Inertia

If you go look up inertia in the dictionary (which is an actual book about words for the kids reading) or you google it, you’ll find a definition very similar to this.

The vis insita, or innate force of matter, is a power of resisting by which every body, as much as in it lies, endeavours to preserve its present state, whether it be of rest or of moving uniformly forward in a straight line.

I was thinking about this yesterday as I contemplated running after work and or going to the gym.  See we had a staff meeting at 6, but I finish work at 4 and it occured to me just how easy it would be to go home and do nothing.  play my new Mario or Zelda game, or shoot some folks in Call of Duty, or watch TV, just relax.  Heck even just sit down and stare at the wall.

My original plan was to go to the gym since our meeting was planned to start at 6:30, lots of time to drive the 20 minutes to the gym, change, workout for about an hour, drive home, shower and go back to work.  starting the meeting at 6 meant that it wasn’t likely I’d make it back in time if I did a proper workout.

I think that is where a lot of people just stop.  Oh my plans are trashed, I can’t go to the actual gym today, so I’ll just sit.  Once you sit the first time it becomes much easier to sit the second time, and the third and so on.  It becomes easier because you are allowing yourself to slow down.  I know that if I come home and sit down I will not get back up to run or gym or anything, I’ll just be done for the day.  But if I get home, get ready to run and do do it, or go right to the gym after work that my brain can force my body to do the work I want to do.

The real catch is this.  You can get into a routine that allows you to do just the right amount of exercise to stay fit, or get fitter.  If you keep up that momentum, your inertia will carry you through, you are in motion and so you want to stay in motion.

If you stop, you don’t just stay at the status quo, you backslide.  Fitness requires a certain amount of upkeep and the fitter you want to be the more upkeep is required.  Healthy foods, activity and so on.  It’s not easy.  If you just decide that you want to just watch TV from now on, you simply won’t even maintain all that you have worked to achieve.  Complacency is the outside force that acts on the inertia of fitness.

Friend Making Monday: Holidays and More

 

The Holidays and More: Part 2

   I didn’t do Part I earlier

1.  What state/country do you live in? 

Ontario, Canada

2.  Where were you born?  Were you raised there? 

I was born in Collingwood, Ontario, but did the majority of my growing up in Buckhorn, Ontario.  Yes, it’s as small as it sounds like it would be.

3.  How do you feel about stores like Wal-mart opening on Thanksgiving Day for pre-Black Friday sales?  Will you participate?

Our big stores are all closed on major holidays.  Wal-mart, grocery stores, 99% of businesses.  Usually the only things that are open are convenience stores and coffee shop chains.

4.  Have you ever participated in a Turkey Trot? 

Nope.

5.  What was your favourite toy as a child?

This question here is why I really wanted to answer this week.  Favourite toys is always fun to think about.  My childhood can actually be divided up into very distinct sections.  He-man, Ghostbusters, Ninja Turtles.  Each of those favourite toy eras spanned a few years, and therefor a few birthdays and Christmases each.  I never got a lot of toys on each event from my parents, but when they added all up I had loads!  As collective groups those would have been my ‘favourite toys’. 

To have a singular favourite toy it would have to be when I was younger and I had a stuffed lion, I still have it now.

6.  Will you count points/calories on Thanksgiving Day? 

During holidays I try to keep track a bit, but I always counteract it all by hitting the gym or the road on the same day for a hard workout.

7.  Will you watch football Thursday? 

Nope.

8.  Do you decorate inside/outside of your home for the holidays?

We decorate mostly inside with a few lights and Christmas type things, nothing too elaborate.  But not until after Amber’s birthday.

9.  Do you have allergies that prevent you from eating traditional holiday meals?

Nope

10.  Is it snowing where you live? 

Yep!  Last year we didn’t have now right up until Christmas, it’s come ‘early’ this year.  We only have a bit of a dusting but it is on the ground.

I Hate My Guts

Literally (at the moment) not figuratively.

This week has been pretty much a write off as far as exercise goes.  I have only run once and not been to the gym. Why? I’ve been counting the tiles on the wall in the bathroom if you know what I mean. 256 if you must know.

