The weekend is here. I don’t know about you, but it’s been a tough week. Take a few minutes today to plan an extended walk or bike ride tomorrow morning. The respite that a good long outing will bring should be something to look forward to. I always am stunned when I see someone walking and talking on their cell phone. Even wearing ear buds and listening to music seems like a missed opportunity. You get to know your environment more when you actually experience it first hand. You get to know your body better when you’re paying attention to it while you exercise. Finally you get to let your brain work and solve problems or create ideas from the seeds of information you plant there.
They have found that the left, right brain communication and activity increases when you walk. It’s good for Alzheimer’s patients and for keeping senior brains active. So if you’re not “senior” just think what benefits you can reap. Or… just think.
TODAY: PLAN YOUR EXERCISE FOR THE WEEKEND.
Okay, I admit it. I had stopped riding my bike for a while. It was because of any number of convenient excuses. Not enough time, too cold, too hot, too wet… too lazy. I actually had to get spider webs off the tires, (I hate spiders.) before re-inflating them. It was simply a matter of motivation. I know I have to burn more calories. The bike works for me. I had grown to really look forward to the rides, especially longer ones on Saturday mornings. But for some reason I lost interest and it took mustering up energy again to get back in the saddle.
You may have a stepper, rider, weights, skates, or walking shoes that need to be dusted off. Now is as good a time as any to get going again. Take it easy at first. Getting stiff will just give you an excuse to stop again. Then watch your endurance go up and your weight go down. You’ll remember how. It’s just like riding a bike.
TODAY: START A NEW, OLD EXERCISE ROUTINE.
Newton’s First Law of Motion states: “An object in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest, unless acted on by an outside force.” Sound familiar? It pretty much describes how we let ourselves gain weight and resist loosing it. It’s time that you act on it. So get moving and lay off the (Fig) Newtons.
TODAY: TAKE AN EXTENDED WALK.
Changing up your exercise routine is the best way to prevent a weight loss plateau. You ought to change it every 4 to 6 weeks. It will also reduce your boredom and keep you going. Since the weather is changing too, it will give you more opportunities. So decide on new exercises, a new route to walk, new places to go and a new attitude. Just get out there!
TODAY: PICK A NEW EXERCISE ROUTINE FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
Start thinking of the time you dedicate to exercise as your own personal time. I like to use it as time to think and work out the things that have been going on. Problem solving, developing ideas, making plans, things like that. It even happens when I’m mowing the lawn. Your brain doesn’t have a whole lot to do when you’re just walking, and I think that the increased blood flow helps give it a jump start. Some of that is actually reinforced in studies that show walking to be a benefit for Alzheimer’s patients.
So skip the Mp3 player or radio. Just start walking, breath deeply and listen to your thoughts.
TODAY: WALK AND COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.
Daily Nag, Exercise | Diet Nag | 
July 9, 2010 6:08 am | 
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