As We Live, Breathe, Eat and Sleep

As I have mentioned elsewhere in these articles, exercise has been a big part of my new program, but I don't rely on it to burn off excess calories. It's easier to not eat them than it is to burn them.

That being said, exercise is wonderful for us for a great many reasons. You should do as much as your physical fitness allows. I am now convinced that it is as vital to us as eating, sleeping, and shelter.

But all things in moderation. In the past, I have overdone it in an effort to catch up on what I missed. Now I believe in trying to set aside thirty quality minutes each day for exercise. If I miss it, so be it; I don't try to make up for it the next day. I do try to ensure I get my thirty minutes in the next day, though.

What to Do

I alternate between strength training and cardiovascular training. This offers a day of rest for those various muscles groups while the other is exerted.

I used to make a point of exercising first thing in the morning when I awoke (this is the emphasis in Body For Life) but I don't focus on that as much anymore. I get the exercise whenever I can.

Strength Training

I am old fashioned here, and I lift weights, focusing on major muscle groups with variations of these exercises:

• Chest press
• Shoulder press
• Rows
• Lat pull downs
• Leg extensions
• Leg curls

At the moment, I am using dumbbells for all exercises, but I also use machines. I switch every few months for variety. Finally, I do a few other exercises just for whimsy to exert myself and to feel what it is like, keeping it interesting.

Cardiovascular Training

I use an elliptical strider during the week for a carefully timed, thirty minute workout. I do this in my basement or at the YMCA while watching television.

On the weekends, when I have a bit more time at my discretion, I like to go jogging. I will run for at least thirty, and sometimes forty, minutes at a time.

Pump You Up

I use an iPod Nano for the workouts, as well. I used to be very skeptical of this, and chuckled at the sight of people with their ear buds and Nanos. Having tried it, I dread the possibility of exercising without one. It makes a huge difference.

I run faster and farther with music. I don't mind doing any of my boring weight routines with music. I also groove to my nostalgic tunes from the eighties and nineties.

Here's a final dirty secret about my iPod Nano: I have quite a bit of accordion music. I have a collection of songs by a guy named Daniel Newton that plays these wonderful tunes on a piano accordion. I'm not saying that's the way to get pumped up for running and lifting, but I enjoy playing with the squeeze box.