Personal Exercise Plan

This whole notion of starting a personal exercise plan was driven by my need to lose some weight. When I started the Atkins' Diet a while back, I kept asking myself why nutrition is important when exercising? Through diligent reading and study, I determined that to do proper dieting, I needed to get some commitment seeds planted in my brain. If I was going to exercise again, I needed to do a good job of planning my exercise routine so I would be consistent in the execution. I spent some time reviewing what type of exercises I enjoyed when I was younger.

If I were a younger man, more flexible and limber than I am now, I would just wrestle daily as the major component of my personal exercise plan. They told me I was a pretty good wrestler when I was a senior in high school. I had the great priviledge to workout under the direction of a coach who's son was a two-time state champion. I would go to my regular high school practice, then go to my part time job for two hours and would end my day at the recreation center for my second workout. It was a really great time in my life - I met and worked out with some of the best high school wrestlers in the area. I ended my senior wrestling year by missing the weigh-ins for the district tournament trying to help a teammate. I was 26-1 at that point and was projected to do well in the state tournament. Oh well, back to my personal exercise plan. Wrestling won't work since I'm still as competitive and intense as ever and would probably aggravate the many injuries that I have sustained in the past. 

Pick-up basketball was one of my favorite sports to engage in. I played regularly for many years after I stopped wrestling. I met some great people who became friends during those pick-up games while living in two different states. Same story though, injuries and the lack of a consistent personal exercise plan, excluded incorporation of pick-up basketball games. 

I used to like running a lot. It had a close relationship to my wrestling because we ran before practice each day. We had fun times running through the halls of the school when it was cold outside. I even continued running in college as part of my personal exercise plan. I was kind of a loner, so running outside in the mornings was a refreshing start to the day. Today, my knees and ankles say,"No" to running...so on to weightlifting. 

My personal exercise plan ultimately included a regimen of light weight lifting and brisk walking for 20 - 35 minutes. I could do the weight lifting on my own [with some routines from Muscle & Fitness magazine], then I could walk through the neighborhood with my wife. It was nice to be able to accomplish two goals while I exercised [staying in shape and conversing with my wife].

So, there you have it, I'm no longer concerned with why nutrition is important when exercising. I'm maintaining a good energy level and resting well each night. I'm doing a fairly good job maintaining my weight where I want it. And, most importantly, I completed and implemented my personal exercise plan.

You can do the same - think about what exercises you have enjoyed in the past and use the best ones your plan! In addition, consider other sources of information.