One thing

When we first start something new, there is almost always too much information to process at once.  All of a sudden, we seem to have acquired extra body parts, each with a mind of its own.  While we are thinking about what the left knee is doing, somehow our elbow ends up wrapped around the back of our head, or the right knee feels that it is time to go on vacation, or we clench our teeth so hard that we have bite marks on our scalp.

There is only one thing we absolutely have to do:  keep breathing.

After we ensure that is happening, we can focus on one or two other things until we can do those on autopilot.  Maybe we want to concentrate on balance, so we think about abdominals and center of gravity.  Maybe we’re rehabbing a knee, so we stay tuned in to how it is aligning with our hips and ankles.  As we improve, we can turn our attention to whatever seems most important next.

Trying to do everything at once mostly produces frustration.  Let’s be patient and thorough and smart about all this.

Monday Workout: Ropes!

While it is not necessary to have lots of toys to have an interesting workout, we might as well use them when we have them!  This week we’re playing with the battle rope, which combines a bunch of core work, an endurance (small) squat, aerobic challenge, and arm strength all at once!  Three rounds…

rope double slams	30
ball bench press	20
dips	10
rope alternating slams	30
ball flies	20
pushups	10
rope circles	30
deadlifts	20
plank/side plank

Rewards!

I believe in a certain amount of beneficial self-bribery.  We all need a reward for doing what we know we should do anyway from time to time.  With workouts, it helps if the rewards are not food, so here are ten non-edible things we can do for ourselves when we are done with the workout.  Most of them are cheap, too.

1.     Go in the hot tub.  If you don’t have access to a hot tub, a bath with fancy bubbles or even a hot shower can feel rewarding.

2.     Sit out on the patio.  Maybe you can enjoy the sun on your face or watch the moon rise.  Bonus points for seeing shooting stars or butterflies.

3.     Call a friend.  Give yourself the chance to catch up on all the doings.  Maybe even brag a little about what you accomplished.

4.     Get a pedicure.  Yes, people who identify as male can do this, too.  Feet are an essential part of pretty much any workout and deserve some love, too, whether or not you decide to paint your toenails pink or blue or green.

5.     Catch a movie.  You have earned the right to sit around for an hour and a half.

6.     Buy that book or magazine you’ve been wanting.  Your brain likes to work out, too.

7.     Get tickets.  Some events are more expensive than others, so you can save those tickets for when you reach a milestone, like losing ten pounds or finishing that big race.

8.     Accessorize.  Maybe it’s a new water bottle or some earbuds.  Maybe new earrings will make you feel like a million bucks.

9.     Massage.  This one is not cheap, unless you have a partner who is willing to trade, but it’s definitely worth it.

10.  Cuddle. 

You can do it!