Exercise -- you should do it, but do you do it?

cromag · August 08, 2009, 06:51:05 PM

My favorite exercise is walking. I was an early adopter of the cassette Walkman, and my other players include a couple Mini-Disc players and several MP3 players of varying vintages (the oldest one came with a 32 MB SmartMedia card).

Here in suburban NJ we have Timber Rattlesnakes, but I've never heard one rattle. Also plenty of Copperheads, coyotes, black bears ... not to mention family dogs out for the night and distracted drivers. And a few days ago a jogger in Philadelphia was killed when a tree fell on her.

So, going out for a walk does have some potential drawbacks! ;D

Still, it's my usual exercise. And my German Shepherd doesn't think I do it often enough!

As I mentioned in the headphone thread, Koss PortaPro and SportaPro headphones sound great but let in enough outside sound that I've been able to hear dogs, cars and pugnacious suburban deer without a problem. I don't know if I'd be able to hear Timber Rattlers, though.

I have some very good isolating earplug-style headphones for when I'm at the car repair shop, etc.

EDIT: Got my snakes wrong! :-[

IamBetaCloud · August 08, 2009, 09:46:18 PM

it's funny that i stumble upon this, (i started doing cardio 20-25 minutes a day; 6 days a week about 2 and a half weeks ago)...
i sleep better, feel more relaxed and focused and my blood pressure has reduced a great deal since.
i love it!

Sunbreak Music · August 09, 2009, 09:49:30 AM

Exercise keeps me as sane as I'll ever be. ;D

uhurit · August 13, 2009, 12:06:26 PM

What I do professionally, is very stressful. So, exercise for me is a necessity to maintain a moderate level of sanity. Been treating exercise not as something I have to force myself to do, but as a form of meditation...concentrating on movements, putting mind at ease... a daily practice.
Been doing yoga for close to 15 years as well.

mgriffin · August 13, 2009, 01:05:48 PM

Uhurit's post brings up a good point, which is that if you can find a way of enjoying exercise (either by doing more enjoyable workouts, or just by working on your mental approach) it makes the whole thing much easier and more enjoyable.

A year ago I exercised as little as possible, and for as short a time as I felt was reasonable. Lately I look forward to my runs, and want to run as far and as often as my body and schedule allow! I feel very disappointed when something comes up to interfere with a planned run. Mostly this has come about by changing how I think about it, by deciding to rediscover the love of running, and trying to run outdoors more often whenever possible, rather than just on the treadmill.

Wanterkeelt · September 03, 2009, 02:21:14 AM

I started running about 3 years ago, to overcome a separation. Since then I regularly run, about 2-4 times a week (it depends on the time I have), each time between 1,5 hour minimum and 3 hours. Considering that the place where I live is surrounded by kilometers of forests in every direction, and that I have the forest 50m behind the house, and since I love nature and forests, it's an easy task. I also ride my mountainbike to bring some change into the whole thing.
It helped me a lot to get over the separation back in 2006 but I also have to say that I feel better now than I ever did before (well I'm only 28...) and my body has really changed, I mean those muscles everywhere... :)
Here in Luxembourg running has become quite popular during the last years, due to a marathon they're organizing every year. But so far I've never been interested in participating...

You guys mostly running alone or in groups ?

mgriffin · September 03, 2009, 08:27:35 AM

Lena and I usually run together, though we only have one treadmill so if we're running indoors for some reason, we run separately.

We've talked about one day joining a trail running club, once we're a little stronger/faster. I really believe training with others helps you to improve.

SunDummy · September 03, 2009, 11:07:27 AM

Quote from: mgriffin on September 03, 2009, 08:27:35 AM
Lena and I usually run together, though we only have one treadmill so if we're running indoors for some reason, we run separately.

We've talked about one day joining a trail running club, once we're a little stronger/faster. I really believe training with others helps you to improve.

Maybe it's because I'm generally a loner, but I really don't like working out with other people. I don't run, but I would think that running in the woods would be much more fun alone.

I prefer to ride my roadie alone - I can ride at my pace, stop when I want, enjoy the silence of the country without someone yapping on about this or that; it's a nice way to clear my head and get into the meditative rhythm of a long ride. Other people interfere. I get frustrated riding with my wife - she rides a couple mph slower than I do. I have to either ride slower, which doesn't get my heart rate where I want it, or she has to ride faster, which wears her out. Riding with someone else also means dealing with drafting etiquette, which I find tedious.

I also like to ski alone; I don't have to wait for slower skiers, or hold back faster ones; I can cut into the singles line at lifts, avoiding long lines; I get to meet someone new on almost every lift ride (made some good friends this way); and when skinning I get the same benefits as riding my bike alone.

I prefer to save the socializing for the bar afterwards. ;D

mgriffin · September 03, 2009, 11:10:12 AM

Cycling together isn't as much fun as running together. It's hard to bike side-by-side.

You should've married a tough woman who can go just as fast as you, like I did!
;)

SunDummy · September 03, 2009, 11:15:17 AM

;D ;D ;D

The problem isn't her lack of speed - it's that I have only two settings: relaxing or going full-throttle. I simply cannot pace myself, I prefer to ride/ski to the point of failure, then go relax. She takes a more balanced approach.

But it's all good, she keeps pace in the bar... ::)