The more I think about our big trip, the more I worry about my physical shape. Not in the self-esteem-challenged, superficial way I have for the last 38 years, but in the sense that I won’t be able to do everything we want if I don’t get in better condition.
Photo by kevindooley
Just carrying a backpack as we transition from one place to the next will be a physical burden, not to mention plans like hiking up the Inca Trail for 4 days to get to Machu Picchu.
So I’m spending a lot of time now focusing on my physical health and getting a better connection with my body.
- How far can I push myself?
- Can I become more disciplined?
- Am I listening to what my body is telling me?
Over the last few months I’ve lost 8 pounds, started some body work to be able to move better, and begun walking on a regular basis. As time goes by, I expect to add biking and even swimming to that routine.
My goal is steady improvement with no injuries and reasonable weight loss. I want to enjoy this trip to the fullest!
But I have to admit I’m still a reluctant exerciser, even when I feel the benefits, and I usually have to plan an exercise “date” to get it done. This is still a big hurdle for me.
How does fitness play into your overall goals? Do you work for endurance, strength, or speed? What advice do you have for sticking to a healthy exercise plan?
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Betsy Talbot writes about carving the lifestyle you want out of the life you already have. When she’s not writing, she’s paring down, saving up, and getting ready for a year of travel with her husband Warren.
About Betsy
Congrats on exercising and losing 8 pounds. Since you have over a year, I think it’s very smart to take it slow. What you want to do is build endurance over time, and you have plenty of time to do it. There is no reason at all that you won’t be ready for long hikes or bike rides if you start now and start slow.
I would recommend walking 5-6 days a week, and increasing it to at least a couple of days where you walk for an hour or more. Then start hiking at least once a week- on a trail, 2 or 3 hours, with hills. Also- with your walking, after a few months when you’re in the habit of doing it most days, add one day a week of "intervals." That makes a tremendous difference.
I’ve found that two things keep me exercising: having a goal (which you have- your adventure!)- for me it was training for the AIDS bike ride- 550 miles. I started out pooped after a couple of miles and 6 months later I was riding 80 or 90 miles a day 7 days in a row. That’s what our bodies can do with conditioning. It’s amazing. I was in my 30s by the way, and in the best shape of my life (the week of the ride).
The second thing is finding exercise you love. Whether it’s hiking, swimming, riding a bike, tennis, yoga, or even dancing- whatever is so fun for you that you can’t wait to do it. That’s how I am with going to yoga or going on a hike. I also love to dance but have never set that up as a regular thing. Same with tennis- too hard to get someone else to play with you.
Good luck- you’re a very disciplined person, as evidenced by your blog, so I know you’ll have no problem being physically ready for your trip. I’m so excited for you both!
HI Betsy,
Angela has a lot of good advice.
To answer your questions:
1. NOW (and way back when) fitness is very important but I don’t want to get injured or I’ll get discouraged.
2. I want flexibility and endurance (both physically and emotionally!)
3. "Do it until you want to do it" is my mantra (and it works). I’m pretty much a whiny baby when it comes to starting an exercise routine but after a while, I just do it, and then after that I WANT to do it.
If there’s any way you can practice with less oxygen (I’m serious) I would think that important. I lived in Cuzco, Peru for a month and the altitude is HIGH. And so are the Andes.
Angela, you did 550 miles on a bike? Kudos to you! We have a couple of friends who have taken up bicycling this year, and both said they didn’t start out riding 100 miles the first day. It takes time, but not as much as you think, so I keep reminding myself of that with my walking/hiking. I’ve been doing 3-mile walks 3 times a week, and just this week I added in yoga on 2 days and top it off with a hike on Saturdays. Last week it was a 4-mile hike mostly uphill, and this weekend we are doing a 6-mile hike. I think these types of activities are good training, but I do worry about the winter and how to keep it up. I’m definitely going to take you up on the "interval" challenge. That is something I can easily add to a workout.
Margit, I love that you said you wanted flexibility and endurance both physically and emotionally! I do think when we exercise our brains get a workout, too. And I saw your earlier post about how massage is helping your body feel better – I feel the same about SOMA massage. We’ll have to compare notes sometime. And the altitude tip is a good one – I always get altitude sickness, and I know I won’t be able to count on an "oxygen bar" everywhere I go (do they have yuppies in South America?
. Luckily we’re going to Ecuador for a month before Machu Picchu, so that will help.
Great post, Betsy. The inertia to skip working out is tough to overcome, for sure. Great job with scheduling "workout dates" – that is a best practice.
For the past few months (almost 5 now!) I have been working out regularly and it has made a difference in my travel resiliency. The hardest part has been keeping up with workouts •during• travel.
the other thing: getting enough sleep is a key survival skill.
Keep it up!
For me, the best motivator is $$. When I pay for a class–currently I take yoga and NIA classes–then I go. I love how I feel when I’m exercising regularly and have taken classes since I was a teenager. I do have a short daily yoga practice, but it’s in class that I work hard and push myself.
I also love walking with a friend–I’d never bail on a commitment. Without some kind of external pull, it’s too easy for me to get busy with other things despite my best intentions.
Dwayne, I read about your exercise commitment during one of your time audit posts and have been impressed – you travel a lot, so keeping an exercise program is probably keeping you sane! Sleep has always been okay for me, but I’ve found without caffeine the past 9 months it has been better, and when I exercise still better. So those things really do make a difference.
I love scheduling the workout dates for business and pleasure – something about working the body the same time you work the mind brings about great results. I feel the same way about listening to podcasts while working out if I’m by myself – I get much more out of them than if I listen while riding the bus or something less strenuous.
Paula, isn’t money a great motivator! It is one of the things I’m toying with right now. We have an Anytime Fitness in our neighborhood, but with our travel budget I need to make sure I’m going to go before committing to the monthly expense. You’re making me reconsider this – thanks for the push!
What a keen observation and thought. I never even thought about my "fitness" before embarking on a four month trip to China. Little did I know my boyfriend would have us climbing mountains.
It was tough, but it felt so rewarding too!
Hi Betsy,
I’ve recently discovered your blog and I find it so intriguing. I have a chance to apply for a sabbatical year and my husband and I are thinking about spending it traveling, too. I’m feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. I’m sure reading your blog will help.
You are right to think about getting fit for the trip. I took up running 6.5 years ago at 45. I, too, was a "reluctant exerciser" but now I have run 6 marathons and am training for my 7th in Chicago this coming October.
The key for me has always been setting really specific goals and devising a schedule that I follow faithfully. Since you are such a great planner, you’ll probably find this works for you, too. When I train for a marathon I’m working on strength, speed, and endurance, so my schedule involves a variety of running work-outs and some cross-training like cycling, yoga, and weights. I just create an excel spreadsheet and once I’m committed to it on paper, I find I’m really disciplined about getting the work-outs done. I guess I just really like checking off the boxes. Besides, the more I keep to the program, the stronger I feel.
Hope this helps.
Jayne
Jayne, what an exciting time in your life! The opportunity to travel for a year and have a job to come back to is a pretty sweet deal. We didn’t really plan where to go by any other way than picking a starting point during a temperate time of year so it wouldn’t be too hard to acclimate (it will be hard enough with all the other changes) and then moving semi-logically from there.
Warren is actually more of a planner than me, but I have come to appreciate that keeping this blog up has taken quite a bit of planning, so maybe I’m better at it than I thought. I like your idea of making training plans and checking off boxes.