Variety really is the spice of life.  This applies to your fitness routine as well as your diet.  One of the comments I hear during the fitness challenge is that people want a day off – a day with no exercise.  What we really need is a day of change.  Tired muscle groups get a rest but there is still activity and motion.  That day of change may include snow shoeing  in the woods, a yoga class or some time in a swimming pool.  Any of these activities are fun and relaxing if you are used to a typical gym routine of cardio and weights.

For those of you who just started your fitness challenge – good luck and enjoy.  For many of you at the half way point, congratulations!  I hope you are feeling energized and motivated by your efforts so far.

Here is my exercise diary for your viewing pleasure.

Wednesday Feb. 13th (day 12):           5km run

Thursday Feb. 14th (day 13):               55 min spin, 15 min core exercises

Friday Feb. 15th (day 14):                     20 min walk with Weezie (very icy)

Saturday Feb. 16th (day 15):                7.5km run

Sunday Feb 17th (day 16):                     90 min hot yoga

Monday Feb 18th (family day):            3.5 hours downhill skiing at Hockley Valley (fun!)

For those few of you who haven’t yet heard – you have 4 more days to start your Fitness Challenge.  Every February, my challenge to all of you is to exercise for 28 consecutive days (starting any day from Feb. 1st to 15th) for a minimum of 15 minutes.  No, gentlemen, sex doesn’t count and neither does vacuuming.. ladies.

You must record your exercise and submit the record to me by March 15th  (info@cornerstonehealth.ca).   If you are successful (I will review all exercise records), your name will be entered into a draw for $100 in products or services at Cornerstone (any product or any service with any practitioner).  As an added incentive, I will be participating in the challenge as well and blogging my exercise for your perusal.  Please feel free to comment or criticize by leaving a comment at the bottom of this entry.

Day 1 (Saturday, Feb. 2nd):  Normally I take Saturday off – but to start off my exercise challenge, I hit it hard!  30 min run (treadmill), 60 min weights/resistance training, 60 min light hike with my dog, Weezie.

Day 2 (Sunday):    90 min Moksha yoga (reduced heat supposedly – my first hot yoga experience and I perspired enough for everyone in this challenge).

Day 3 (Monday):  20 min walk with Weezie

Day 4 (Tuesday):  3o min walk with Weezie, 60 minutes weights/resistance

Day 5  (Wednesday): 30 min brisk walk

Day 6 (Thursday):   45 min run (treadmill), 30 min weights.  Travelling today to a conference in Florida.  This workout was done in the gym, in my hotel in Tampa.

Day 7  (Friday):  15 min yoga, 20 min brisk walk (Tampa)

Day 8  (Saturday):  15 min spin (cycling), 60 min weights (Tampa)

Day 9  (Sunday):  4 mile run outside (in the heat, phew!), 20 min easy laps in the pool.  Home tonight late.

Day 10  (Monday):  walk (actually a slide on the ice) with Weezie.

Day 11 (Tuesday):  15 min spinning bike (warm up), 45 min weights

Happy exercising!  Here is a picture of my walking and running partner.

 

February can feel like the longest month.  Many of us hibernate, eat comfort food and spend too much time in front the t.v.  Unfortunately this usually leads to weight gain, low mood and lethargy – and eventually a trip to your Naturopath’s office in the spring to complain about how you are feeling.  To beat the February blahs, consider joining a group of healthy and like-minded individuals for our February Fitness Challenge.  This challenge is designed for all ages and fitness levels.  Basically it works like this – you sign up by emailing me at info@cornerstonehealth.ca  indicating your desire to participate.  Then, for 28 consecutive days, you record your exercise.  At the end of the 28 days you can email or drop off your exercise log for my review.  You will then be entered in a draw for a $100 gift certificate for any service or product at Cornerstone Health Centre.

So here are the rules:

You must be a patient of Cornerstone Health Centre to participate.

Your exercise must be dedicated (ie: shopping at the mall, vaccuuming doesn’t count) and last a minimum of 15 minutes (there is no maximum).  It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do – for example walking, skiing, hiking, weight lifting, skating, curling, dancing, yoga, running etc. all count equally as long as you sustain the activity for 15 minutes.

You may start your challenge any day in February up to and including the 15th, and end no later than March 14th for a total of 28 days.

You must submit your exercise log to Cornerstone by March 20th.  The draw will take place March 21st.

Sound like a fun challenge?  Last year’s participants really felt good about their efforts and reaped the rewards of daily activity.  They say it takes 28 days to create a habit, but we’re not taking any chances with our 28 day challenge!  Follow Dr. Meier’s blog and watch her weekly fitness entries for inspiration.  Feel free to add a comment to her blog and let us know how you are doing.

Good luck!