This week is approximately my fourth for turning over old leafs. At least 5 days a week for the past 4 weeks or so, I have been going directly from work to my recumbent stationary bike. I pedal for at least an hour, usually two; and I "travel" 15 to 30 miles. Naturally, I knit while I pedal. Knitting is the key.
For years my struggle with consistently working out was boredom. When I rediscovered knitting about a year ago, it quickly became clear that I'd picked it up for good this time, that it wasn't going to be an idle hobby that I put aside after a few weeks and never touched again. I have theories about why it's so soothing to ADHD, but that's for another day. My point here is that I was spending a lot of time sitting on my butt and knitting. Hours a day, really. I remembered a former co-worker of mine who lost 80 pounds by pedaling for a couple of hours each day while she worked on her plastic canvas creations. She'd come in to work in the morning and mention going 30 miles on her exercise bike the night before, and I would stare at her and wonder exactly how she got so crazy.
It makes perfect sense now. I can't stop knitting. It's a wonderful creative outlet, and it calms my mind while keeping my hands busy. Might as well get some exercise as long as I'm going to be sitting on my can for a couple of hours, right?
I love it. I've been trying so hard for so long to change my attitude about exercise. I've tried forcing myself to do it, and it works for a little while. But eventually the mental anguish of boredom becomes too much, and I give up. I've got it now, though. I crave it. I crave my time on the bike because it's mentally stimulating -- thanks to the knitting -- but mostly I'm after the endorphins. This is what my brain has been missing. This is why my ADHD has gotten so out of control. I'd forgotten how much I love to push myself to my limits and beyond. Thirty miles on the bike is a good start. And whaddaya know, I usually end up with a couple of freshly-knitted hats at the finish line.
After the bike, I get on my crappy little Pilates machine and run through the routine. I don't time myself; I just do each move until I reach muscle failure. Weight training has always been my favorite form of exercise, but I am loving the Pilates workout. It's a great change.
Turns out, despite my years of sloth, I have somehow retained my freakish superhuman strength. I use three power cords on moves that Kiki can only use one cord for. That's not knocking Kiki, either. She looks fabulous and is shrinking faster every day. I've just always been deceptively powerful. To be honest I think it's just my stubborn attitude manifesting in my biceps. What? It could happen.
Hmmmm. I had an entirely different point to this blather. Ah, well. Couldn't have been that important.
P.S. I feel...wonderful. And it turns out I can still get my foot behind my head. Bendy! Take that, excruciatingly severe arthritis!
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