After spending several days going to the gym to walk it finally got really boring. To get ready for the holidays, I decided I would go home and see if I could create my own gym. For the past three days I have averaged over 10,000 steps a day, which was the same as I was getting on the indoor track. The result shows that I have been on the move and I have really accomplished a lot right at home. This to me is exercise and I call it “functional exercise.” I will go to the gym to get my weight work out 3 to 4 times a week but as for my walking, I am going to keep moving right at home.
What Is Functional Exercise?
“Functional exercise” came up for me last year when my renters who had lived in my duplex for several years decided to move. The building needed a lot of work to get it ready to rent. I have always hired it done before. My friend suggested that I do the remodeling myself. I am somewhat handy but was I really handy enough for this big project, which had to be done in a month? I decide to go for it.
My Journey to Functional Exercise:
Yes, I did hire people to help me, but I was on the job 8 to 10 hours a day working hard for a month. I tiled floors, bathroom and shower and painted along with dozens of other projects. Just going to the big box store everyday and getting the needed supplies kept me walking miles. It was some of the hardest physical labor I have ever done, but at the end of the month, I was physically fit, had a beautiful remodeled duplex and still had money in my pocket.
Tasks That Double as Exercise
Since that day I have looked for tasks that I could do that would give me the exercise my body needed. Here is a list of things I now do for myself.
1. Shoveling my walks unless there is too much snow and I will use my snow blower. Would have never thought of this a few years ago as I would have used my snow blower for the job.
2. Cleaning my house. For years I have had outside help in this area as I just did not think I had time. Now I am my own house cleaner just because I need the exercise.
3. Organizing my closets. I take everything out of closet and then only put back what I need. This is a job with a lot of walking as I need to take things out and put them back, but I also walk throughout the house tossing and putting other things where they go.
4. Running daily errands which keeps me walking. Yesterday I put on my pedometer (Omron H112 cost about $20.00 which I bought on Amazon) and did some house cleaning and ran errands. At the end of the day, I had 10,287 steps. This met my goal of 10,000 steps, which is about 4 miles. When I go to the store I like to park at the end of the parking lot and walk in. Good exercise and some nice quiet time to think.
5. Remodeling my house: I have decided to remodel my basement and that is where my “functional exercise” gym will be for the next year. I have found a man in the neighborhood who will do remodeling in the evening. He has agreed to teach me as well as do things that I do not have the skill or muscle power to do. I came right home, went right to the basement, and began to toss I was so excited.
Benefits of Functional Exercise
A good place to start a program like this is to make a list of what needs to be done. Prioritize it and then get walking. A pedometer is a key, as it will keep track of your progress so you know if you are getting enough steps in. You will be surprised at how much you will get done. Painting, cleaning, gardening, shoveling snow are just a few that will give you a great workout. Mix in a few gym and pool exercises and you will keep yourself really fit for the holidays.
