Each week I have been logging my exercise. Mostly this is an exercise for myself; it has, on occasion, prompted me to get up and move (“for the blog”). It is also meant for encouragement, in case a busy reader wants to know how other people get their recommended exercise; I don’t think it’s easy, and I think it does people a disservice to imply that it is. Our lives are busy.
And yet, you have to take care of your health. It’s not any easier if you are the doctor rather than the patient.
My first goal is to make sure that I get my 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise, which probably won’t happen). I was doing well enough that in February I added a second goal of 60 minutes of strength training a week, which remains a challenge.
- Saturday: I took a long walk while staying with family. There might have been some shopping involved. 104 minutes walking.
- Sunday: This was a travel day. No exercise.
- Monday: I walked part-way home and logged 26 minutes.
- Tuesday: I walked part-way home again, 27 minutes.
- Wednesday: I took a late afternoon walk and picked up some Diet Coke for my husband, who was working hard transplanting bushes. 46 minutes.
- Thursday: No exercise today.
- Friday: Attended a graduation (my patient invited me!). I walked a lot, including up a very steep hill . 41 minutes.
Total: 244 minutes walking, but no time spent on strength training. I am proud of myself for going for that Wednesday walk when I had already hit my 150 minute target. I will call this a partial win.