Exercising

Cardio, weight lifting, stretching

Now for something off the beaten path, exercise. No not the middle and high school gym class, change into your gym uniform kind of exercise, but a discussion of how we need to get off our tuchases and move.

In truth, I was never a big exerciser. What I was was a walker. When we lived in NYC we would put the boys in the stroller and walk around town for hours and hours. I also walked everywhere as well on my own. Very rarely took transportation. Never actually thought of that as exercise, but after we moved to the suburbs, and my ass started expanding, I came to realize that I needed to join a gym.

And I did.

But it wasn’t exactly smooth going either. While they had a childcare center, my younger son really did not like it and he cried so loud, that the “moms” could hear him and complained to the management. I was told to come back with him when they were finished upgrading the actual day care center part of the gym and it would work out better.

So I did.

Luckily, he took to the new room and liked it so I was able to start my journey into the lovely world of sweat, stink, and grunts. I fact, he liked it so much, I sent him to nursery school at the gym.

You need to understand how long ago it was when I started my gym journey. Step was pretty new, and nobody had heard of in door cycling. It was high impact aerobics, cross trainers, weight machines and ab workouts. Very few places had barre, yoga, or pilates, as well.

There was no internet to speak of, so no YouTube videos made by personal trainers so you can work out on your own. Everything was down to either making it to class on time or hiring someone to help you figure out a workout regime.

I remember one woman in my gym saying that she raced from her child’s nursery to the gym to get to class on time. She acknowledged how ridiculous that was in reality, but the truth was, if you missed class, then you missed organized time with someone actually teaching you what you needed to know and how you needed to know it.

It really is interesting how everything in the world has changed in just a few decades. It has helped with choices and the variety of exercise types is terrific.

Remember Tae Bo, that was really the first in a series of good at home exercise videos that challenged you and were very different. Yes, yes Jane Fonda came first, but her exercises were simply the old fashioned kind, nothing new, just rehashed high school gym class with leg warmers. (Over time there have been any number of exercise fads. The trick is to find what works for you.)

Well, as far as my family is concerned, we switched gyms and tried out different programs to accommodate our schedules. But in true fashion, we realized that if we bought work out equipment for home, eventually unlike the gym fees, the cost would stop. So we did just that. Also when you commute for work it’s hard to get to the gym before work and after work you get home so late the gym is closed or honestly you have had enough of your day.

This way the gym is in your home and you get to pick your time and work out at your convenience. And no, it’s not hard to keep a schedule and make sure you exercise. All of us do that.

I do have to say that on the days that I don’t workout I don’t feel as good. It’s true, endorphins are like a drug. Well a drug that is natural to your body, and give you joy. It also helps with stress and anxiety.

Listen, as we age our body changes. Honestly, as mentioned in previous posts, I am not happy with either my head of hair, tummy, or tuchas. But if I didn’t workout I dread to think what everything would look like. And no, my body non-positivity is not really about society’s negative view of aging females. There really is just something about the fact that no matter what you do, short of surgery, your body starts to fall apart. I know I am aging, but I don’t have to like it, and don’t have to like what it does to my body either.

Things happen as we age, not the least is some osteoarthritis, and loss of muscle tone. The only way to maintain a healthy body is by exercise. Exercising also helps the heart, lungs, and brain maintain at least a modicum of flexibility.

Honestly, I upped my cardio alot during COVID. I figured that if I got sick then the stronger my lung capacity the better chance I had of survival. The best part was that I enjoyed it. The more I worked out the better I felt.

I do try to keep it up as much as possible as well. I can’t say I am perfect. I don’t work out vigorously every day. I don’t necessarily even work out every day. But, I do try to aim for at least 5 days a week. It is important to take time for yourself and exercising is one of those self-centered times you need.

I figure even if you don’t care about yourself, which you should, you may need to be there for others in your family. It’s the oxygen mask theory of life.

Before you can help others on a plane, you need to put your oxygen mask on first. Take care of yourself so you can be there for those who may need you.

It also doesn’t hurt that you can wear a pair of pants that doesn’t require an elastic waistband. (However, as a confession, I prefer the waistbanded pants. They still are more comfortable.)

(Just as an aside, one of the best workouts apparently is swimming. It is high cardio and low impact. One of my sons has taken to that and we have rejoined a gym so he can swim. So much for no gym fees.)

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