Exercise: stretching and motivation

OK. I normally stretch after most exercises, stretches that are for the muscles I've just exercised, and then at the end of my workout. There's some evidence that stretching after exercise helps, and none that stretching before makes a difference (though it's certainly harmless, so if you like to stretch, stretch.)

This morning, I was grumbling about not wanting to go to the gym. I'm allowed to not want to go to the gym, as long as I go. There are two reasons for this: the exercises work even if I'd rather be sleeping late, and usually, once I start working out, I want to keep going.

This morning, it didn't work. I'd done my cardio, I'd done some weight-lifting, and I decided that enough was enough, it kept getting harder, so I'd stop. "Stop" in this sense is deciding that I'm done weight-lifting, and it's time to go over to the stretching device I like, and do a bunch of stretches.

During the third set of stretches, which are for the hips and gluteals, I started feeling a strong impulse to do crunches.

Okay. The mat is right over there, I can do crunches. I could, in fact, do 80 crunches (my usual number). And then I went back into the weight room, and did more exercises there. Half an hour later, I'd done a proper workout instead of an abbreviated one, and was feeling much more cheerful, which is one of the advantages of weight-lifting. I went back, did the rest of my stretches, and showered.

[cross-posting to my journal and irongirls]

( numbers )

Exercise: stretching and motivation

OK. I normally stretch after most exercises, stretches that are for the muscles I've just exercised, and then at the end of my workout. There's some evidence that stretching after exercise helps, and none that stretching before makes a difference (though it's certainly harmless, so if you like to stretch, stretch.)

This morning, I was grumbling about not wanting to go to the gym. I'm allowed to not want to go to the gym, as long as I go. There are two reasons for this: the exercises work even if I'd rather be sleeping late, and usually, once I start working out, I want to keep going.

This morning, it didn't work. I'd done my cardio, I'd done some weight-lifting, and I decided that enough was enough, it kept getting harder, so I'd stop. "Stop" in this sense is deciding that I'm done weight-lifting, and it's time to go over to the stretching device I like, and do a bunch of stretches.

During the third set of stretches, which are for the hips and gluteals, I started feeling a strong impulse to do crunches.

Okay. The mat is right over there, I can do crunches. I could, in fact, do 80 crunches (my usual number). And then I went back into the weight room, and did more exercises there. Half an hour later, I'd done a proper workout instead of an abbreviated one, and was feeling much more cheerful, which is one of the advantages of weight-lifting. I went back, did the rest of my stretches, and showered.

[cross-posting to my journal and irongirls]

( numbers )

Request for info: black currant sweets

There's a kind of candy cattitude would like, which we haven't been able to find in a while and are starting to suspect are no longer manufactured. But maybe they're still out there and just lost their US distributor.

The search object: black currant–flavored boiled sweets [1], round, about a centimeter in diameter, and came in little tins. If that sounds familiar, brand names or sources of supply, especially online, would be most welcome. I think they were British, but they might be from somewhere else in Europe. (If you know of something that sounds right but happens to be made in Peru or Tanzania, that's fine too. Maybe I should go look for chicha morada. Maybe I should give up and cook dinner, something light but nourishing, Chinese egg flower soup perhaps.)

[1] Hard candy, if you prefer. You can work centimeters out for yourself.

ETA: A company called La Vie de la Vosgienne makes the right sort of candies, but the only ones I've been able to find lately are raspberry (or, as the package kindly states, framboises).

Request for info: black currant sweets

There's a kind of candy cattitude would like, which we haven't been able to find in a while and are starting to suspect are no longer manufactured. But maybe they're still out there and just lost their US distributor.

The search object: black currant–flavored boiled sweets [1], round, about a centimeter in diameter, and came in little tins. If that sounds familiar, brand names or sources of supply, especially online, would be most welcome. I think they were British, but they might be from somewhere else in Europe. (If you know of something that sounds right but happens to be made in Peru or Tanzania, that's fine too. Maybe I should go look for chicha morada. Maybe I should give up and cook dinner, something light but nourishing, Chinese egg flower soup perhaps.)

[1] Hard candy, if you prefer. You can work centimeters out for yourself.

ETA: A company called La Vie de la Vosgienne makes the right sort of candies, but the only ones I've been able to find lately are raspberry (or, as the package kindly states, framboises).

Warm feelings; improvisation; ahead for the day

I got a very warm, sweet card in the mail from a friend today. As an added bonus, it's purple. *hug*

Since the NYC transit people don't seem to be selling Metrocard holders, I have rummaged in my dresser and found a substitute: the soft plastic holder for the photo ID that goes with a Paris Metro weekly ticket. (The London Underground one might also work, but this came to hand first.)

I came home from exercise, lunch, and assorted shopping having turned a profit for the day: on the way out of the A train at 207th, I saw a Metrocard on the ground near the turnstile. I picked it up and swiped it in the "check your card here" machine, and it's valued at $16 (i.e. nine rides on the subway and/or bus), which is more than I spent. The great majority of cards lying on the ground are worthless: used up or expired. But just enough have value that it's worth checking now and again, given spare time.

Warm feelings; improvisation; ahead for the day

I got a very warm, sweet card in the mail from a friend today. As an added bonus, it's purple. *hug*

Since the NYC transit people don't seem to be selling Metrocard holders, I have rummaged in my dresser and found a substitute: the soft plastic holder for the photo ID that goes with a Paris Metro weekly ticket. (The London Underground one might also work, but this came to hand first.)

I came home from exercise, lunch, and assorted shopping having turned a profit for the day: on the way out of the A train at 207th, I saw a Metrocard on the ground near the turnstile. I picked it up and swiped it in the "check your card here" machine, and it's valued at $16 (i.e. nine rides on the subway and/or bus), which is more than I spent. The great majority of cards lying on the ground are worthless: used up or expired. But just enough have value that it's worth checking now and again, given spare time.