Exercising when you’re creaky and disorganized
Becoming an organized grownup is one of my big life goals, so I’ve gotten books from the library, subscribed to a number of podcasts, and signed up with Credit Karma.
What does that have to do with exercise?
Because it has to do with energy. Younger people have more energy, as financial advice author David Bach (author of The Latte Factor) stated in a podcast interview with Paula Pant on her Afford Anything show.
I agree with this. I think we all have more energy in our 30s than in our 40s, more energy in our 40s than our 50s, and so on. And that dictates the level of activity we may want to choose in those decades.
In my 30s, I practiced Taekwondo, which takes a lot of energy. From the spring before my 30th birthday until I left for Ohio when I was 37, I went to class regularly twice or three times a week, eventually reaching the level of 2nd Dan, or second degree black belt. But I was single then, and my time was completely my own. I didn’t have to arrange my days to suit anyone else. I could work out every day, if I wanted.
I participated in tournaments, and in 1992 I was the Adirondack AAU Taekwondo Champion in the women’s heavyweight division, gold medaling in both forms and fighting for intermediate level students (green through purple belts). I’ve still got the gold medals, although sadly I can’t find any online record of my wins.
However, when I left New York State, I stopped practicing Taekwondo. Stopped most exercise, really. My life changed dramatically, and I no longer could do as I pleased all the time. Now it’s been over 20 years, and whatever skills I had have rusted into non-existence.
What to do?
I won’t be going back to Taekwondo — with all the extra weight I’m carrying, jumping around barefoot would be too hard on my feet and knees. I need exercise that is more gentle on my joints.
Now I am looking for activities that will let me get in some good exercise without hurting myself. I joined our local YMCA. They have an aqua aerobics class that is pretty fun. There are also pilates classes and yoga classes—but any of these choices would take some doing to fit into my schedule.
I can also lift weights at the Y, using their app designed to provide workouts tailored to my needs. That’s pretty fun. The best part is that I can do it anytime, instead of attending a class. Flexibility is a plus for me.
At home, I have exercise videos and some free weights that I can use. But I haven’t hooked up the small tv downstairs—it was unplugged when our basement flooded back in December (sump pump failure, caused a mess). I could also walk around our neighborhood, which is pleasant and green this time of year.
This is point at which the exercise issue becomes a scheduling issue. How do I hard-wire these exercise times into my day, when each day contains an ever-changing kaleidoscope of things I must do, things I want to do, and things other people want me to do? My “planning muscle” needs a workout as much as my body’s muscles do.
This is why it’s important for me to make the time to exercise, the time to write —the time to do what matters to me. I’ll find a way to set up a schedule for myself, and I’ll upload it after a while.
I’ve done it before, and have the gold medals to show for it. I ought to be able to do it again!
Wish me luck.
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