Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Something is Better than Nothing

Well, you know me... It's always been either the best of times or the worst of times with me, especially when it comes to fitness. Either I was on the cross-country team, running at least 8 miles a day, or in Chennai dancing several hours a day, or doing Absolutely Nothing and watching my muscles rot. Nothing in between for me... I either wanted it all, or nothing would do. No middle ground. Or so it seems...

But actually, when I look back, I realize there have been times in between when I have strived for some equilibrium. There was the time in ninety seven ('98?), when Elaine and I would go down to Ocean Beach in SF most mornings, or least four out of every seven, to walk and run. (She ran, I walked.) And then that slowly built up to the point at which I started to run, at least half of the time. But then, what happened? I don't know... I moved, she moved. My enthusiasm waned with the loss of my workout partner. That shouldn't have been the case, but sadly, it was.

And of late, I've been hitting the gym at the regular rate of about once a week. A laughable proposition, perhaps, but hey, it jives with my new philosophy (thanks, Anil!) of Something is Better than Nothing. That's the mantra I've been chanting to myself (well, actually more like muttering) as I do my forlorn once-weekly trip to the gym.

Well... As I ponder health in general and heart-health in particular, I realize that the something part has got to be stepped up, to be a bit more substantial. A something more, if you will.

And that's where the brilliant Couch to 5K plan comes in. I plan to try essay this audaciously simple schedule for getting me back in heart-healthy shape.

I look to you, my friends, to remind me, to ask me, to tease me, to inspire me, from time to time, with the question, "How's the Couch to 5K going for you? Did you do it this week? Did you do it today?"

Better yet, join me in my quest to run 5K, and share your progress with me. We'll all be the better for it. Let me know via this blog or by email if you'd like to join and share our progress... Or, just bug me... I'll look forward to it.

After all this Something is a Whole lot better than alot of Nothing.

5 comments:

sitio said...

Well said. In my experience, when I do the all approach it always rebounds to the nothing approach. It balances, but unhealthily over too long a time span. Balancing on a day or a week with some "middle way" is a fine idea.

I applaud.

So, uh... did you do your couch to 5k plan today? Are you going to?

Anonymous said...

Go Yesha! Go Yesha!

Very into joining you....

Khürt Williams said...

Yes. Start something. Plant a seed. Be patient. Sufficient water and light. Watch it grow.

Pranav said...

I'm trying a "something" too: no food after 9pm, unless it's a fruit or a fruit yogurt (limit of 2). I've tried for 2 weeks, and have been successful a few days...

If I can do this consistently, I'll try to step up to maybe limiting soda, etc.

And then daily exercise. And then, and then...

It's 3:30am. I'm really hungry...

why said...

Hey folks!
Thanks for your comments!

Sory for the delayed response, but here goes...

@Sitio: I began my Couch to 5K plan on Saturday, May 5th... Thanks for asking... I decided to start after returning from Chicago, so as to not be interrupted right away during travel.

@Martha~ so, will you join me? oh please do!

@islandinthenet~ thank you. Namaste.

@Pranav~ your plan sounds good~! How is it going now that another week has passed? Here's something I'm trying which may/may not be interesting to you: I make it a goal to eat one salad and one fruit per day. Some days I don't, but I end up eating a lot more salad than if I didn't have this goal, so it helps...