Just because I am a doctor, and encourage patients every day to exercise, doesn’t mean that I don’t have my own issues with getting sufficient exercise. Long hours, tiring days, family obligations, illness: they are all stumbling blocks, no matter what your occupation.
I have been recording my exercise weekly, mostly to keep myself accountable for reaching my goal (sometimes this works, sometimes I miss). If anyone reads this, I hope they will take this as encouragement to keep going, acknowledgement that it isn’t always easy.
As a reminder, my 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 have been trying to incorporate strength training, with many set backs. At the start of 2020, I started working (again) with a trainer, which has so far been quite successful at getting me to the gym. My ultimate goal is to spend 60 minutes a week on this, though starting at 30 minutes a week is perfectly fine.
- Saturday: Did some tidying around the house, and took a walk in the afternoon. 36 minutes.
- Sunday: Ran errands with my husband, the last one was to activate his new phone (the old one was from 2008). I walked home from there, a 25 minute walk.
- Monday: This is my last day off work, but considering how jittery I am with the thought of going back (in the midst of the city-wide shut down of many doors), I really needed a walk by the afternoon. I walked to the central district, looking at all the signs on all the shut doors, including at the gym. There were people out walking around, but many, many fewer than usual on a Monday afternoon. We said hello to each other but kept our distance. 58 minutes walking.
- Tuesday: Walked part-way home from work, so glad to get out and stretch my legs. 21 minutes.
- Wednesday: My appointment for weight training had to be canceled as the gym is closed. My trainer is thinking about moving to online sessions, but not this week. I was very anxious today, and very glad to get out of the house and walk. I went beyond my usual neighborhood; there were only a few people out, and we were careful not to get too close (that social distancing thing). I walked a total of 58 minutes.
- Thursday: Work today, with a walk part-way home. My bag was heavy with lunch gear and worn scrubs. 21 minutes walking.
- Friday: Walked part-way home today, 22 minutes.
Total: 241 minutes walking and zero minutes weight training. Considering what is going on in the world, I am happy with my efforts, and am calling the week a win.