This isn't exactly earth shattering... but just wanted to post it.

Over the past couple of years... I've found that I walk more in the summer, but I do more cardio/elliptical/stationary bike in the winter.

For some reason, I’ve always felt vaguely guilty that “it is never enough”. In the winter, I feel vaguely guilty for “slacking” on the walking… and in the summer, I feel vaguely guilty for “slacking” on the cardio.

Today, I was on the elliptical and I had decided I was doing 25 mins… and I was chugging away… and all of a sudden, I had this flash of “OMG… It is so ok that I’m “only” doing the elliptical today. And if I “only” do cardio in the winter… because the garage is cold and I can go out there and get in my 25 mins and burn like 250 calories or something… and then I’m nice and warm for a couple of hours and I don’t have to turn the heat on in the house… THAT IS SOOOO OK!!!!”

And in the summer, it is light out and I can go for 4 mile walks and I’ve got time to be out for an hour and 15 mins and I can walk to the store and I don’t have to get up at 5:30am before the stupid garage is 100 degrees. (not to mention HOW many weeks a year CAN a person do that mind numbing elliptical or treadmill before they go insane and just need to go for a walk?) I burn about 250 calories on a walk and if that is “all” that I do… THAT IS REALLY OK!!!”

And I seem to be maintaining fine… and I get the recommended amount of activity and I exceed the Average American‘s activity level by about 10 times or something… and it is so totally ok to have some activities that work better at different times of year and I don’t have to do it ALL every day… or even every week. And sometimes it is good to jump on the elliptical for 25 mins and sweat like a maniac and sometimes it is good to just get out and go for a walk.

This may seem like the ultimate in a “well… uhm… duh!” post. But it really was an a-ha moment to “discover” OMG! I AM exercising and I’ve BEEN exercising for YEARS now and I really have nothing to feel guilty about and shaking that, "It just never is enough and I should be doing more" thing is hard! But every so often I get struck by, "Skrew it... I'm not doing more. This really is good enough." Got struck with that today.

quote:

...HOW many weeks a year CAN a person do that mind numbing elliptical or treadmill before they go insane and just need to go for a walk?...

LOL! I hear ya. I've walked outside on some pretty nasty days, just to avoid the treadmill.

Denise-Thanks for posting this. I have been trying to walk at least 5 times a week, for 30 min. each time. Even though I feel really good physically and mentally when I walk, I just couldn't shake the guilty feeling that 30 minutes is not enough. This is a nice reminder that getting out there and doing something does help. I slacked on my walking since Friday, but I plan to get back into it today.

Jill

I've had similar breakthroughs regarding exercise-- for me it is about doing my planned exercise and not skipping!

When I do that I also get in what I need, I maintain and I feel good.

Have to go to work now...

Sounds like a good personal breakthrough Denise : )