How fit are you?

I have noticed over the years as the waistline expands the reasons not to exercise kick in more frequently.  Yes I know I should exercise 3 -5 times a week at quite a high intensity, but to be honest the thought of going out into the cold and wet sometimes don't appeal to me.

It's currently winter here in Perth, WA. We've had more rain in the past week than we've had all winter, and the wind has been straight off the antarctic - cold, bone chillingly cold. I've also picked up an ear, throat and chest infection that doesn't seem to want to go away inspite of anti-biotics. But I've carried on doing some kind of exercise anyway. Some of you may consider that to be foolhardy - but the reason why is a simple one. Stopping all levels of exercise means it takes you three times longer to get back into it. The excuses come thick and fast - and before you know it, that muscle tone you'd developed has gone and you're back to square one.

You see fitness isn't something you can do once or twice, stick it in a bottle and save it for a rainy day.

Like all forms of motivation, fitness is something you need to put into your weekly plan and do it regardless of how you are feeling. It is one appointment with yourself that you should always keep.

So what exercise do I do?

Well I walk 2-4 times a week - and by walk, I mean getting out of breath kind of walking, not the strolling around the shops kind of saunter that we also do. Distance varies - for example - Two Saturday's ago I did approximately 15km's around the bridges. If you go to the gallery you will see the pictures and the area - beautfiul walk. Monday nights are 8km's and just around the suburbs where I live. Tuesday's and Thursday's I do a shortened 4km walk and Wednesday night I was at Dance class. Last Saturday and Sunday I didn't walk, but spent most of the weekend moving roadbase - as I am remodelling the back yard. Another weekend of weed pulling awaits. My neighbours "cheated" and used a mini digger this morning to remove their garden....me I prefer the personal touch as it also gets me out of the house and into the fresh air and keeps me fit at the same time.

One thing I did notice that my fitness levels are really quite good. I would work hard for about 40 minutes, moving road base, picking, shovelling, carrying, digging, bending over, strength training at its most interesting. Then I would stop when I started to "blow" - have a breather and then get back into it, another 40 minutes - another breather. And over the course of about 5 hours managed to get one third of the garden completed. Once the final part of the path is laid, the workload becomes a bit easier - planting and mulching. But the satisfaction of knowing that I did it, and kept me fit at the same time is definitely a chance to pat myself on the back.

Which is why my weekends are as busy as my working weeks. Exercise opportunities are slotted into my timetable and I try not to break the appointments I've made with myself.

But if you struggle - consider these tricks:

1. Exercise with a friend
2. Exercise at the same time every day / day of the week
3. Pay for classes up front - you will be less likely to waste money if you think about how much it's cost you
4. Do something weird, wonderful and downright scary...for me it is pole dancing. The thought of inverting still gives me the trembles as I'm not sure my upper body and more importantly - my arm (which I hurt in dance class BTW) will hold me yet....but I will get there.
5. Smile and give it all you've got for the alloted time. Think about the payoffs in endorphin rushes and go for it.