Midlife crisis or long overdue change? (Warning graphic image)
Yesterday I wrote I finally went to the gym, to start preparing to run either a 5km or a 10km run later this spring. The good news, I survived and even had some helpful tips from one of the staff at the YMCA. The bad news I’m not in as good shape as I thought I was. I have incorporated walking and cycling into my daily life, however I need to do more, if I want to be healthier.
So the above picture shows me on the treadmill. I aimed to keep my target heart rate in the 125 -135 bracket for 30 minutes for the first week. Yes this is lower than the maximum recommended on the page I linked to, however I wanted to make the full half hour, and not fly off the back of the treadmill on my first day. Knowing the heart rate zones for your age is important, so the first few days, I’m watching it more closely than I will once I get into the routine.
The starting stats:
Weight 93 kg
30 minutes average heart rate 132 beats per minute
average speed 4.2km/h
calories burned 227
So yes I have a ways to go, but I knew that going into this. I will post each Saturday, starting February 23, about my misadventures and successes. Also I challenge all you other couch potatoes, office chair pilots, and remote control operators to join me in getting back into shape.
As The Buddha taught “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
So live in the present, don’t plan to exercise in a tomorrow that never comes. It’s fitting that I am posting this on Valentine’s Day, for what better gift can you give the loves of your life, than a healthy you?
“By ourselves is evil done, By ourselves we pain endure, By ourselves we cease from wrong, By ourselves become we pure.
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path: Buddhas only show the way.” from the Dhammapada.
The Buddha is giving advice on our minds, however it can also apply to the actions we take with our bodies. We think about getting in shape, we talk with our friends and loved ones about getting into shape, however we need also do it.
Wonderful steps in the right direction!
Go for it, Keith!
Good for you! Best of luck.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Pingback: Daily Prompt: Proud « A Western Buddhist's Travels
Good work on getting to the gym and recognizing where you’re at in terms of health! It’s excellent you’re trying. I’m more in the cluster of couch potatoes, arm chair pilots and remote control operators!
You are inspiring 
Pingback: Mid-life Crisis or Needed change part 2 | A Western Buddhist's Travels
Pingback: Midlife crisis or long overdue change? Week 3 | A Western Buddhist's Travels