Feeling the Power

Two ingredients for feeling more healthy?

Sleep.

Exercise.

You would think that sleep would be easier for me now that I usually don't have an alarm to set each morning and no papers to grade at night.  But it isn't.  Often I awaken in the middle of the night, then my mind starts working, and the return to sleep eludes me.  Last night, however, I went to bed earlier than usual, fell asleep fast, and slept until 7 this morning.  I feel much better, more rested, and more energized.

Exercise  I am not one to join a gym or use a treadmill.  We have a recumbent bike usptairs that is being used for a clothes tree.  The kids like riding it when they come to visit.  I don't enjoy just sitting there and using it.  But I know that weight loss is easier with some kind of exercise, plus I always feel so much better.

Solution?  Walking with Leslie. I have several Leslie Sansone DVDs and they have come in handy lately.  The easy 2-mile walk is the one I started with.  Just some walking, kicks, side-steps, and kickbacks.  Two miles.  30 minutes.

 



 After a week of that, Gary suggested that I 'kick it up a notch' which is what I had planned to do anyway.  So I dug out the 3 mile walk.  More walking, kids, side-steps, and kickbacks, but she adds twists to those basic steps.  Bursts.  8-count forward and back runs.  Grapevine with the side steps.  Mambo.  Combos of kicks and knee lifts.  Crunches and kicks.  I can feel the sweat on this one.  I feel more energized after I finish.



Two weeks ago?  Walking two miles six days.

Last week?  Walking three miles on four days, two miles one day.

This week?  Monday and Tuesday checked off on walking three miles.

Leslie stresses the benefits of walking, of movement, of full body workouts:

• stress reduction
• strengthening muscles
• diet + exercise = weight loss (one can't do it without the other)
• good heart health
• more energy

All of these keep me going.   Winter is the time of year that one can become lethargic.  While curling up in the recliner to read or watch television is good, it does nothing for building muscles and sustaining energy.

What to do starting Thursday when we go to Ohio?  Take the DVDs with me!  I think there is a DVD player, and if not, I am taking my laptop and can play it there.  The walking will continue!