Guys are predictable creatures, creatures of habit, whatever you want to call it. We all have some type of routine we go through each morning after we wake up. For me, the alarm goes off at 4:40am (whoa - typing it makes it seem so early), then I go downstairs, check email, and either head to the gym or run/bike outside. (I have to exercise early in the day, or it just won’t happen). After that, it’s shower, shave, brush teeth, get dressed, then head to Caribou for a medium dark roast and my time with God. I’ll generally read through a chapter in Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month (today, for example, it’s Proverbs 8), review a couple of my memory verses, and maybe do a devotional that ties in the the previous week’s sermon. Then it’s off to work. For the morning drive, I usually keep the radio off and use the time to pray. Again, I find that if I say, ‘Oh, I’ll just wait to do my quiet time until the evening’, it won’t happen. I know myself too well to do it any other way, and it’s the best way for me to start the day with the right attitude - God’s attitude, and what he’s calling me to.
I posted something like this once before, but I think it’s worth another mention since vacations are in full swing for many people. My family and I are going to be traveling in a couple of weeks, and I know for sure that there will be at least two places that won’t have any type of gym. And for those places that DO have a gym, it probably won’t offer a whole lot of options for resistance training.
For times like these, it’s a good idea to have some alternative exercises at the ready should you need them. I’ve done some searching, and have found several workout videos that require only a little space and rely on body weight. The one shown below is from Jeff Kunard, a personal trainer and Ford model. This is part 1 of a 3-part series - to find the others, go to YouTube and search for ‘Jeff Kunard Hotel Workout.’
Happy July! Hope you all had a great Independence Day holiday. We were quite busy with gatherings with family and friends, but I managed to find several interesting links this week that I starred in Google Reader:
Avoid The Green - I’m seriously considering getting a new digital SLR, and was very happy to read through this advice from The Man Page on how to avoid using an expensive camera’s ‘all-automatic’ settings.
Crunch-Free Six-Pack Abs for Summer - okay, so I’m not close to having six-pack abs (I have to get rid of about 4 inches of fat still in front of them), but that doesn’t mean I can’t do the exercises.
10 Simple Image Generators - here are some fun websites where you can modify your own pictures into fun posters or works of art.
Freedom Balanced with Liability - I’m not in Tech Support, but I’m definitely someone who takes liberties with installing new software. This is a great post from Granger Community Church’s IT Director - somehow he was able to make a discussion on their IT policy really fun!
Creating a Life Plan - Great article from Michael Hyatt on how to build (and stick to) a life plan. It’s a bit long, but well worth the read.
Today would have been my dad’s 65th birthday. However, just over seven years ago he was driving home from bowling when his vehicle was struck by another car - he was killed instantly, as was the other driver. Toxicology reports indicated the other driver’s blood alcohol level was .194 - three times the legal limit in Indiana.
So I just wanted to send out this reminder to everyone - as you enjoy the Independence Day holiday, please don’t drive if you’ve been drinking. You never know whose lives you could possibly affect by your decision.
One of the things I’ve thought about a lot recently is the fact that for the majority of my daughters’ lives, I’ve been overweight. As a result, I really had no motivation at all to get out with them and engage in any type of physical activity. At most, we would ride bikes together or walk around the block, but other than that, we didn’t do much. I also regret that I hadn’t been a very good example to them in this area of life until recently. Thankfully, they both have been fairly active on their own, which is great, and now I can support them and join in with them.
So with a three-day weekend coming up, now is a great time to talk about different activities that you can do with your kids that will get you out and get you moving. And who knows? You might also create some memories and/or traditions that you all can take with you well beyond the weekend!
So here’s my ten ideas for getting out and getting moving with your kids, no particular order:
Swimming - great exercise, especially if you have joint pain or other joint issues. Also, it can keep you cool if the weather’s really hot - no sweating!
Hiking - If you live in the flatlands like we do, this isn’t necessarily the most strenuous form of exercise; however, it’s still getting you outside and moving.
Geocaching - Never heard of geocaching? Think of it as high-tech hide-and-seek. Not only does it get you outside and hiking, but the kids really like the feeling of searching for hidden treasures. This one does require some additional equipment - a handheld GPS unit that allows you to enter latitude and longitude coordinates. For more information, head to the Geocaching.com website and click on the ‘Getting Started’ link on the left.
Golf - Again, this activity requires additional equipment and some patience, as we know that even we adults sometimes have difficult and frustration with the game. For maximum exercise potential, walk and carry your clubs instead of riding a cart, if it’s allowed. If playing a full nine or eighteen holes is too much for you or your kids, going out to a driving range is a great alternative - you’ll teach your kids some hand/eye coordination, and you might also be able to take out some of your aggressions on the little white ball, as well.
Canoeing/Kayaking - This activity is great for promoting upper-body strength. Check with your local park district or state park
Running - Definitely will get your heart rate up, and can be done with minimal prep or equipment. My older daughter and I are starting to run together - she’s much faster than I am, but it’s good encouragement for me to increase my speed. We’ll usually run the first mile together, then she takes off and runs ahead. Hopefully one of these days I’ll be able to keep up with her…
Disc Golf - I’d call it Frisbee Golf, but I’d be concern about copyright infringement. More and more parks are installing disc golf courses, and it’s a great way to get out and get some fresh air. Basically, the rules are similar to golf, but instead of a club and ball, you’re throwing a disc at a basket like the one pictured above. To find out if there is a course close to you, head to the discgolf.com website.
Biking - If your kids are older than six or seven, you can probably get out and bike fairly easily. The rides don’t have to be long distance or fast - just getting out together and getting some exercise is a great start, and biking certainly helps you do that.
Rollerskating/rollerblading - we went out to the local rink yesterday evening and had a blast! Yes, we were inside, but it’s still physical activity. If you have a pair of inline skates, you can also take it outside - just make sure that your kids (and you) have adequate coverage for wrists, elbows, and knees, and a bicycle helmet wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
Ultimate - also known as Ultimate Frisbee or Ultimate Disc, this game combines the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football. I played this when I first moved to the Chicago area, and it was a workout, that’s for sure. Since I played, it’s gotten a lot more organized, including having its own association and website. It’s usually played with teams of seven, but you could modify the game to work with the number of kids that are available.
Guys are predictable creatures, creatures of habit, whatever you want to call it. We all have some type of routine we go through each morning after we wake up. For me, the alarm goes off at 4:40am (whoa - typing it makes it seem so early), then I go downstairs, check email, and either head to the gym or run/bike outside. (I have to exercise early in the day, or it just won’t happen). After that, it’s shower, shave, brush teeth, get dressed, then head to Caribou for a medium dark roast and my time with God. I’ll generally read through a chapter in Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month (today, for example, it’s Proverbs 8), review a couple of my memory verses, and maybe do a devotional that ties in the the previous week’s sermon. Then it’s off to work. For the morning drive, I usually keep the radio off and use the time to pray. Again, I find that if I say, ‘Oh, I’ll just wait to do my quiet time until the evening’, it won’t happen. I know myself too well to do it any other way, and it’s the best way for me to start the day with the right attitude - God’s attitude, and what he’s calling me to.
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