The Exercise Motivation Thread - 2024

[Norachan]

Our exercise motivation thread had slipped down to the 4th page!



I've been very active for the past couple of weeks. My mum came to visit so I took some time off to do a bit of sight seeing with her. I went horse riding on April 23rd, then between the 26th and May 9th I did lots of long walks around cities, two long hikes, one along the coast and one through a forest, and explored an island that had a 330 step stairway leading down to a cave and back up again. My thighs are still in recovery.

I'm currently fighting off a cold. I get sick every time I go through Tokyo. I haven't been that active for the last few days because of that, but I might venture out for a walk soon.

How's everyone else doing?

 

[rubysmama]

A little gardening, but weather hasn't been co-operative, so not much else. One day I'll get walking again.

 

[Lari]

Mostly just stroller strides once a week. A couple walks.

 

[Norachan]

I went for a walk for about an hour yesterday. It was sunny, but I wore my thick fleece as I'm determined to try and sweat out this cold. Two 30 minute yoga practices today.

Being sick is so frustrating!

 

[Norachan]

I've been gradually easing myself back into longer walks and yoga routines this week. I started with hour walks and 30 minute yoga practices, but yesterday I was feeling much better so did and hour of yoga and then a two hour walk.

I found a new trail to explore. There's a huge area of forestry commission land near here. They finished logging one section a few months ago and the logging trail is still clear. I followed it uphill for a couple of miles, then managed to find the place where it connected to another logging trail and looped back through the forest. It was a really nice walk. The new trees that have just been planted are only knee high, but there are other areas where the trees are already over two meters and some older growth areas with massive pines and cedars. Lots of native trees in flower too.

 

[rubysmama]

I finally can post something:

20 minute walk Sunday
22 minute walk Monday

raining today, so unfortunately probably won't walk today

 

[Norachan]

Good for you rubysmama

I've been having some adventures. Last week I decided to explore in a different direction and ended up twisting my knee while scrambling up a steep slope. It wasn't so bad at the time, but I decided to have a few days of just doing yoga and archery practice while it healed. Started doing long walks again last weekend and had a couple of really nice hikes.

Monday and Tuesday it rained so I stayed in and did long yoga practices. Tuesday afternoon it seemed to brighten up so I thought I'd go out and walk for a bit. Big mistake. After about 30 minutes the rain started coming down really heavily and the wind got up too. I decided to turn around and walk back along the road. Three cars passed me and every time the driver stopped and asked if I needed a lift. Japanese people are so nice! I was already soaked though and pretty close to home. I didn't want to get their cars all wet and muddy.

By evening the rain had turned into a full storm. I heard someone in the next village was killed by falling trees!



Wednesday I spent about five hours cleaning up all the mess from the storm, then did 45 minutes very gentle yoga. 90 minute walk and 30 minutes archery practice today.

 

[Norachan]

Friday was my day off, but I only had time for a one hour slow flow yoga practice. I spent the rest of the day rushing around, doing chores and running errands. But I finally got to the bottom of the laundry basket!



Saturday was a 90 minute walk and 30 minutes of yoga. Today is going to be longer yoga practice and another long walk, probably a long wet walk again.

 

[Bri5]

Yesterday was arms, so I did resistance bands, dumbells, and stretches.

 

[Norachan]

Do you go to the gym or workout at home Bri5 ?

I walked for an hour (in the pouring rain) on Sunday, then did 45 minutes yoga. 2 hour walk on Monday, 90 minute walk and 30 minutes yoga on Tuesday, 90 minutes yoga today.

There are lots of tiny, wobbly baby deer around at the moment. So sweet!

 

[Bri5]

Do you go to the gym or workout at home Bri5 ?

I walked for an hour (in the pouring rain) on Sunday, then did 45 minutes yoga. 2 hour walk on Monday, 90 minute walk and 30 minutes yoga on Tuesday, 90 minutes yoga today.

There are lots of tiny, wobbly baby deer around at the moment. So sweet!

Just at home. We don't live close to any gyms.

Monday was biking, Tues was a 20 min YouTube video, Wed was ballet, Thurs was pilates.

 

[Lari]

Went to stroller strides then chased my girls around the park. Slowly chased.

 

[Norachan]

I walked for an hour and did 30 minutes archery practice on Thursday.

Yesterday I had another Yabusame lesson. Got to the stables around 10 am, groomed and tacked up, then rode in the forest for about an hour. Got back and let the horses take a break while we did some archery practice, then did 30 minutes archery practice with the horses. I did a little better this time, managed to hit the target at the trot 3 times in a row. Still getting used to those traditional Japanese saddles though. I even had bruises on the soles of my feet today!

A few pics.

Midori on the left and Tsubasa. These are the two we rode in the forest.

Ebisu on the left and Sou Chan. We use Ebisu for archery practice because he's older, he's seen it all before and he's very patient with beginners.

Ume Chan, guardian of ponies, greeter of visitors and scarer of crows. She's a good girl!

 

[Norachan]

An hour walk and 45 minutes yoga yesterday. Today was 90 minutes yoga and about an hour of sorting through scrap wood, deciding what can be a cat tree and what can be firewood.

Going to start making another outdoor cat tree this week if the rain stays off.

 

[Norachan]

Whooops, we've gone a whole week without updating again!

I've been spending a lot of time working on my new piece of cat furniture. Someone gave me some off-cuts of wood left over from making a deck. It's lovely wood, pressure treated timber which is going to last for ages outside. But it's so dense and heavy! It takes ages to saw or drill through.

As well as that I've had two long walks this week and between 30 and 60 minutes yoga every day.

How is everyone else doing?

 

[rubysmama]

Just some walking for me.

 

[Lari]

I did stroller strides Friday and actually lifted weights today while my husband watched the girls. I deloaded pretty light since it's been like 7 months, but if I can lift once or twice a week, hopefully I can build up a little muscle and make my metabolism a wee bit faster.

And be able to carry my children who won't stop growing.

 

[Norachan]

I finally finished the cat tree I've been making.

It was a lot of work, but I think the most strenuous part was flattening the ground and putting down the flag stones for it to stand on. It's very level and sturdy though, doesn't wobble at all

90 minute walk and an hour of yoga today

 

[Norachan]

We had proper monsoon rains yesterday so I couldn't go for a walk. 1 hour of yoga and some much needed house cleaning instead. 90 minutes yoga and an hour walk today.

How's everyone else doing?

 

[rubysmama]

How's everyone else doing?

I mowed the lawn last night. Does that count?