Sunday, November 14, 2010

A brief philosophical interlude on habits, exercise, and paving the road to hell



Quote du jour
: We are what we repeatedly do. - Aristotle

Why on earth would anyone write such a boring blog as this one? All I do is track exercise and log my ignoble failures. What's the point in that?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. - Samuel Johnson (attrib)

The reason for these goals and whatnots is that I'm trying to develop habits. Good ones, I mean, not the come-home-and-eat-something-deep-fried type of habit, which has always been so appealing in the past. While I vary the type of exercise that I do, I am getting into the habit of doing something exercise-wise six days a week. And with the tracking of habits designed to make more more organized, space-wise and time-wise, I'm making sure that I can have the time available and the space needed to concentrate on exercise.

It is so easy to get to the end of the day, having spent the whole day rushing around trying to keep up with everything I'm "supposed" to do, and then realize at the end that it's too late and I'm too tired to get any exercise in.

[That sentence is way too long and disorganized in itself. Skip it and move on.]

A habit is something you do without thinking; I still have to think, and prepare, and goad myself to get things done. It is hard not to feel tied to a To Do list sometimes.

On the plus side, I am getting better at getting back into exercising after a slump. And I've grudgingly conceded that sometimes vegetables aren't all bad. Even been known to eat my green leafies.

Why do good habits seem so boring? That's another question. I'm just aiming to get to the point where I don't have to think about making time for exercise and healthy food.

Goal for the month: The 14th day of the 30-day purge of stuff.
Did a leeetle bit today. Okay, maybe 20 minutes' worth, if you want to be honest. Yesterday kind of burned me out, organizing-wise. Tomorrow, she is another day.



Exercise du jour: 200 squats challenge, week 3.

13
16
10
10
13
Done! Somehow, this seemed harder and easier both. Does that make sense? Of course not. But it's true: the knees seemed to accept what I was asking them to do, they're bending more and complaining less. At the same time, the amount of repetitions seems a lot more than last week, though the difference between last week's high and this one is only 5 squats. Which ain't squat, frankly. (It's going to take a while before I stop making squat jokes. Bear with me.)

6 comments:

Judith said...

Replacing bad habits with good ones. You're having a good influence on me, y'know - I'm sorting my stuff and even getting rid of some of it. Now I'm going to try to do a bit more exercise - I've got out of the habit :) Time to get back into it.

The Merry said...

Go Judith! It always seems easier to get back into exercise in the spring. All those gamboling lambs and whatnot:)

messymimi said...

Keep making the jokes.

Also, keep writing, keep striving to do better. It helps you, and it helps those who read.

Anonymous said...

We read it because it's YOU writing it. And those of us who don't do squat, exercise-wise, may live through your triumphs. (Who wouldn't make squat jokes if given the chance?!)
Julie

Amy said...

Even if we all we have to post about is the air we breathe, we must hang in there...if the kittens can do it so can we!

McB said...

Congrats on doing squat(s). Heh. Now what about "nose to pillow"?