Staying in shape
It's easy to stay in shape living in a city. As an undergrad at UChicago, I walked around the campus everyday, and took public transit downtown on the weekends and then walked some more. In Boston, I biked almost everywhere year round (1). From my apartment to Harvard to MIT to Back Bay to the MFA to Whole Foods and back home. Then I slept.
After graduating I took a job in Connecticut and got a car. A car spoils you. Getting groceries is easier. Getting to work is easier. You don't have to walk when it's cold...or hot...or rainy...or basically ever. Not being in the habit of working out, I started to get back pain after about a year of this.
I started PT and learned that my hamstrings, hip flexors, and lower back were tight. And my legs and abs were weak. So I started doing stretches before and after work and taking 20min walks mid afternoon. After 2-3 months, my back was feeling a lot less tense. After that experience I'm a believer in PT.
But I want to do more than just treat back pain: I want to have energy and be strong and be able to eat whatever I want. It's hard to stay in shape as a working adult. You have to plan when to work out and when to eat. When it it okay to be drenched with post workout sweat at work and when isn't it. I prefer outdoor activities because there is build in leverage to go some distance (you can't bike 4 miles out and call it quits in the next town!), but what if it's cold or hot or wet?
For the past few months, my workouts have been
- Swimming at the YMCA. I love swimming, and it's low impact and it's hard to overdo it. It's takes a big chunk of time though: I get heartburn unless I wait 2-3 hours after I eat, and of course it takes twice as long as running because I have to drive there, change, and shower before and after.
- Biking up East rock park. This is usually a fun workout, but not when its 85 degrees outside.
- Running. Fun when it's cool. Unpleasant when it's hot. I make sure to drink water 20 minutes before working out instead of during the run in order to minimize GERD symptoms.
- Kayaking. Good upper body exercise, and it's definitely cooler on the lake than on land. But same complaints as swimming: lots of overhead.
- YouTube ab workouts by MadFit (standing workout, lying down workout)
Posted by Abraham