Why the persistence at trying to get in shape?

Oh no…

Today I completed mini-workout #455. It is about an hour long combination of stretches, exercises, balancing & stationary biking. I started this bizarre commitment after a trip to a conference in Texas in early 2017. While at the hotels (in both Austin & Dallas) as I often do, in the early morning, I went to the gym – partly because I realized I wasn’t in as good a shape as I needed to be, even though I was in the midst of the ski season and also because the gym was free and was a way to get somewhat invigorated before a day of meetings, conversation and eating. But this time the gym sessions were a bit of a grind. When I returned home and ski season ended I decided I should get a bit more systematic in my fitness. A good friend who I biked with gave me some routines to try on my own, and probably my best friend suggested I join his gym but first meet with a trainer there.

I did all that and found it both tough and a bit exhilarating. It was further suggested that I make my routine varied – so twice a week (often Mondays & Thursdays) it was the gym at 5:00 a.m. Then it seemed appropriate to put myself through a different grind and so emerged the mini-workout (usually Tuesdays & Fridays). Wednesdays & Saturdays became times for longer bike rides (in the winter on the stationary, the rest of the time – when weather permitted – on either my mountain bike or gravel grinder). Sunday was the day of rest.

Now this was not the first time I had undertaken a process to try to improve my fitness (or at least my physical health). I had joined gyms in the past; when in Saskatchewan in the early 80’s I actually worked out at a place where the Roughriders did their fitness regimes. But no matter the intention, due to my work and the frequent traveling, any serious effort usually concluded after a few months. Seldom did I ever become truly fit and never did I develop a chiseled body (or even a particularly strong one: my legs were great, everything else sort of okay). I excused myself with the knowledge this was pretty much the story for everyone except the professional athlete and those amateurs who took on triathalons, or other activities of torment.

So what has changed? Is it an age factor (judging by the number of us at the gym, perhaps)? Is it a variation of laziness – instead of cutting down eating & drinking, one simply tries to assuage that guilt by working-out? Is it more subliminal: wanting to watch one’s grandkids grow up? I really don’t know. I do know that something on that Dallas trip made me realize that I was not getting any younger, and if I wanted to be able to enjoy aspects of life that require some physical exertion, I would need to change aspects of my life style. For one thing it would be important to eat better (smaller portions & drinking more water), for another it would be necessary to actually attack my expanded physical presence (there are pix of me that could be confused with that of an orca).

Now it needs to be said that I am not yet of pristine appearance. According to both the trainer (who has seen me twice since that first visit set me on a focused, vigorous machine-based fitness regime) and a dietitian I saw a couple of times, my physique combined with my inherited genetic make-up likely endow me with a less than striking frame. I ought not to strut around the beach or the gym with my shirt off. Nevertheless my doctors do believe that in spite of pain in my knees and Achilles, I am slowly becoming healthier, that I am mitigating any COPD issues, and probably helping to lessen migraine attacks. Moreover, I feel better even when I am not overly energetic. And the driver seat in my SUV is holding up very well (after 222,000 kms)!!

So why even talk about this? Well a young woman I knew earlier in life, when she retired from teaching, became a wellness guru and wrote more than one book on this subject. I was asked to review and comment on the first book. As I read it I was amazed at how simple she was making the case for a healthy life style. Her focus was on young women, but the message was much more universal. A person doesn’t have to desire to have a body like an Olympian to become healthier – rather, set more modest targets and then systematically go after reaching them. As I reflect on the fact that even with ADHD I have been able to design and then stick with, my mini-workout routine through 455 iterations, I realize that anyone can do it – even you…

So don’t ever despair on being healthy. Just don’t try to reach to far or often. Rather set up a couple of different routines – none to be more than thrice a week – and work away at them. Maybe it’s zumba, maybe it’s pickleball, maybe it’s the gym, maybe it’s a good walk or a scenic bike ride, maybe it’s skiing &/or golfing, maybe it’s swimming… who cares, just find yourself those two or three favourite things and do them… because I’d like to keep talking with you for some time to come…

g.w.