As I wrap up this year and begin to look forward to next, I am most excited about getting back into the gym and achieving some new health and fitness goals. OK it's not world peace, an end to climate change, or even an exit from my current living situation, but I am after goals that are something I can control, and perhaps more importantly, achieve.
It is difficult to put those goals in concrete terms, but for the sake of my own reminder, I will try. It's a lifestyle that I'm trying to build, not a regimented slog towards some arbitrary number, or size. There has to be room for other things than eating well and hitting the gym. The microscopic body changes, gains in muscle, and conversion of weight, while helpful tools for measuring progress, are not enough to sustain life long motivation. The changes needed are those that I can comfortably implement and stick to, day in and day out.
These are numbered, but by no means by priority:
1. Find more easy to make, and inexpensive, meals that better fit my macro-nutrient needs. Let's face it, eating healthfully, enjoyably, and cleanly is not cheap and it take time, but not every meal needs to be elaborate. There is pleasure in simplicity.
2. Reinstitute two veggie days per week. I've tried for more in the past, but I do not live alone and my dietary requirements are not the only ones that need to be satisfied. Two is about what I can get away with before the rest of the family lodges any complaints.
3. Add two sessions of intense cardio per week to existing gym schedule. I do a ton of walking throughout the week, and in all seasons, but high intensity cardiovascular exercise is not my favorite thing, and I no longer have the knees for running, jumping, or real dancing. This means that the elliptical machines are about to become my new best friend.
4. Transition from weight training machines to dumb bells and bar bell exercises. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the nautilus type of machines, particularly when you are a beginner. However; I've long since lost any claim to being a newbie, and I need to add more tools to the toolbox. I have avoided this out of nothing more than fear: I am afraid that I will get injured, and if I'm being completely honest, I'm afraid I will look foolish.
5. Patience. Acquire some. Does this really need explanation? On top of being greedy at the table I am impatient, I want results in the gym. It's often really easy to get caught up in the immediate and risk setbacks with the long term goal.
I haven't included this in my list because, beyond six being and odd number to end on, it really is an ongoing struggle. That is, write something everyday! I love to write. I find a great deal of satisfaction in putting my thoughts on the page, but I am not a terribly disciplined person: I need deadlines. To that end, I will try - illness, death, or disaster - to post something to this blog every day.
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