What Shape Are You

I had posted my measurements when I first started this blog, a month ago, but due to ineptitude or something, it never got published.

But I was shocked to see I was a trapezoid! 36 - 34-38. 121 pounds. I am 5 feet tall/short. Now, in the jargon of typecasting figures, the tendency is to use fruit and not geometric figures. Because perhaps most of us are trapezoids in one form or another.

My trapezoidy figure was an Apple. Someone whose weight gain is through the middle. Not a great figure type, because I read an article that said all that extra fat through the middle squishes all those important organs, which can lead to major health problems.

Other shapes were Pear and Stick. Now, there's a name that could use a geometric shape. Stick, how insulting. I might like to look like a Stick, but I don't want to be called one.

I don't like Apple either, which is why I'm trying to get in shape. Fitness programs for Apples called for cardiovascular training, something like running, walking swimming, etc. to burn calories and get rid of the fat. That is my program, but I am also adding stomach crunches and lifts, and arm exercises. Apples don't have flabby twigs hanging from the tree, do they? but I sure do.

A month later and here I am, still a trapezoidy Apple at 36-33.5-37.5 and 119 pounds. Results!! Slow, but steady.

I'm not impatient, and I am feeling good. I can go almost a full half mile with just a few stops now!!

Birds of the day:
Kingfisher (my first of the season, yay!)
Tri-colored Heron
Great Blue Heron
Common Moor Hen with 2 little babies. Aw.
The usual mockingbird, collared doves, blue jays and grackles. And 6 sandhill cranes.

The other day I found a nickel!!

Was It the Coffee?

I had a great day today! I ran a whole half mile with basically no stopping!! The whole total distance was 2.5 miles I guess. I thought I'd be tired, but I did OK. I did have an extra cup of coffee. Think that was it?

Bird Watch:
Tri-Colored Heron
Green Heron
Doves (Mourning and Collared, lots)
Blue Jays
Chimney Swifts
Sandhill Cranes (these are great birds. I didn't have my camera with me, but I sauntered about 5 minutes about 1 foot away from them as they pecked and strolled. Before me came two women with a dog, and they spent many minutes doing their rattle call. Got quiet with me, then a second dog came and they rattle called. )

I asked the first dog owner if they noticed the cranes didn't like dogs. They hadn't noticed! We really have lost such a connection with nature.

When I spread my towel out to do some stomach crunches, suddenly I was transported high high to the rapid moving clouds, to chimney swifts swirling about. Very cool.

Pace Yourself

I've started week 3 today!! I did manage to jog a whole quarter mile without stopping! After that it was same old, same old. But I'm in for the long run, so to speak.

When starting a fitness program, you should have several goals. One is improved health, another may be just getting back in shape. A necessary goal is a lifelong commitment to fitness.

Why do so many people fall off the fitness wagon? Why do they spend hundreds of dollars getting ready to be fit - on equipment, on memberships- only to let their fitness goals fall aside, equipment unused and memberships lapsed.

Perhaps it's too much too soon. Exercise is something to make you feel GOOD. After a while, you need it, you want it, and you'll find ways to get it.

I've seen too many people with pained looks on their faces. They start out their program making their bodies hurt. Hurt! No wonder they don't go back. Pain isn't fun at all.

If it's been awhile since your last fitness foray, please don't push yourself too far. Take it slow. Walk for a few weeks. Then every quarter of mile or so, try a gentle jog. If you are lifting weights, try a lighter load that you can do more repetitions on rather than one set of giant grunts and sore muscles.

Do stretch. It's like flossing teeth, after a while it's so relaxing.

And do breathe. Years ago, I took a Tai Chi class. We did a lot of breathing. For the best chi, the teacher had us curl our tongues up to the center of our mouths and breathe deep. Very deep. Like for an 8 count. Then sloooowly release it, also for an 8 count. The oxygen goes farther into your lungs than with shallow breathing. If you do the Eastern breathing like with Tai Chi or Yoga, you will feel so energized.

I haven't been a steady exerciser for a few years now. I find it much harder now that I am older to get back into the swing of things. But I know I'll cross that hurdle eventually.

I walk, I breathe, I stretch and in between all that I make my legs work hard. But not so hard that I feel sore the next day. Sometimes I could use going to bed early, but I don't hurt.

Listen to your body. It doesn't like pain anymore than your head does. So cool it down a few notches. Any exercise is good exercise. Have a little fun, enjoy the movement, don't be in pain, and you'll be back the next day for more. You'll reach those goals, don't worry.

My Stats for the day:

Walk/run 2.5 miles. All aerobic today.

I noticed the Chimney Swift birds are back, and that can only mean that autumn is right around the corner. You see them in great clouds of speckled black, like sprinkling pepper out.