The plan when it comes to exercise is simple, try to not be lazy, which we all know is easier said than done. Whilst not making excuses, I do have a few things working against me. I have arthritis in both knees, I take medication which makes me fatigued, to the point I could sleep 20 hours a day if not disturbed, and on top of it all, I am a family man with other commitments and responsibilities, which means exercise can’t always be the priority. Finally, did I mention that I am inherently lazy?
My primary exercise does, and will continue, to take place at the gym. I have a membership to the local authority gyms, meaning I can use any council run gym in the local area, including some that have a swimming pool. Unfortunately the closest gym doesn’t have a pool, and the nearest pool isn’t in walking distance, but I could find a way to get there if I wanted to. The gym I go to, the closest, has the typical council run gym equipment, some cardio machines, some weights machines, and some free weights. For now I’ll leave the free weights to everyone else, the machines and cardio will do for me. We typically get to the gym 4 days a week, though occasionally we may increase that if we are able to. As is to be expected, there are also times that we are unable to get to the gym. We do what we can.
Being a lifelong fan of professional wrestling and as someone needing to get fit it is only natural that I would checkout DDP Yoga. I love it, when I can find the time to do it. Having had such limited physical activity for so long, and getting to the size that I have, movement and flexibility has become an issue, so doing some yoga is definitely beneficial, plus it is DDP Yoga, which is not your grans yoga, it definitely gets the heart rate up and the sweat pouring. Along with the yoga I’ve got various resistance bands and straps, though admittedly they don’t get used as often as they should. In all honesty, working out at home isn’t my favourite option, because whilst I have the stuff to do and enjoy doing it, I also have a 17 year old lad in the house a lot when he isn’t at college, and being the size I am and working out is embarrassing enough for me, and I’m sure isn’t something he would be overly keen on walking in on.
Finally, I have my dog, Darby, a 9 month old Beagle. Anyone that knows anything about Beagles knows that they need their exercise. Whilst walks with him may be start/stop at times, when we get moving it can be a decent workout. Plus, carrying the weight that I am, any walking can get the heart rate up. The only problem I have with walking Darby is too often when I am ready to take him out, he is busy snoring. I must get better at being ready to take him when he wakes up.
All in all, the exercise plan is simple, do what I can to burn some calories. I’m not following any sort of workout plan, as with everything on this journey, I’m doing what feels right for me.