Aloha,
It’s Wellness Wednesday, and thanks again to Ashley,
Liz and Tara for letting me stop by this week.
With it being the New Year, I know a lot of readers
have made, like me, the annual commitment to work out more and eat less.
As part of a recent life change, I started working out,
and after two months of sweat, torture and binge watching daily episodes of
HGTV’s Love
It or List It on a 6-inch screen stuck to the elliptic
machine, I’m happy to see my beer keg of a stomach is slowly returning to its
former glory as a six-pack wannabe.
(Gotta say that the best thing of going to the gym
isn’t the physical changes, because honestly, I’m not eating healthier… I mean
come on people, I just worked out for like 14 and-a-half minutes… I need a
beer!)
It’s the mental changes that I’m appreciating. I’m feeling so much better about myself, which
translates into feeling better about my talents, so for that reason alone,
working out means writing more.
Here’s to a happy, healthy 2016.
Cheers!
Mark Koopmans was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. In 1989, he spent the next several years working in Holland, Spain, France and England. In 1994, he won his U.S. "Green Card," and is an American by choice since 2003. Koopmans began his writing career that same year with a feature for a regional magazine in California. Since then, he's worked as a staff writer for newspapers in Florida and Texas. Koopmans is also a proficient blogger and is working on his next book. He lives in Virginia, and is "Papa" to three active boys under the age of nine. He writes at night.
I was in a nice groove for a while, where exercise was concerned. I had daily and weekly workouts that I did consistently, and I experienced the same sort of mental changes as you.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why, every single day, I think I need to get back to that routine.
Maybe today will be the day that I do!
I hope it is and I hope you do :)
DeleteIF not today, then when.. as they say!
I'm 9 weeks into my body revamp, post baby. Tried several times early on and sustained minor injuries. *sigh* Sometimes I think life is like that--we take on too much, suffer an injury, then give up. Here's to trying and trying again.
ReplyDeleteI'm going through that with my left shoulder... One of the hard-to-name muscles is bothering me and I really have to stop using it, but if I do that, then I can't exercise for a week!!
DeleteHere's to healthy workouts!!
Great workout and effort which must be quite rewarding indeed. All the best!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm having fun, especially when I'm not grimacing from exertion (which also looks like I really have to use the bathroom :)
DeleteI nice reminder. The benefits aren't all physical. And the mental ones are HUGE. I really, really need to get back to the pool.
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love to do the pool more often, but I am SUCH a Spazz when it comes to swimming... the only stroke I know is the "anchor stroke :)
DeleteAwesome work! Two months ago, I started the Couch to 5k Challenge. I've never been a runner, but as you said, the more I exercise, the more I write! Cheers to you and have a fantastic 2016.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you whenever your 5k is scheduled. You're going to have a blast, but be careful.. you may get the running bug... and then there's no stopping you.. literally :)
DeleteCongratulations! I lost some weight last year, regained some of it over the holidays, and now I'm hoping to re-lose it.
ReplyDeleteAs Rocky (or was it the Terminator??) once said: "Do it!"
DeleteIf you already lost the weight once, then you've got the history and the determination... pffff... you can do it again :)
My husband can attest that I did the 'dad bod' thing. I always feel better and more confident about myself when I exercise regularly. I do hate the treadmill but I hate the cold outside more.
ReplyDeleteThe Treadmill SUCKS and cold weather is even suckier.
DeleteThere, I said it out loud, which is why I was so glad there's at least a small TV screens on the ones at the gym... and lots and lots of DIY/Flip Your Home shows :)
Congratulations, it's great to hear you're making such progress toward your goals. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, too!! All the very best on your goals, and here's to a very successful 2016 :)
DeleteCongrats Mark and you keep being you with a bit of health on the side.
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks Sheena-kay!! I'm definitely no health expert, but I thought I could at least keep it real :)
DeleteExercise is definitely the way to keep the mind clear and happy. No wonder I've been in such a funk for the past month or so... I haven't worked out! No time... loft and new "kid" takes up all my free time. But I will drag myself there soon. Maybe even tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Ladies, and MARK!
Happy New Year, too, Michael. With your experiences in life, I'm sure you have many good workout regimens to fall back on - but keep moving forward, friend :)
DeleteThanks again, Liz, Ashley and Tara for having me over. I was a little worried about today's post (me and health stuff don't normally mix!) but it was fun reading all the comments :)
ReplyDeleteYou have to remember who you're posting for, Mark. When we say real- we mean real. Like counting ketchup as a serving of veggies real.
DeleteI prefer a Strawberry Daiquiri instead of a beer. Fruit is healthy, yes?
ReplyDeleteFruit is delicious.. my favorite is the one that hangs off the side of the glass :)
DeleteGah! I went skipping off to the Dad Bod article you linked and realized I never commented here. I totally agree that the best benefit to physical exercise is the emotional benefits. Best therapy out there.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Dad Bod - I'm all in a tizzy. Realistic man bodies are wonderful BUT no way will I be on board with holding that body type up as the ideal until Mom Bod gets put on the same pedestal.
P.S. I'm so excited to discover this new blog!
DeleteI can only watch Love It or List It in small doses. I swear, they get the crabbiest people on that show. Look at your beautiful new bathroom...oh wait, you're still complaining that they couldn't complete the engineering miracle of turning your 1920 two story into an open concept ranch? So sorry.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're felling healthier. You're so right, a healthier body does make everything happier.