Non Scale Victory

About 13 years ago I bought a stationary bike at a yard sale. It was an older version at the time, but it had a place to lay a book and that made it perfect for me. I really love to read, so I could do exercise and read at the same time.

Jump forward to January 2010...I watch the Biggest Loser EVERY WEEK. On the first episode for this season, the couples had to ride a marathon on exercise bikes (very different from my stationary bike). I thought I can do that...ride what would have been my 1/2 of the marathon (13.1 miles)...even though I hadn't been on the bike for months. I tried it then next morning. 30 minutes for only 3 miles. Easy math...at least an hour and a half for 13.1 miles. I was discouraged, but kept on toward my goal adding more distance every few weeks .

The biggest benefit from riding is that I really started studying my Bible.

I have been going back over some of my notes from Dr Liner's messages...this week is 7 goals for 2007. God met with me this morning and when I was done...I was at 12.5 miles only .7 miles away from my goal. Today God and I reached my goal of 13.1 miles in 42 minutes!

Put the Work Back in Workout, as Nature Intended

http://www.allposters.com

Bee is right!!--good hard housecleaning projects will work up a sweat and get you moving! That's why I considered my 2-3 hours of cleaning appliances as my exercise for the day the other day.

One of my favorite authors, Jeff Yeager, who wrote the Ultimate Cheapskate, and who also is including our family in his next book, said this,

We are the only animals that have so dramatically altered our "normal course of living" and our diets that we need to engage in extracurricular exercise.

Here's a list of MONEY STEP AEROBICS that he suggests...(He says to skip the gym money step and work at home instead.)  CpH Calories Per Hour

Wash your own car       60 CpH  

Cut your own grass       648 CpH

Walk instead of drive    864 CpH

Run instead of drive     1080 CpH

Paint your house            540 CpH

Shovel your snow          648 CpH

Rake your leaves           464 CpH

Clean your own house   324 Cph

Pull your own weeds      503 Cph

He also lists the amount of money you save per hour by doing your own work instead of paying someone else. And he encourages his readers to

make a New Year's Resolution to spend at least one hour outdoors every day even if it's just reading because of all the health benefits.

Yard work alone would be as good of a fitness work out as anything I can think of!  If I could quit thinking of housework as just WORK and start thinking of it as Aerobics!! I would be really motivated to clean out the fridge and scrub the bathroom floor today!

Thanks Bee for the inspiration!