From Canoe Lessons to Discovering I Have Abs (Apparently)
Marty and I recently took canoe lessons and kayaking water-rescue training. Somewhere in the middle of all that, we discovered an inconvenient truth: Marty doesn’t swim very well. So we did the logical thing and joined the YMCA. He has to become a stronger swimmer before we go to the Yukon next year!
While we were at it, we cleared out an old weight set that had been living in our home gym (we already have the full NordicTrack setup—treadmill, spin bike, and rower). The free weight set never really delivered a full-body workout anyway, so it was time for it to go. It had a limited workout capacity. The YMCA is a thousand times better at delivering a full body workout.
Now we’re lifting every other day at the Y. And here’s the surprise: it turns out I actually have abdominal muscles. I had not done dedicated ab work for many, many years before this. I think the last time I ever did any ab work was during college track and cross-country workouts. It’s been that long. After our third weight session, my abs hurt so badly I was convinced I had a hernia. <laughter> Coughing hurt. Laughing hurt. Rolling over in bed hurt. It was that bad. (Worth it, but still…. )
I even managed to stay on track during a recent seven-day trip to Chicago—found the local YMCA near the hotel and kept the routine going. Back home, we’re still showing up consistently for the weights and continuing cardio in the home gym. Momentum is a beautiful thing. I do have to be more consistent with the cardio. I fail at having a work-life balance. My workouts are usually the first thing to go, when I need them to help relieve stress and to stay in shape. The struggle is real. I’ve gained ten pounds since Marty and I got married 2 years ago and I need to lose it.
We still have Marty’s diabetes under control with keto, however, I fall off the wagon when I travel for work. I’m making an effort to make sure I eat healthy on the road and don’t cave to any of my cravings. It is difficult to continuously make healthy choices when I am traveling for work. Sighs.
Side note: I’ve also rediscovered the quiet joy of making hand-stamped cards. It’s been a nice creative outlet between workouts and work. Since Marty works every other weekend, I spent one weekend organizing my craft room and another of those making a bunch of cards.
October is going to be heavy on travel, so I’m hoping I can keep finding local YMCAs along the way to keep up the good habit of exercising daily. Fingers crossed the streak continues. Yukon, here we come!
My Little Red Bike 