I did get out and run yesterday, just a 5k, that was mostly due to the fact that it gets dark at about 4:30 here now though.  I had a decent time even, 23:01, so I was actually quite happy with that. 

I miss the gym already and it’s only been a week, I was too sick to go there Tuesday.  Thankfully I will be there on Saturday, my client is going to get his second cardio day, Iron Man I think, I intend to do it along side with him plus maybe a couple things I missed out on during the week.  I really don’t like the feeling of not doing much gym-wise in a week.  It makes me feel soft and weak.  Being sick doesn’t really help with that though.

I did discover though that I will end up running farther this year than I did last year even with the few weeks off I had to take due to the injury to my Achilles and wanting to ride further on the bike since my dad lent me his old touring bike.  I’m pretty happy about that.  I’m excited to see what I can do next year since I won’t be running a half marathon and injuring myself!

I’m In Jodi Amounts Of Pain

Today was my first time at the Wellness Centre on my own since I returned from just working out at home.  I chose to do Tabada day, which is 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds rest, for four minutes, and then there is eight pairs of workouts within that.  So it’s only about 32 minutes or work, but it takes about 40 minutes to do.

I worked out hard at home, you can ask Sarah about that if you really want.  I ran hard, I lifted good amounts of weight and I challenged myself with lots of my workouts.  However, leaving the Wellness Centre today I was reminded why I like the actual gym so much and the workouts that Jodi crafted for me.

She designed things that were hard, and I was left with muscles aching and lungs burning by the time I was done.  I am using to pushing myself and making my own life difficult, but to be back in that much pain, “Jodi amounts of pain” was awesome.

I love working that hard! I can’t wait to be there again on Thursday!

Friend Making Monday–Food Matters

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 

Food Matters

1. Are you familiar with GMO’s?  Is it an issue that matters to you?

Generally, no, not really.  I have heard the term and I am aware that to some folks it’s a huge deal.

2.  List a few items that are typically on your grocery list. 

Chicken, tomatoes, english muffins, peanut butter, other fresh veggies, milk.

3.  What is your favorite place to shop for produce? 

I just shop at Value-Mart in Bridgenorth, nothing too fancy.

4. Do you eat processed foods? 

Generally no.  At least not if there is an unprocessed version.  Like peanut butter is what it is, but I’d say 90% of our groceries come from the outside edges of the store.  I eat almost nothing from a box.

5.  Do you look for the “organic” label when you shop? 

No I don’t.  If Anna & Christina have taught me anything, it’s that organic isn’t always better, but it is always more expensive.

6. What did you eat for breakfast this morning? 

English muffin with peanut butter and jam (homemade!), same as pretty much every day.

7.  How many meals per week do you cook at home? 

Out of 7 possible dinners, we normally eat 6 at home at least.

8. Do you think that foods that have been genetically engineered should be labeled?

Yeah I would think so.

9. What matters most to you when you’re choosing a restaurant? 

Depends on the meal and the company and the purpose.  Sometimes I just want Shawarma, sometimes a steak and sometimes just a sammich.  I think what matters most to me is what I want to eat.  I’ve narrowed down the places I will eat already since I know I want to eat healthy.

10.  What is your favourite meal to cook at home? 

Lamb with pureed parsnip and green beans.  I love it and if lamb wasn’t so expensive I could eat that meal every day!

 

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments, and have a happy Monday, friends!

It’s Great To Be Back!

My return to the gym couldn’t have gone any better at all.  I’m loving every second of it!  While renewing my membership who came by the desk but Jodi!  A big hug and as “It’s awesome to see you here!” later and I was on the floor yet again.

I was actually training someone, thereby refuting all those times when I have said “I can never be a trainer!”  I did a bit of a workout at the same time as training Jon.  Chest presses, shoulder presses curls and tricep extensions.  All things that I can do here at home, but then it was on to pull-downs and rowing.  It was all great!

Today I was on the treadmill and while it was a beautiful day outside it was only 0­° when I woke up, so I was kind of happy to be inside running.  Until I was inside and running of course.  I forgot how hot I get running on the treadmill!  I did manage to get 7k done in 31:06!

I’m excited to be back at the gym for the next four months and I’m sure that it will make me appreciate my home gym even more once spring arrives.