With my recent medical challenges impacting my ability to even walk properly, let alone do any type of high-impact activity like HIIT sessions; as much as I hate exercise I’ve had to admit to myself that I cannot allow my weight to revert to pre-pandemic times.
ha – I guess that’s how we talk about times now – pre-pandemic, pandemic, post-pandemic.
But I digress. So, having admitted that I do need to get myself back in shape and organised, I having been seeking out low impact activities – combined as usual with sensible eating in order to address my recent weight gain. I am thankfully not back fully to my pre-pandemic weight, but half way there. Like many people, I suspect, I struggled to maintain the exercise regime, having never really been a fitness fanatic. Combined that with a couple of bad over-eating episodes last year and not dealt with immediately, the long term effects of one weekend away that included way too much food, my scales started to add numbers to the numbers.
Turns out that even low-impact activity and not over indulging in food, makes a difference. Currently I’m incorporating some squat exercises whilst playing fetch with my dog. Added to that, some gentle on the spot walking that incorporates the high-knee element every time I’m waiting for something in the microwave to heat up – really gentle because I can’t stomp my feet at present. Also, some Russian twists, whilst playing with the dog’s toys. Combine all this, and suddenly my daily step-count is edging upwards, and my weight is slowing dropping the numbers. It may be slow, but it is heading in the right direction, and as I’ve discovered previously, losing the weight slowly allowed me to keep it off for longer.
I’m now trawling the internet for exercise ideas which are low impact, but also allow me to incorporate puppy play time in them. This way it’s a win-win for both of us. I get some exercise and my dog gets some exercise. We’re both in need of it, for different reasons.
Now, my goal was to get to 86s by this week, but with the feet issue, I haven’t quite gotten there. I did hit 87.0 exactly one morning. Still, even with the two steps forward, one step back; and one step forward, two steps back, I’m watching these numbers fluctuate in the right direction. Thus determined that I will get the 86s next week, and not return to the 87s. Again. Ever!
Which reminds me, time to get off the sofa and do some gentle walking in the living room. Back and forth. It may not seem like much, but believe me, if you’re doing nothing now, every step counts, and every bit of food less or less calorific you eat, will also make a difference. You just need patience – and lots of it.
Good luck – to both of us.
Hate To Exercise 