Month 2: Fitness!

Holy cow! I'm here. In month 2. I'm actually moving forward in my year plan! Who would have guessed my commitment would span this far!? Ok, maybe I'm jumping the self-congratulatory gun, but I'm pretty excited to have one month under my belt and to start on a new knowledge quest.

"'Knowledge Quest?' Nerd!"

So month 2 is fitness. But what does that mean exactly? That's what I've been trying to figure out today. Does it mean I have to work out everyday? Does it mean I should try to figure out the best total body work out?

I think I should start with some goals I'd like to achieve before I can really decide what course I'm going to take this month.

Obviously, I want to be fit, but not muscly. I want to run again, but, though I've done a couple 10ks already, I really don't know if I have the desire to try for a full marathon.  I guess since this project is about learning, I should start with the fact that all I do at the moment is simple cardio for workouts, like an hour on the elliptical while reading.

Maybe not quite as bad as this, though.

Another goal would be to better integrate exercise into my busy lifestyle. I find it very difficult to get up early to go to the gym, usually because I'm up latest night. And I'm up late all the time because when I get done from work everyday, I go to work on Production stuff. For the most part, I'm at work or working on Production stuff all the time. So making a daily (or maybe 5 times a week?) exercise requirement is probably a good place to start, and drawing lines in my personal life so that I give myself that opportunity everyday.

Perhaps, after I doing a little research, I'll make up a work out plan for each week and hone that as I learn more throughout the month.

Another goal I'd like to work on is strengthening my core. I have a (natural?) curve in my back that has been thought to be scoliosis, but I believe I just need to learn how to stand straighter and elongate my spine.  But maybe that's a question I'll resolve this month, too.

Also, I hate stretching and yoga is very painful and frustrating to me, so that's probably another thing I should work on.

I was going to use this picture to illustrate how I feel when I do yoga..but then I realized this lady is WAY better than me.

And I've never enjoyed muscle focused exercises (lunges, weight machines, free weights), but I'm guessing they are an important part of a well-rounded routine.


So, right now it looks like my goals for month 2 are:
Strengthening core
Stretching and limbering
Making time
Well-rounded routine.

Workouts I'd like to put into my routine:
Swimming
Jogging
Hiking
Yoga
Core exercises
Toning exercise

I think that's a good place to start. Now off to my gym to find out if they offer a free training session with my membership!