Be your inner athlete

We were all designed to move. To walk, jump, and run. I can imagine the extreme detail our creator put into our design from the first two models (Adam and Eve, not Ford and Chevy!). That's right, the original design required one foot being put in front of the other. Our owner's manual has a few references to sweating and working hard but doesn't really address the need to exercise. It is understandable since it was written before even bicycles were used for transportation.
I see folks biking, jogging, running, and walking all around town. Good for you if you are one of them. The number of cars and trucks outnumber the "human powered" vehicles I see in use. The ideal amount of exercise is 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week. There are days when I get the whole weeks worth in on one day. My favorite sports (to participate in) are tennis, volleyball, basketball, and bicycling. Walking and bicycling are the two I can do now after years of rehabilitation. My bogus right knee won't stand up much for tennis or much running and jumping.
Getting in motion is vital for a health mind and body. It doesn't matter if you are built like a jockey or a linebacker. You need to get up and get moving! If you currently are active, great for you, keep it up. If you do not exercise, it is time to start.
For only $0.00 a month you can get into shape! That's right, for no additional cost you can get into better shape and health.

1. Put on a pair of walking shoes
2. Walk 15 minutes away from your home
3. Turn around and walk back

It's just that easy. Do this every day for a week and you'll start feeling ready to do more. Do this for a month and it will be a habit. You will be amazed at how much further you get in the first 15 minutes of your walk. This plan works better than spending $$ for a treadmill or exercise equipment. It is just TOO easy to turn off a treadmill and quit walking. Walking away from your home or office works great because you'll have to turnaround and walk back. It's now a habit to walk a half hour at lunch and 15 minutes during at least one of my breaks at work. I go for both breaks if the weather permits.
This plan works if you want to lose weight too. It was an effective part of my weight loss plan. My weight loss goal was to take the pounds off to make life for my knee easier. The less weight it has to move around the better it will last me.
This is the plan that I used during my early and hardest rehabilitation efforts. I'd park and start on the walking trail at mile 7. I would walk to mile 7.5 then head back to the car. I did this day after day slowly adding another .5 mile as my strength returned. One afternoon I started at mile 0 on the trail and walked to mile 4.5 before turning around. That 9 mile walk inspired me to get back into bicycling. The problem was that I couldn't ride a bicycle, the solution was a hand-cycle.
The hand-cycle is just as it sounds. You steer, pedal, brake, and shift all with your hands. The model I used allowed me steer using my legs so that was one less concern for my hands to take care of. I used the hand-cyle to commute to work a few times. The first time I used it to ride home it took me three hours (18 miles). The last few times I could get to work in about an hour and 45 minutes with a short break after 10 miles.
You can take the plan as far as you want.
Did you ever want to run a 1/2 marathon?
Did you ever want to ride a major bicycle event?
Do you want to park your car and save some gas money?
Do you want to try anything that you want to try?
If you can get out and move, please do! If you are thin, get out and move. If you are heavy, get out and move. All of us need to exercise. Being thin doesn't excuse you from exercising.
Be your inner athlete.
Be your inner athlete today, tomorrow, and the rest of your life!