Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Get Healthy Blogfest

Thanks to these great bloggers who are hosting this Get Healthy blogfest. I'm hoping to learn a lot and you can too. Visit any of the hosts and find full lists of participants there.

Alex Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp
L. Diane Wolfe
Michael Di Gesu

To be a successful writer, you have to spend hours with your butt in a chair unless you're lucky enough to have one of those desks that set on your treadmill. I still want one of those. Especially when you're on a deadline, personal or set by someone else, you'll find yourself relatively immobile for long periods.

I like to jog for my main workout though I'm much slower than I used to be. When I was younger, jogging meant five miles in about forty minutes, but it takes me a lot longer now.  My jogging now is rather pathetic but I enjoy it. The problem with slower paces is the lower level of intensity. Orthopedically, I just can't run like I used to. Too many knee surgeries, so I have to find different ways to keep the intensity up. I do that outside by heading for the hills. Up hill is so much harder than level, whether jogging or walking. But at my pace, I still need to spend a lot of time out there to get the workout I used to get by going faster. Being a writer, I don't always have that hour or hour and a half I need to get a good workout.   The answer, intensity. I can't go faster, so I climb those dang hills.  On the treadmill in bad whether, I really crank up the height angle so I burn a lot of calories.

Time limits on your workout = increase your intensity. You can burn more calories in a shorter period of time.

Do you make changes in your workout when time is short? Do you have a helpful hint to stay healthy? Have you changed how you work out as you get older or do you still go as hard as you did years ago?

25 comments:

Suzanne Furness said...

Time constraints can often make exercise difficult can't it? I can't do the running thing because of knee problems but I love a long walk.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Yes, I do tweak my workouts when I have less time. I alternate between jogging, long walks and yoga.

Laura Clipson said...

I don't exercise nearly as much as I should, but I do a lot of walking for work. I should probably try to exercise more, though.

Anonymous said...

I as have got older it seems I've accumulated family problems so to stay positive is good for me. I drink plenty of water throughout the day and I love to walk along the beach which is nearby to my home.

Yvonne.

shelly said...

Yup. I know what you mean. I've had to go at a slower pace with my workouts, too.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

It sounds like you're doing well and on track. I think that bump in intensity makes a lot of sense and something I'm going to keep in mind. :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

We have a treadmill, so when my time is limited, I set it at an incline. It makes a big difference!

Stina said...

I need to get a treadmill. We live in a hilly area, which is great for challenging the cardiovascular system. I used to run on the stairs when I was short of time or the weather was bad, but I had to stop doing this when I injured my ankle. Apparently running on stairs is not a good idea, according to my physiotherapist.

The Happy Whisk said...

I miss jogging, but was strong enough to start walking this week - which I'm thankful for.

Happy Wednesday.

Lynn Proctor said...

i like the slower idea too--and i also like the 10 to 15 minutes several times a day :)

Unknown said...

Oh, we could be jogging buddies. I always swear people could speed walk as fast as I jog. Fortunately I live on a mountain and have to jog down for a mile and a half and then, Lawd, turn around and job back up. It kicks my butt every time and I'm like a turtle, but I do it and am always glad when I'm done.

Annalisa Crawford said...

I definitely agree that slow up a hill is much better than fast on the flat - far more muscles have to be recruited, which means more calories burned!

D.V. Sheppard said...

Heading for the hills! THAT is determination. Great reminder for really making the time count and getting rid of the "not enough time" excuse.

SK Anthony said...

I like jogging also, I'm a beginner, but still.. I enjoy it. I think its a great reminder that we can make the best of our time, we just have to get up and do it ;)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I run on a treadmill, which is easier on the knees. Never realized how hard pavement was in comparison until I went out for a jog around the neighborhood one day.

Mark Means said...

Being a bit pigeon-toed, I've never really been big into running, though I have to agree that upping the elevation is a great way to burn more calories.

As long as we keep active, we're o.k :)

Bevimus said...

Running and I have a long, tumultuous relationship. It’s not my bag. But I agree on the intensity point. Lovely to meet you, BTW!

Anonymous said...

I'm not able to exercise like I did when I was younger, but I try to do what I can to keep moving. Others have mentioned running as their exercise of choice, so you are in good company.


Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Yahoo for all my fellow runners and joggers. Keep on keeping on.

Anonymous said...

Short stints on the computer, with light to moderate exercise in between helps a lot too. We really shouldn't sit on our butts that much. You're so right about that.

Arlee Bird said...

I'll stick to walking since my heart won't handle anything more strenuous. Sometimes I run in my dreams though and it feels very liberating.

Lee
A Faraway View
An A to Z Co-host blog

Suzanne said...

I'm afraid more time has made me less focused. When I worked full time it was a case of fitting it in - now I think 'oh well, there's always later'!
Suzanne @Suzannes Tribe

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Susan,

Fantastic advice! Mixing up your routine and challenging the body is the best way to workout. The body needs it.

I like the fact that you have natural hills to run/walk on. I live in FLAT Chicago. I wish I had that option ... not to mention the beauty. Your senses get a workout too!

Thanks for sharing and joining the HOP!

Trisha said...

I prefer to walk than run, always have. But I also like to stretch and do weight-bearing stuff, i.e. yoga, body balance.

Kelly Polark said...

I wish I liked to jog! I walk and do bursts of sprints, but I was and probably never will be a runner. Though I do the treadmill regularly even if it is 9:15 at night I squeeze in at least 20 minutes so I feel like I did something.