Still going ... barely!

I managed to keep the 10,000 step streak alive yesterday, but it took some pacing the hallway in the apartment building at around 10pm.

I did get a short walk (2.5 miles) in before dinner and enough activity that I only needed to walk the length of the hallway a couple of times. I better be sure to get today's walk in. Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy.

One week to closing and then into the new house!

Be well,
John

From 30C to 30F

Spring in the Ozarks!
If the thunderstorms and pollen aren't enough to mess with your senses, there are always a few extreme temperature changes to see who prematurely packed away their winter gear. It was 87F (30C) here yesterday. It will be a few degrees below freezing tonight.
The next few days will be cool enough that even a mid-afternoon walk won't be too hot.

I managed a nice walk early in the day and then a shorter one in the evening. My daily step total was on the plus side of 14,500. I already have more than 10,000 extra steps for the week so I can do absolutely nothing for a day and still carry a 10K average. I've no plans to do that, but if Saturday's storms turn into an all day rain -- I'm covered.

Be well,
John

The Struggle is Real

It was a beautiful day in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri -- and I didn't feel like doing anything involving activity. In fact, I considered giving myself the day off. I spent a good chunk of the afternoon sitting outside, reading a book, and enjoying a good cigar.

From the morning trip to the grocery store, an evening trip to check on our new home, and just normal activity, by evening I had enough steps in that I knew a 2.5 mile walk would put me at 10K steps for the day. Even though the sun had already set and the full moon was well above the horizon, I got my steps in -- 10,533 for April 7 and my eighth day in a row of topping 10,000 steps.

I should get today's walk in early as it's supposed to be mid to upper 80s this afternoon (30c)!
Don't pack away the sweatshirts and jackets yet. It's still spring in the Ozarks. Tomorrow (Thursday) night is forecast to dip below the freezing point!

Don't let "stay at home" keep you from getting a little exercise. One of my friends says movement is medicine.

Be well,
John

Stepping Out!

Yesterday was a beautiful day!
The sky was a high overcast layer that blocked out the sun, but it was warm and a great day to be outside for a long walk. Today will be even better as the clouds should be gone and the thermometer makes its way to 80.

It turns out that I didn't start my day with yoga. I'm not sure why it happened that way, but it did. Today I have to go grocery shopping with the old people.

Day 6 step count was 11,373.

The phone app I use to track steps and activity shows a significant decrease in average steps (for men using the app) and minutes of activity over the past several weeks. Three weeks ago the average was 4500 steps per day. Two weeks ago it had dropped to 3700. Last week it was just over 3000.
I guess the shelter in place orders and the working from home are also taking their toll on physical activity.

Be well,
John

Day 5

4/5 was another good day as far as stepping and walking went. I took a 2.5 mile walk with Chris in the early afternoon and then a 2.2 mile solo walk a little later. I ended the day with 14,376 steps.
Again -- no yoga, but I think I'll start the day with a session today.

John

Day 4

Another day of no yoga, but I did manage to get my steps in -- 10,396.

I need to write about diet, as well. So far it seems that I may be doing comparatively well under the current conditions. Like most people, we are eating out less. That usually translates to eating less as restaurant portions are generally quite large.
I'll make diet a part of future posts.

Be well,
John

Day 3 gets a C

C -- as in an average letter grade.

I took a nice walk. I'm starting to get my pace back up to what it was when I wasn't so damned fat. I'm not real concerned about walking faster, but it does allow me to walk farther in the same amount of time.
Yesterday I managed 10,830 steps but skipped Day 3 of my yoga. Maybe I'll do two yoga sessions today and skip the walk. Or maybe I'll just let it go and call it the past.

Have a great day and be well,
John

Day 2: a small victory

We live in a time when every small plus is a victory of sorts. Perhaps, that's an attitude that I can carry forward beyond this current crisis. My small win was just in successfully completing day 2.
I had to add a short evening walk to top 10,000 steps, but I did it. I didn't move much after that (the apartment is only 500 sq ft) and finished the day at a mere 10,186 steps.

I managed my yoga session around midday, right after my 3+ mile walk. One wouldn't think you could be too out of shape for beginning yoga, but... this old fatboy needs some help! Hopefully, by the end of the month I'll be doing much better.

Here's an article on the online yogi I've been following.
I've been following Adriene for a few years and have used different 30 day series as daily practice in the past. Sometimes I imagine myself able to accomplish complex poses and balances, but then I remember that I can't even gracefully step from a plank to a forward lunge!
Ha! I can't even gracefully get up from or down to the mat! Maybe I'll be able to manage that in 30 days!

A couple of rainy days in the forecast will make stepping a challenge. We'll see what happens.

Be well,
John

No Fooling

So April is off to a good start.
I took a nice 3.17 mile walk early and did Day 1 of a 30 day plan of Yoga with Adriene (YWA).
I finished the day with a mile walk in the evening.
11,515 steps plus the yoga.

I have to say that I really suck at yoga. Even this simple beginner session caused some struggle.
First, it has been a long time.
Second, dang my arms are weak, as well as my overall upper body strength.
And my core strength and flexibility are also in need of some serious work.

Today is Day 2.
I'm going to try this daily logging thing again.
Wish me luck!

John

Healthy Habits

So in the past couple of weeks since I stopped posting my daily steps I've pretty much sucked at staying active. I guess I need the personal accountability of posting to a blog that nobody reads.
sigh

Well it is a new month -- a new quarter, in fact -- and another opportunity for a fresh start.
My daughter-in-law has me starting a 30 day yoga series. It's way more reasonable than starting that P90X crap that she convinced me to do a couple of years ago. Chris says that she'll do the yoga with me, although neither on of us seems too enthusiastic about it. Any exercise will be easier once we get moved out of our apartment and into our new home mid-month.

So...
It's April 1st.
It's Day 1.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Be well,
John