Anyway, I did my first workout today! I feel like total crap afterward (think I completely trashed my limbs for the week), but it was worth it. I’ve gotten a good assessment of my limitations now (I can not do hopscotch after push-ups; my knees gave out and I took a foot to the crotch), and I know that even if it makes me feel lousy, I can live through it. The fact that I only have to do it for about twenty minutes once a week helps out, too.

Here’s the weird part, though: I wanted to do it, and kept trying to think of any reason good enough to procrastinate. The body was willing, but the mind was not – a startling reversal of my typical motivations. Over the next week, I’ll be working hard to try and keep my body that enthused – I think the daily walks I’ve been taking have helped.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I probably wouldn’t have done that today if not for your blog. You have taught me three things: that exercise doesn’t have to take a long time, that a little goes a long way, and that a good bit of pain can be a lot of fun in small doses.

Today I took my 93 year old mother for a walk round a massive nature reserve. It was hard going in places as her one remaining good eye makes it difficult to judge lumpy ground. But she made it, it took about an hour.

Meanwhile I clenched my buttocks, did some silly walks etc. to hit a few other muscles. Actually walking really really slowly is quite hard work especially with a wobbly old lady hanging off your arm.

Tomorrow I shall do some more intensive walking and hit the garden again. You’d think she’d be pining for the Comfy Chair but no she’s just got up again, I think she’s doing washing up ready for me to cook (salmon and spinach and toasted almonds)

Not altogether sure I want to live to be 93 but I want to stay active up to the end. I have a pretty good role model there . . .

Back on topic – My biggest excuses for not exercising are being in chronic pain (I hate the word fibromyalgia, but that’s pretty much what it is), and my very geek-focused lifestyle. My husband and I fit the stereotypical sedentary-geeks-who-loathe-sports mold, and I allow his utter disinterest in exercise to stop me from engaging in it myself. I was never athletic, so exercising, especially alone, makes me feel like such. a. dork.

The best exercise we get is our excursions to take photos, lots of walking, sunshine, and I get a lot of squats in just from having to go up & down with the camera to get the angles I want. But it’s not nearly enough. =(

Thanks for the motivation, Mark. I see blue sky & fluffy clouds out of my basement window, time to say goodbye to the keyboard and get some fresh air.

I am saving this one in my arsenal. So many people ask me what to eat and how to exercise and this post links up to all of it!! Cheers!

Gee, Mark, it’s not always that simple. For example, this whole post made me feel terribly for not being able to work out right now. I’d love to, but, you see, if I work out right now, it could kill my unborn baby because I’m strictly on bedrest, probably for the next three months.

I normally love your posts, but today you come off as very condescending, and I sincerely hope that people who shouldn’t take your advice can get past your attempted guilt trip and ignore it.

Working out is normally good during pregnancy, if you do it right… but some problems can occur that can make a simple workout deadly for a baby.