Squats are a form of torture designed by people who don\u2019t need to do squats in the first place. \u00a0\u00a0<\/em>~~ Nora Roberts, Bed of Roses<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Not surprisingly, I escaped the exercise bug for most of my life. Prior to a month ago, I think I last participated in organized or required activities when I was in high school. \u00a0Probably 1980. \u00a0Yes, my friends I was in high school during the latter part of the previous century. \u00a0I did take a riflery class at college, but that didn\u2019t create\u00a0a lot of sweating. \u00a0I also enrolled in a bowling class, but that went down the gutter quickly. \u00a0So, I generally don\u2019t count those two when I think of me and my exercise.<\/p>\n

For decades my mantra was, \u201cI hate exercise\u201d. \u00a0I even bought a book titled, \u201cThe \u2018I Hate Exercise\u2019 Book\u201d. \u00a0It\u2019s real, trust me. True to form, I think I read one chapter\u2026extolling the virtues of vacuuming, yard work, and doing the laundry. \u00a0My interpretation? \u00a0\u201cWell, I\u2019m already doing that stuff. So I\u2019m exercising all the time. \u00a0Why read any more?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
Random Fact Alert!<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0<\/span>I couldn\u2019t help myself. I had to look it up. \u00a0I\u2019m glad it\u2019s still listed on Amazon (where I bought it) and that it\u2019s actually in it\u2019s 3rd edition! I think that\u2019s great. It must be working for people\u2026who are not me\u2026and who actually read the book.<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n
That book collected a lot of dust until it met its demise at a moving sale last year. If it didn\u2019t find a good home with one of our shoppers, it found a place at the local public library when we donated all the books\u00a0that didn\u2019t sell.<\/p>\n
When I finally got serious about making changes, I started walking. I\u2019d force myself to take a break at work and walk around the neighborhood for 20 minutes. I didn\u2019t make it very far in those days. I think it was about a half mile round trip. I\u2019d also walk the side street next to the building that was a very steep hill. I never did make it to the top, but I tried. My husband convinced me it was a bad idea to walk our home neighborhood at 5am, and there was no way I was exercising after a crazy day at work. After a few weeks, I let myself get sucked back into the craziness of my job and my walking breaks petered out. I kept making changes in my food regimen, so I felt like I was still moving forward even if I wasn\u2019t actually moving much.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until this past year that real changes started to be seen. My sister-in-law, Monica urged me to walk with her every week. I finally agreed and we started walking 2-3 times each week. I\u2019m sure she would disagree, but I think she\u2019s a very healthy person. She has a soft spot for cookies, but other than that she eats well and exercises regularly. When we started, she was kind and let me walk as far as I could. I think I did 3\/4 of a mile. Since then, we walk together less, but I\u2019ve come\u00a0to like walking around my neighborhood alone. The last walk I measured fully was 3.3 miles! I was amazed. So, every time I go out, I walk a little farther and try to walk a little faster. \u00a0I walk one more block past where I walked the previous time. \u00a0In a way, it\u2019s the same as taking that first action in a big plan. That step (or that block) leads to the next, and to the next, and so on and so on.<\/p>\n
When Summer rolled around, I knew\u00a0my next step was getting into a pool. \u00a0Monica and I swapped our organized walking time with aqua aerobics at the local community pool. Let me just say, I was not at all comfortable going out in public in a swimsuit. NOT AT ALL! But I decided it was something I wanted to try because there would be less strain on my knees. Turns out, no one cares what I look like in a swimsuit. \u00a0They\u2019re in the low impact water aerobics class for a reason, too. \u00a0It\u2019s fun, it\u2019s cool in the heat, and I\u2019m moving more. \u00a0That\u2019s all that really matters.<\/p>\n
So folks\u2026take that one step. Is there a class at the \u201cY\u201d that looks interesting? Maybe you have a set of weights calling your name in the basement. Maybe you need some relaxation time with a beginner\u2019s yoga class. \u00a0Whatever that one step is for you, just take it! Seriously! TAKE IT! See where it leads you. As long as you move more than the day before, you\u2019re ahead of the game.<\/p>\n
See you next time\u2026<\/p>\n
$\"initials-blog-sig\"$ <\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
and my striking Copy Editor, Billy<\/p>\n
