It’s been two months now since I started adding Pilates and yoga to supplement my common work-out of power walking for miles without leaving the gym at all. I’ve been pleased with my progress of losing roughly eight pounds since I first restarted my quest for health at the beginning of 2013. However, it is time to take that extra meat I have on my bones and use it to BEEF up my work-outs!
Today I felt randomly inspired to go for a bike ride, something I have done maybe five times in the past ten years. It was a chilly winter day in California that brought the mercury in the thermometer down to a low 50 degrees from the MUCH warmer weather we had been having. I reminded myself that this brisk chill I hadn’t felt for weeks was not actually COLD (like so many of you are dealing with now) and collected my reusable mesh bags for my weekly trip to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables from the stocked shelves of my local market.
I hadn’t been riding for even three minutes before I felt my heart rate going up and my calves starting to burn as I directed the bike wheel’s strategically to run over the large Maple leaves that had fallen. I had gone for a short bike with my sister, Alyssa, the past weekend at her house and it didn’t seem nearly as hard then! Maybe there was actually a difference between Alyssa’s hubby’s slim road bike in comparison to my Mother’s wide-seated 7-speed! Regardless of how my heart or legs were feeling, I peddled onward to the market.
I loaded up on my produce and made my way back home with a basket full of oranges, apples, bananas, tomatoes, celery and more. The weight of the basket made the bike ride even harder as I balanced the bicycle, unable to play my run-over-the-leaf game. I got home and was proud of myself for not using my car and snapped a picture of my joy.
April choosing the bike over her car!
Besides my future attempts to bike ride more, I also start tennis on Monday. Using the same logic I did with enrolling in Pilates and yoga at the local Junior College, I registered for twice-a-week tennis as well. Monday and Wednesdays are going to be ROUGH days but I know my body is going to end up in the shape I’ve always hoped for. Plus, I’m really excited to have an excuse to wear such cute tennis skirts!
So how about you all, what kind of work-outs did you use to supplement your progress? Do any of you ride a bicycle or play tennis?
Until next time,
I play tennis! So much fun! But you’ll definitely discover new muscles deep in your arms and chest that you didn’t think could possibly exist–until you can’t wash your hair. lol
I used to play competitively, then broke my ankle and tore some ligaments. Now I occasionally play with Matt, some of his friends, or my roommate. We also try to shoot hoops once or twice a week, or go on a hill-filled walk.
Enjoy your new endeavor!
PS. LOVE the Sharks jersey!
Nice work sister! Riding my bike is one of my favorite things ever. Such good exercise and you can feel the wind in your hair!
Hey Julie – do you have a brand of shoes you would recommend?
I honestly really like classic Keds for tennis (but I guess they’re low on arch-support.) New Balance are the other ones I’d recommend.