Being Realistic

My goal to exercise every day by walking or doing P90X really went out the window after day 1. This week I've decided to have a new plan of action. Although my exercise habit was effective (and essential) during the school year, there were times when it was frustrating for me because I wished I could have spent the morning working in the yard instead. Piano lessons pretty much went out the window this week, so I had more time in the mornings than I had expected. So, I went to work in the front yard. At the end of the school year, one of my students bartered lessons with lawn mowing. Now he is gone for the summer, so I need to stay on top of it. Plus, he didn't do the trimming or other yard tasks that ought to be done as well. The other night I was walking to our front door and realized we only had about 18 inches of our sidewalk visible. The rest was overgrown grass which bothered me a lot. The front flowerbed has been an eyesore for a while and way overgrown. Yesterday I went to work trimming and raking and weeding. My legs are sore from fighting with plants.

Today I mowed the lawn, trimmed the edges and pulled the rest of the grass up in the flowerbed. There is still alot of work to do in the front and the back is even worse. It is so nice to have the time to actually focus and WORK in the yard. I realized today that exercising in the same manner I had been may not be practical every day of the summer, so instead I will do what I want to do and accomplish two goals at once. I have long since believed that our bodies were meant to be used to work. The type of modern exercise we do is a counterfeit. It works, but we would be fit and healthy just by being involved in manual labor. Although I believe this, I am not very good at it. So this summer I want to spend my mornings working in the yard. By the time I get all the trimming done, it'll be time to make the rounds again ;p I think the backyard is going to take a lot of effort because the trees are so overgrown. Hopefully this effort will reduce the mosquito population as well.

I am hoping/thinking that by focusing my exercise efforts this way, I will see weight loss and more toned muscles in the areas that need it. I guess we can call this the work experiment :)

I love the freedom of summer. I find it ironic that I feel like I can accomplish more with school out and Jared home than when school is in session. I think I felt the opposite his first day of pre-k lol I guess our perspective changes over time. Either way, I am grateful for the freedom time allows me.