5.0 Exercise Update Jan 2022

It’s hard to know where to begin with an exercise update as it seems there have been a flood of “new” decisions and events in all our lives. (Thanks Covid!)

My objective is to exchange old behaviours for new, healthier ones.

So far:

The Weigh Scale Adventure

I’ve lost 10 pounds (I think). Our scale is on its last legs (Yes, we fed it new batteries) and it gives some wonky readings.  Our weighing system now is to stand on it, wake its tiny electronic mind – and get a reading.

  • We ignore Reading #1 and step off. 
  • Step on again and accept Reading #2.  

The difference between the two is roughly a bag of cement and we assume the second reading is a much closer measurement.

I’m now flirting with almost sub-200 pound measurements from mid 200-teens.

A new scale is on our someday list.

Meditations

I have reestablished a 20 minute meditation into my daily routine and am considering a second one.

Note: I subscribed to Apple + Fitness and am using their meditations and exercise routines.

Walking As Exercise

My walking habit is now active again and I’m doing a minimum of 2 miles a day (most days just over 2.5) 

Important Point

My main objective in this slow and steady adoption of new behaviours is to cement the behaviours into my daily routine.

I’m not looking for a wild burst of enthusiastic beginnings and burned out endings a short time later.

Diet

I had begun dieting with a low-carb diet but read this note comparing low carb to restricted calories.

I”m now tracking the food I eat using a subscription to the app Lose It. I’ll report back on how this is going in a while.

The Next Step In My Exercise Routine

My next step is to add some strength and cardio exercises into my day. (They’re scheduled for Wed, 23rd.

I’ll start with 5-minute sessions even though I understand cardio requires an 8-minute period for optimum benefit (that may be old data however.)  I’m adding one cardio and one strength session to begin.

Remember – my objective is to cement these behaviours into my daily schedule. The benefits will be low at the beginning but will – once I’m satisfied with the daily routine – be increased in repetitions and time.

  • Establish the habit. 
  • Then do the serious work.
  • Celebrate each step and disappeared pound

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My Retirement Plan Didn’t Work

To be honest, not a lot has gone as “planned” this winter so far. (The thirty day challenge ran into some major roadblocks. I’d make a list of those things but it would be a bit longish.) Here’s the major challenge though.

The Major Problem With The Retirement Plan?

I decided to take several more steps towards retirement and whacked a bunch of projects off my to-do list. One of the projects I whacked was the ebook upgrading one.

The ebooks are still good value for the cost (imho) so why spend the money/time when I’m taking steps to have my next mid-life crisis and increase my creative focus. (I’ve lost track of what number this is but I do know I’m into the double digits on “mid-life changes.”)

Remember my basic question in retirement – “If not now, when?”

Instead of Upgrading Ebooks

Instead of upgrading ebooks as a primary project, I asked myself what other projects or changes I’d like to make in a more general way.

I sacrificed a lot of trees in the notebooks I used to explore my retirement future. However, the outcome was to get a good hold on what “retirement” is going to mean to me moving forward.

As an aside, if you’re considering or are retired, let me suggest a similar project and answering this kind of question. “What would I do if I only had 1 year, (1 month, 1 week or 1 day)?”

My Retirement Planning Started To Gain Some Focus

I want to do (in “no” order of importance)

  • A bit of stone carving (sharply)
  • Clay sculpture (messily)
  • Wood carving (silently with no barking) 😉
  • Writing fiction (imaginatively)
  • Dry stone walling (heavily)
  • My garden (bountifully)
  • Reading (voraciously)
  • Education courses (widely)
  • Garden blogging (opinionatedly) but on a “when I feel like it” timeline.
  • Supporting Ms. Mayo in her creative life (lovingly)
  • Maintaining my physical health (decidedly) and reporting on the 5.0 project
  • Whatever is new and novel I discover (wondrously)
  • My family (happily)
  • And yes, upgrading some of my garden ebooks.

Note my health, family and Mayo have precedence and that shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Also, I’m not sure how this fits into the 30 Day Challenge idea so I’ll have to get back to you on this.

Click here if you want to follow along as I work to change the focus of a creative lifestyle?

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