With no supporting evidence whatsoever, I usually tend to think of myself as being “in pretty good shape.” Really, though, I’ve never been much of an exerciser. Oh, I’ll faithfully do yoga or Jazzercise or weights n’ aerobics for a year or so, then something will come up and I’ll never quite manage to get back to my workouts. I’m still foolishly paying $40 a month for aerobics classes I stopped attending months ago. Note to self: write letter today and cancel that payment…
Late last year I did a part-time merchandising job that was physical enough that I actually gained some exercise benefits from it. I’ve now been desk-bound for about six months and it’s starting to show. Weight gain? Check. Sore muscles from even the smallest bit of exertion? Check. Excessive panting after climbing more than two short flights of stairs? Check.
I woke up this morning experiencing Day Two of sore hamstrings from several hours of gardening I did on Sunday. Even in my overweening laziness, I recognized that this would only get worse if I were to painfully get dressed and then plant myself in an office chair again all day. Thus, I put on my only passable pair of athletic shoes (actually saying aloud, “Ow! Ow! Ow!” as I bent to tie them) and took a 30-minute walk through our very hilly neighborhood.
You know what? It helped! I think this “exercise” thing could actually catch on! I hate to try to speculate about my chances of making it part of what passes for my morning routine, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt. It gave me the chance to admire my neighbors’ landscaping, ready my mind for the day ahead, and – bonus! – I found a dime on the ground. Everything’s going my way today! So far…
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