Exercise plays a role

In addition to changing the kind of food I am putting into my body, I trying to change the way I move my body as well. One of the promises of the program is that you will feel more energetic and that exercise will be something that you want to do, not something that you are forced to do.

I am waiting for that magic moment.

But I will say that this evening I actually exercised on my own. No class. No teacher. No schedule. Just because I wanted to.

This is the first time in a long time.  Once in a row.

I moved along with the Dragon's Way Qigong DVD.  The Dragon's Way is a stress reduction and weight loss program by Dr. Nan Lu, founder of the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation. The idea is to open up the various joints in the body and to allow energy to flow. It promotes flexibility in the hips, knees, ankles, waist, arms and neck.

Dr. Lu makes it look easy - but I have sweat running down my back by the time the 20 minute exercise cycle is finished.

I can't balance on one leg for the life of me. I suppose that will come. In time. If I keep after it.

Just for full disclosure: in addition to want-to exercises, I go to two Pilates classes a week. This is for core strength and flexibility.

I find I need a scheduled class to make me show up at the gym. The gym at work offers Pilates classes and I take them so I will actually walk through the door of the gym. Other than that, I buy memberships and do not go.

And I kind of like Pilates because, in my experience, nothing targets core musculature as well as Pilates does.

I sure am the worst one in the class, though. Maybe I can be in the running for Most Improved. Or Most Humbled.

This is NOT me. It is a pretty good picture of The Hundreds, though. Ask me about The Hundreds. Whew.

I follow up Pilates with a 40 minute routine on the weight machines. No one makes me do this either. It is kind of a dessert for me. I like working with weights.

Right now, then, I have two structured exercise days a week. This is not enough. I am looking for something else to work in.

I am hoping that somehow someday I will find an exercise program or sport to fall in love with.