This is going to be a FUN year for health! At age 60, I have gained the knowledge, experience, discipline, and motivation for a healthy lifestyle. It has not been an easy road but I have the confidence now to have what it takes to succeed and to have fun doing it. It begins this year with my membership at The Wellness Center at Southwest Baptist University (SBU) in Bolivar, Missouri. It is my 21st year going there January to May 2-3 times a week. For more information about SBU and my past experiences there, please type "SBU" into the "Search This Blog" tool located on the right. For this blog article, I will concentrate on the present time…let the fun begin!
What is different this year is that I have seen and felt the results of all my past efforts and now believe I am healthier than I ever have been. All the emotional set-backs, surgeries, diabetes diagnosis, work stresses have been either conquered or managed. I now have the strength, both physical and emotional, to meet any of life's challenges. I am in a good place open to happiness and fun that is well earned. I will do whatever it takes to hang onto this wonderful attitude and balance life's priorities because I am worth it. By taking care of me, I can have the energy needed to give to others and have a fulfilling life.
I am not trying to be young again and have no desire to look like a woman younger than my age. I want to re-define old. I want to get older!
So this year, I begin to have more fun by joining more exercise classes. Understand that this Wellness Center has an age mix so I'm not the only gray-haired old lady in the group of lovely, vibrant college-age youth. I love their energy! I love feeling inclusive as the atmosphere at this Baptist University is genuinely religious-based and progressive. I try to ignore the highly influenced right-wing conservatism that is prevalent all around mostly from Senator Roy Blunt, a major Republican contributing alumni. It is something I have adjusted to all these years and it doesn't bother me as much anymore. I just wear my headphones and listen to my music when using the machines instead of Fox News which is about the only channel they allow besides sports on the TV's. I have noticed lately that other people complain and/or just change the channels which is usually locked by staff. Progress.
My routine this January to May will be similar to what I have done the first week but will change up as needed:
Wednesday - Zumba Class: 45 minutes, Treadmill: 60 minutes, Weights: 15 minutes
Thursday - PiYo (Pilates/Yoga): 45 minutes, Treadmill: 45 minutes, Lap Swimming: 30 minutes
Friday - Treadmill: 45 minutes, Weights: 15 minutes, Lap Swimming: 30 minutes
Other classes include Body Sculpting which I took the first week and have not fully recovered yet! Other classes I have not done yet this year but might are Cardio Step Kickboxing and Stretch & Flex. There's an Aqua Class of some sort but I get a good work out doing laps that I love the most. I will check the monthly schedules to see if any new classes are added. 20 classes and I get a T-shirt! Woop-Woop!
Now when the weather is above 50 degrees, I may choose to walk 3 miles (60 minutes) on my regular favorite trail below the dam near where I live. I do this most of the year in addition to whatever else I do. Also, when the weather is not good and/or I don't feel like driving the 30 miles to SBU, I have my personal elliptical machine in my Yoga Room (Jake's old bedroom). Bicycling and kayaking are more regular routines June through November. I will also find time for my beloved fly-fishing. Fun stuff!
As I write this, I have done three classes and four days so far at The Wellness Center. I am sore and have not lost any of the weight I gained over the holidays. I know that it usually takes two weeks to feel and see the progress. I'm working on it...
No comments:
Post a Comment