Making Time for Exercise

So beautiful outside, and I’m stuck on the couch feeling lousy.

It’s now three weeks after my half marathon. Since then, I’ve been eating like it’s my job. Oh, and of course, work has gotten crazy, including a daily conference call right smack dab in the middle of my usual workout time.

This means that I’m getting to the gym about twice a week, going to Pilates once a week, and spending the other four days feeling restless and crazy.

This is a recipe for disaster.

All week, I’d planned my weekend workout: since we turned the clocks back on Saturday night, I was going to get up early on Sunday, enjoy the relatively bright morning, and go for a much-needed run before breakfast.

Guess who woke up on Friday morning with a raging sore throat?

How sick am I? Well, let’s just say that on Saturday morning, I ordered a chai latte for breakfast. Guys, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I detest hot beverages under normal circumstances, but this felt so good on my raw throat that it nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Needless to say, a Sunday morning run was out of the question.

Clearly, life hasn’t cooperating with my plans, which means that the plans have to become more rigid. I can’t keep pushing workouts off until tomorrow because tomorrow isn’t going to be any easier than today. That’s why I’ve marked my workouts on my calendar, complete with annoying reminders and blocked-off schedules. Barring a complete illness-related breakdown this week, the plan is as follows:

• Mondays: Gym for PT strength training, cardio*
• Tuesdays: Run (although this week may be a walk)
• Wednesdays: Pilates
• Thursdays: Gym for PT strength training, cardio
• Fridays: Rest
• Saturdays: Run
• Sundays: Family cross-training (play is exercise)

What does the * by cardio mean? Well, I’ve realized that even though I hate to run on the treadmill, I don’t seem to hate walking on the treadmill. Running is too jarring, and I’m perpetually stressed about falling off the back of the ‘mill. Yes, seriously. But lest you think that I’ve taken to the casual stroll that I’ve observed on most of the treadmills at the gym, I make the walk an outright hike. I crank the incline to 13-15, and increase the speed to as high as I can take it, usually somewhere in the 3.1-3.5 MPH range. An added benefit is that the uphill walk will strengthen my weak glutes, which is a nice complement to my glute-strengthening exercises from my physical therapist.

I’m still trying to find a way to get back to kickboxing after a too-long layoff, but considering that school dropoff, the daily conference call and kickboxing all converge at 9:00, there isn’t a practical way to make that happen. I’ll be spending the rest of the evening researching lunchtime fitness options, and determining if there are any classes that can work with my schedule. Hopefully I’ll find something new, interesting and compelling enough to stick with it.

How do you work around that one schedule-busting meeting that just throws the rest of the day for a loop?

Tags: 24 hour fitness, Fitness, gym, kickboxing, physical therapy, pilates, running, treadmill, walking, zumba

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