exercise

[naomikritzer]

I do not generally make New Year's Resolutions but I do on occasion set fitness goals and New Year's is an excellent time to think about fitness goals, because if I decide I need something (additional workout clothes, for instance), they're on sale at Target. (I do, in fact, intend to stop by Target this week to shop for workout clothes. I would like some of those knee-length workout pants that the other moms wear.)

I was thinking about motivational strategies and it might help to motivate me if I decided to get a massage after (N) workouts or meeting (N) workout goals. Does anyone local have a massage therapist they particularly recommend? Or other motivational strategies that have worked well for them? Part of why I want to shop for workout clothes is that it will make it easier to keep my gym bag packed. I mean, I DRIVE PAST THE HEALTH CLUB on my way home from dropping the girls at school. Working out DAILY should not honestly be that big a stretch.

I have one motivational strategy down, which is that I've noticed that if I fail to exercise for long enough, I develop painful leg cramps that make it difficult to sleep. Also, anxiety. But I can keep those at bay by working out once a week. Stepping it up a little would be a good idea, especially since my lovely sister-in-law who can talk me into anything talked me into attempting to train for a triathlon this summer (speaking of ambitious fitness goals). The sprint distance is .4 miles swimming, 15 miles biking, and 3 miles running. 15 miles of biking in mid-July should be no problem. I will either be able to work up to .4 miles swimming, or I'll find that even the moss-filtered low-chlorine water at the Great Rivers pool gives me too many skin problems and I'll have to bail on this goal. The one that kind of worries me is the running, because last time I tried to be a runner, I screwed up my knees.)

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

My recommendation concerning running is to see a foot doctor and find out whether you need orthotics, assuming of course that you haven't already done so.

Orthotics and a change of shoes made it possible for me to run. I have a host of little problems--high arches, one leg 0.3 inches shorter than the other--that led to foot and knee problems that almost crippled me. It's an ongoing process, but I'm better off now than I was a couple of years ago.

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

I find keeping a log of when I exercise, and for how long, has been helpful. I have a file where I record the date, the number of minutes, the type of exercise, with room for notes. Like, when the pool is *really* cold, I don't general last as long.

Packing my gym bag the night before is very useful, but it isn't always enough to get me out the door.

[springbok1.livejournal.com]

Jessica, who owns Eastern Skies Bodywork, is an excellent massage therapist.