My Exercise Routine

Many of you have asked about my exercise routine and how I keep my weight down, so I will tell you all about it today.

I have been a fan of taking walks since I was five years old. I used to roam the hills of our farm in North Carolina every day. No matter where I have lived, I have always found a safe walking route away from traffic in a nice neighborhood.

 

I may go for a short walk around the lakes two or three times a day. (My neighborhood is built around four small lakes that flow into each other.) Some days I walk briskly about three miles around my neighborhood or on the greenway trails near my home. If the weather is cold and wet, I might go for a walk in the mall or at the shopping center near my home, which has a long sidewalk protected from the rain.

This isn't a routine that requires planning, unique clothes, or equipment other than comfortable shoes, so this form of exercise fits my needs perfectly. I am wearing a fabulous Covered Perfectly top and Perfect Fit Leggings with flat Rockport shoes here.

When I was younger, I spent hours in the gym, in exercise classes, and in dance classes but at this busy time in my life, going for a walk fits into my routine much better.

When my mind gets cloudy from tons of administrative work, endless figures, and countless emails, I get up from my desk and go for a short walk. I visit neighbors and their dogs for a few minutes and get my blood flowing with a quick walk around the lakes. When I return to my desk, my head is clear again, and my hair smells like fresh air.

When I go to the grocery, I never look for the parking spot closest to the building. I park far away and walk briskly to the building and also while I am inside.

I use a small blue and white teacup so that I have to keep getting up and walking to the kitchen to get more tea or water. I go to the bathroom upstairs rather than the one right outside my office door.

The point is that I do not sit still for hours working, watching TV, or reading. I get up and move around often. I stretch many times during the day. Again this is no particular routine; I just bend from the waist, slowly touching my toes and reaching for the ceiling and then side to side. The movement is always slow and comfortable.

I drink lots of water with lemon and or Braggs apple cider vinegar. I wait until I am actually hungry, and I never eat until I am stuffed. My meals include mostly fresh plant-based foods. I think of food as fuel, not entertainment. When I eat something that I enjoy very much but know is not suitable for my body (cheese comes to mind), I will occasionally have a small piece. The second half tastes the same as the first, so a small bite savored is better for your mind and body than consuming a large portion without enjoying it thoroughly.

On this beautiful day, I wore a very soft and comfortable piping top from Covered Perfectly. This is a growing but small, woman-owned business. Pauline, the owner, and designer, listens to our requests for styles that flatter our bodies and serve our needs. The fabric and the whole line is made here in the USA. All the models for this company are over forty (in my case, way over forty!)

Fifty, not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. Only one discount can be applied per order. There are several styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special!