Exercising for My Spirits

     Arnold Schwarzenegger once said, “Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body.” I would expect something motivating from someone like him to keep your body strong, but I thought this message was bordering on inspirational. I'm a poor example of someone who keeps themselves fit. I have my exercises for my knee and back, dabble in yoga, and walk. I recognize this is not enough, particularly as I now easily could find myself either tethered to the computer, or in front of the television all my waking hours. Perhaps I need to think about this down time as an opportunity to actually train, and not just dabble, in exercising.

     I once was an actual athlete. I played soccer, basketball and softball. I spent hours in the gym, the field, the court, plus time in the fitness room or batting cages, specifically training to be sharper, quicker, have more stamina. Granted, this was 35+ years ago and I was young, strong, and healthy. Maybe now though I have bigger goals to train for; though no longer young, I could be strong and healthy perhaps. I definitely have stress, like Mr. Schwarzenegger mentions, and I sit for long periods of time suppressing the need to be with others, collaborate, discuss, and plan. Just maybe when life resumes to the former pattern, I can be stronger and healthier.

     I dug a couple two pound hand weights out of a closet. Somewhere I know I have resistance bands.I've got three rooms with screens to stream an instructor. I've been off the Intermittent fasting, though I had actually lost some weight, and today am 6 pounds lighter than I was on February 24th, five weeks ago when I did a starting weigh in. Today I'm resuming the IF pattern, and scheduling specifc exercise. I've got at least two more full weeks before being back in the office, maybe longer. Training season begins.