What's Your Schedule?

Remember back--way back--in high school or college when that was one of the questions we all asked each other? Would I have ever made it to class if my goal was to go to English or Biology "some time today" or "three times a week?" Unlikely.

So why do I think that will work with the exercise plan--or anything else?

Nope. For me, it needs to be a little more specific...we form our habits, good or bad, by repeatedly doing or not doing something. When I was exercising most regularly in my life, it was a lot more like that college schedule. Running Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at specific times. Going to a particular class scheduled at the YMCA. Appointment exercise.

Since I am unemployed, I have the time to exercise whenever I want to. Do I? Well, um, I have an appointment, so I can't be sweaty, oops I just had lunch; I really should sit at the computer and look for a job; well, I've had some drinks at Happy Hour; oh, who just said something clever on Facebook? Maybe tomorrow.

And tomorrow? Same thing, different day.

So this time, it's back to appointment exercise. Every day. Alarm is set for 6:30 AM and by 8:30 AM I must have started my exercise. As previously stated, I am working out 5-6 days per week, every other day being cardio and alternating days being strength training.

How's it going? So far so good! Yesterday I did 31 minutes on the spin cycle (and reintroducing myself to Matt and Meridith on The Today Show). Today, 30 minutes of floor exercise flew by. I found the folder I squirreled away of exercise tips and I will start incorporating them the day after tomorrow.

It feels good! Exercise really is the tonic it is cracked up to be. Already, I am sitting straighter, "tucking in my abs," and feeling a wee bit thinner...

I am also strapping the pedometer back on, because I am a firm believer in just "moving more" and I want to see how that is going and how I can step that up. It can be the little things that add up. For instance, whenever it is about 10 degrees (with a minimal wind), I park at least a little farther away from the door at my destinations. When I'm watching TV, I stand and do something, anything....swing the legs, do some squats...something to keep the lard moving.

So, tow days down and hopefully I am building a good habit. They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. So I'm not out of the woods yet!

What's your schedule?

Getting Started

My friend Tracy and I decided to join forces in our individual efforts to lose weight and improve our respective health outlooks. For me, that includes improving physically and mentally so that every decade is made up of "Ten Good Years." Why not start that at the beginning of a new decade--both for me and the world?

There are two main pieces to the effort: Move More, Eat Less. Sounds so simple. And I've had success with both parts of the equation in previous efforts. I was a runner for a long time, running three marathons and numerous 1/2 marathons, 10ks, 5ks and training runs. I was about 35 pounds lighter then (and 10 years younger) and could eat pretty much anything I wanted to...

And while I'm not saying I will never run again, I don't think it will be at the level from that time. More likely, it will be part of an exercise/movement program that includes other elements, large and small. More on that in a minute.

I've also had a handle on eating in the past, in denial (I CAN NEVER eat these things), and in eating healthfully while counting calories. Both have worked in short term, so I plan to roll out a plan that will work long-term. I like food. And unlike Tracy, there is nothing I "can't" have due to allergies or health issues. Blessing and curse? Maybe.

And accountability is a key ingredient for me, so I'm glad to have a partner in crime. :)

So here's the plan:

Move More: 30 minutes of cardio exercise every other day (M-W-F + every other Saturday). This will include walking, jogging, cycling or a workout video. On alternating days (T-T + every other Saturday) I'll take on weight training or yoga or pilates. I will chronicle what comes out of this endeavor. That's also part of the accountability.

Eat Less: I'm going to do a similar approach to Tracy in some ways, in eating "closer to the ground" a la Michael Pollen's advice "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." I will track my daily calories, carbs, fat and protein (as well as exercise) on Sparkpeople.com, which I have used before.