How do we stay in shape? Let me count the ways...

A common question is how do we stay in shape?  Our answer (and every other cruiser I know) usually goes like this… “We snorkel, swim, dive, hike, walk on the beach....there’s always something keeping us busy.  Pulling up the sails takes a lot of upper body strength!”

What that really means is that we barely move around enough to maintain our general size and we certainly don’t do enough to actually produce new muscle or slim down at all.

When I was home, I spent some time on facebook seeing all sorts of crazy people get in shape.  One of my best friends in VA just finished a half marathon.  Some friends from high school regularly ride 30+ miles on their bikes.  And an old friend from my college days just finished running 100 miles in 24 hours and he’s an Ironman!  I was inspired.  My inner voice began to get excited…”As soon as I get back to the boat, I’m getting in shape.  I used to run…not 100 miles, but I ran regularly.  I have no excuse… I have no job making me tired, my husband is home to watch the kid, and I have plenty of time on my hands.”

We pulled into La Mona and there is a very long beach perfect for exercising.  The first morning, I got up early (for me anyway) and went for a long walk on the beach.  I decided to start slow (i.e. not run).  I walked for an hour or so and then went back to the boat.  I swam around the boat a few times that afternoon.  Good start.

The next morning I woke up and my butt hurt.  I mentioned this to Andy as I was getting out of bed.  “That’s sad,” he said.  Yes, Yes it is.  So off I went.  I walked faster this time….priming myself for the run I was going to do the next day. 

This morning, just as I was about to get up, Jake crawls in bed with me and wants to cuddle.  Sure, just for a few minutes I tell myself.  An hour later, I get up and make scrambled eggs and potatoes.  No walking/running today.  Sometime today I have to get re-inspired (I can’t get on facebook out here) to get my sore tail up tomorrow to run.  But right now I think I hear Andy calling…. He’s got an upper body workout for me… one arm curls with a Tecate Light. J