Thursday, December 27, 2007

Exercise

Every once in a while I make a good faith effort to try and get an exercise routine going. 30 minutes on the treadmill and about 20 mins with weights and stretching.

I got up at 6:00 and plodded my way down into the basement to get started on this routine.

Now, I don't know about you, but I have good exercise days and bad exercise days.

Today, was a bad exercise day.

As soon as I started walking on that damn thing, my calves knotted up. So...I slowed down my pace and tried to warm up a bit and get them to loosen up. They did and so I increased the speed again.

KNOTS! KNOTS! ugh...ack...ugh.

I slow down again. They relax.

I'm going pretty good for a bit...I notch up the speed a bit...ok...this is working...notch it up a little more...all is well....then...BAM - KNOTS....ohhhhhhhhh..the freakin' knots. I somehow managed to get my 30 minutes in and then spent the next 20 trying to stretch these puppies out. They are still spazzing as I type.

This is not an unusual thing for me. I found out that my sister suffers from the same problem as well. I think it has something to do with our body type. We're both short, stocky, overweight and if you think Irish Potato pickers...that is what we look like and that is what our bodies were meant to do. Our legs are short and we have these calves that would make a linebacker proud.

They are thick and rock hard.

The rock hard is the problem.

We aren't flexible -at all. Even when I was in high school and played sports I couldn't touch my toes...it just doesn't happen. That stretch up along the back of the calve is extremely painful. I get a little concerned about these legs as I get older. I can feel how they stiffen up after long periods of sitting down. It takes longer to get them to cooperate with me now.

I know the exercise will help. I'm sure after a few more days of knots, these ol' calves will loosen up and I'll be fine. It's the getting started part that hurts.

No pain, no gain right?

ow

7 comments:

Kari Hultman said...

Maybe yoga would help?

Unknown said...

This link may help you find the better exercise days.

Good Luck.

Shazza said...

I've been told to do Yoga before, it looks kind of complicated for my little brain.

Wyld - thanks for the biorythm site, that was COOL!

It told me that slowly my vitality is increasing. Support it with "light" exercise.

Maybe I was just trying too much for today!

Presbyfruit's History Bits said...

Shazza, I'm one clumsy, uncoordinated
doofus--and I do yoga. Not well, or pretty.

Also: I just started Tai Chi this past fall and it's helped tremendously with my aching joints and stiffness. fyi...

I'm getting ready to force myself to hit the recumbent bike. I've been getting ready for the last hour.

Shazza said...

Thanks Presby - I appreciate your thoughts.

I bought a Yoga DVD and a Tai Chi DVD a while ago. I did manage to get the cellophane wrapper off the Tai Chi DVD.

I am not good with classes - they are usually too cliquey for me.

Good luck with the bike...let me know how you made out!

adamvs said...

Applause for getting up and making the effort! If you are having problems with cramps in any of the muscle groups, try drinking some water before exercising. You might be a little dehydrated having just risen.

Cheers!
Adam

Shazza said...

Thanks Adam! I appreciate the enthusiasm! I need it!