'm finding I don't mind a good challenge. :)