$\"The$ <\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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[et_pb_section admin_label=\u201dsection\u201d][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201dRow\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_code admin_label=\u201dCode: Google Analytics\u201d global_module=\u201d25375\u2033 saved_tabs=\u201dall\u201d]<script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i[\u2018GoogleAnalyticsObject\u2019]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,\u2019script\u2019,\u2019https:\/\/www.google-analytics.com\/analytics.js\u2019,\u2019ga\u2019); ga(\u2018create\u2019, \u2018UA-80928733-1\u2019, \u2018auto\u2019); ga(\u2018send\u2019, \u2018pageview\u2019);[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201dRow\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_post_title admin_label=\u201dPost Title\u201d title=\u201don\u201d meta=\u201don\u201d author=\u201doff\u201d date=\u201don\u201d categories=\u201don\u201d comments=\u201don\u201d featured_image=\u201don\u201d featured_placement=\u201dbackground\u201d parallax_effect=\u201doff\u201d parallax_method=\u201don\u201d text_orientation=\u201dcenter\u201d text_color=\u201dlight\u201d text_background=\u201don\u201d text_bg_color=\u201d#086a87\u2033 module_bg_color=\u201drgba(255,255,255,0)\u201d title_all_caps=\u201doff\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d] [\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201drow\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_text admin_label=\u201dText\u201d background_layout=\u201dlight\u201d text_orientation=\u201dleft\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d] Squats are a form […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":334,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
Squats are a form of torture designed by people who don't need to do squats in the first place. \u00a0<\/em>~~ Nora Roberts, Bed of Roses<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>
Not surprisingly, I escaped the exercise bug for most of my life. Prior to a month ago, I think I last participated in organized or required activities when I was in high school. \u00a0Probably 1980. \u00a0Yes, my friends I was in high school during the latter part of the previous century. \u00a0I did take a riflery class at college, but that didn't create\u00a0a lot of sweating. \u00a0I also enrolled in a bowling class, but that went down the gutter quickly. \u00a0So, I generally don't count those two when I think of me and my exercise.<\/p>
For decades my mantra was, \"I hate exercise\". \u00a0I even bought a book titled, \"The 'I Hate Exercise' Book\". \u00a0It's real, trust me. True to form, I think I read one chapter...extolling the virtues of vacuuming, yard work, and doing the laundry. \u00a0My interpretation? \u00a0\"Well, I'm already doing that stuff. So I'm exercising all the time. \u00a0Why read any more?<\/p>
[box type=\"info\"] Random Fact Alert!<\/strong><\/em><\/span> \u00a0I couldn't help myself. I had to look it up. \u00a0I'm glad it's still listed on Amazon (where I bought it) and that it's actually in it's 3rd edition! I think that's great. It must be working for people...who are not me...and who actually read the book.<\/p>
<\/a> $\"See$ [\/box]<\/p>
That book collected a lot of dust until it met its demise at a moving sale last year. If it didn't find a good home with one of our shoppers, it found a place at the local public library when we donated all the books\u00a0that didn't sell.<\/p>
When I finally got serious about making changes, I started walking. I'd force myself to take a break at work and walk around the neighborhood for 20 minutes. I didn't make it very far in those days. I think it was about a half mile round trip. I'd also walk the side street next to the building that was a very steep hill. I never did make it to the top, but I tried. My husband convinced me it was a bad idea to walk our home neighborhood at 5am, and there was no way I was exercising after a crazy day at work. After a few weeks, I let myself get sucked back into the craziness of my job and my walking breaks petered out. I kept making changes in my food regimen, so I felt like I was still moving forward even if I wasn't actually moving much.<\/p>
It wasn't until this past year that real changes started to be seen. My sister-in-law, Monica urged me to walk with her every week. I finally agreed and we started walking 2-3 times each week. I'm sure she would disagree, but I think she's a very healthy person. She has a soft spot for cookies, but other than that she eats well and exercises regularly. When we started, she was kind and let me walk as far as I could. I think I did 3\/4 of a mile. Since then, we walk together less, but I've come\u00a0to like walking around my neighborhood alone. The last walk I measured fully was 3.3 miles! I was amazed. So, every time I go out, I walk a little farther and try to walk a little faster. \u00a0I walk one more block past where I walked the previous time. \u00a0In a way, it's the same as taking that first action in a big plan. That step (or that block) leads to the next, and to the next, and so on and so on.<\/p>
When Summer rolled around, I knew\u00a0my next step was getting into a pool. \u00a0Monica and I swapped our organized walking time with aqua aerobics at the local community pool. Let me just say, I was not at all comfortable going out in public in a swimsuit. NOT AT ALL! But I decided it was something I wanted to try because there would be less strain on my knees. Turns out, no one cares what I look like in a swimsuit. \u00a0They're in the low impact water aerobics class for a reason, too. \u00a0It's fun, it's cool in the heat, and I'm moving more. \u00a0That's all that really matters.<\/p>
So folks...take that one step. Is there a class at the \"Y\" that looks interesting? Maybe you have a set of weights calling your name in the basement. Maybe you need some relaxation time with a beginner's yoga class. \u00a0Whatever that one step is for you, just take it! Seriously! TAKE IT! See where it leads you. As long as you move more than the day before, you're ahead of the game.<\/p>
See you next time...<\/p>
~~Annette~~\u00a0...and my striking Copy Editor, Billy<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_260\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"] $\"The$ The Copy Editor on strike[\/caption]
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