Priorities and Confessions of a gym dropout

Hi R

Clara is now a gym dropout and prefers
other exercise regimes

Oh no - not the great unveiling!  I was beginning to feel 'let off the hook' but then thought  my planned trip to Italy and France in May, means I face the same challenges but more so because all will be revealed on the deck of the canal boat.  So I am with you all the way but will limit  exposure of arms and the legs to the end half of both, due to vanity and realism.  

Now a self-confessed  'Gym Dropout' since last year, I adopted the idea of 'Exercise with a Purpose' - the concept being that if you have places you need to go, then walk there, or spend time in the garden sweeping my paths and others' paths  in the complex to satisfy my aesthetic needs.  Cutting the hedge, for example, is a great way to exercise the dreaded upper arms and working in the garden definitely helps to restore positive mental equilibrium. I recall one of Jane Fonda's tapes which you introduced me to in the 70s, had one exercise called "PULL WEEDS !  PULL WEEDS!  - She was always so urgent in her requests so I did as I was told.

I am currently writing a book about walks in my area so this also provides many opportunities to get out there and exercise / walk with a purpose along with regular morning walks. Then the 10 minutes of additional exercise  such as some pelvic floor / abdomen stuff, some resistance activities using a stretchy car octopus, and a few basic moves using 2kg / 4lb weights. 

All that is good.  But - while I am in confession mode - I do get up early, yes R, at 6-15 which is early for me, to walk with G.  I really really really want to, but sometimes I really really really really want just a few more precious lifesaving minutes in foggy sleep.  Fortunately for me, G heaps disappointment upon me so being an approval seeker, I do my best.  However, with daylight saving ending soon, it is going to be darker, colder, harder.    Follow my progress! 
Re the 10 minutes exercise - you know what - it doesn't always happen.  One exercise I do religiously, however, redeems  me slightly - ie in waiting for the shower to heat up - with hands behind you grasping the edge of the bath, fingers pointing forward, 20 strong knee bends with pelvic awareness, exercises many essential muscles all at the one time, including the dreaded upper arms I keep referring to.  This is my naked truth!  And the good part is I am still asleep. 

R - I love your new decision -  "I've decided one thing, I'm going to walk before I talk, jog before I blog and stretch before I sit and knit. I've also decided to approach this spring's training in realistic moderation. I plan to feel a "little burn" rather than a big burn out."  The only way I would adjust it to work for me, would be to make it into a mantra - ie "I'm going to walk before I talk, jog before I blog and stretch before I sit and knit,"  because for me, it's all about routine and priorities. 

Clara
ps - rather than the 'naked truth', I love the exercise shirts you showed in the last blog. 



Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Feel the Good Burn

R wrote
So, I think that the hour you waste going to and from the gym can be spent exercising at home.

That's what I think, not necessarily what I do. I'm working up to it again. I was faithfully walking while talking to a friend on my cell phone till all that stuff resurfaced about cell phones and brain tumors. I could feel the burn. Then there's this blog thing that takes up alot of my exercise time too. No excuses, I know.

Check out The Bar Method, www.barmethod.com for a good stationary, thigh screaming workout. No bar is needed just the back of a chair unless you belly up to the bar after the workout.

'Feel the Burn' reminded me of when we used to exercise to Jane Fonda's tape (what's that they say?). I kept doing that workout for decades.

So I googled 'Jane Fonda exercises for Older Women' and there it was, along with a blog she writes re fitness for the boomers.
Also like the look of the 'Bar Method,' as described below (from the website).
Feel the burn! Clara



What do you do in a Bar Method workout?
"The Bar Method targets all major muscle groups by contracting or stretching them by means of controlled isolations performed to music.

After a simple warm-up to get the heart rate going and the muscles warm, students work the upper body with free weights, push-ups and stretches using the ballet bar.

Next come challenging exercises for the lower body, most of them performed in various standing positions while holding onto the bar.

The Bar Method’s workout continues with floor exercises for the abdominals and gluteals and concludes with a relaxing series of back and leg stretches."



The Jane Fonda Fitness DVD For Older Women
Posted on Jan 27, 2010 Comments 1

This is one fit 70 year old; one who would give women half her age a run for their money. Jane Fonda, actress, model and fitness guru of the 1980’s is making a comeback with a fitness DVD program aimed at older women.

She wants to encourage the older demographic to work out, whom either stopped working out or never started.

Her age group and that of the baby boomers has been left out according to her.



http://janefonda.com/excited