Monday, June 30, 2008

The Gym—The Path to the Stuff You Really Like To Do

I got a heck of a workout this weekend, but I never set foot in the gym.

I spent a total of 15 hours out in the garden edging my lawn and catching up on the weeding. Sounds doable until you find out I've got a 1/4-acre lot that I've landscaped over the last 11 years. It does require quite a bit of maintenance. And because of our very strange spring, the weeds were germinating faster than I could pull them and they had pretty much won the battle. I had not cleaned up the edge of the lawn in 3 years so it was really overgrown into the flower beds.

Here's what I learned:
  • Being able to do a full squat is extremely useful for cutting sod with a flat blade.
  • Being in that squat over and over again for 8 hours or more gives your legs a great workout.
  • Having to go out the next morning and finish the last 60 feet of lawn edging, after spending the previous day doing the same thing, is somewhat painful.
  • Having strong shoulders and arms makes slicing under the sod go a lot faster.
  • Being fit makes it possible to do three weekends worth of yard work in one weekend.
I am amazed at the number of hours I worked in the garden. I don't think I've ever been able to dig and weed and haul sod for that many hours without stopping before.

When I started getting really serious about all this exercise and eating right stuff to try and control my diabetes, that was my only goal. But there have been some fabulous benefits from eating well and working out that I hadn't anticipated.

Like losing a ton of weight.

Or being able to run short distances in preparation for playing some soccer this summer.

Or having marathon gardening sessions and still having the energy to go play afterwards.

And feeling strong and healthy and being happy in my skin for the first time in a very long time.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very proud of you! It ain't easy, I know. But being happy in your own skin is a huge reward.

Marianne said...

I remember seeing a few photos of your gardens, gorgeous! and quite evident that it takes time and energy.

It's always a wonderful thing, being happy in one's skin :^)

Anonymous said...

Having experienced the fabulousness of your yard on a few occasions now, I can say I am thoroughly impressed! Not to mention that you did it all as the weather was warming up. Go you. :D

Kristen said...

Feeling good in one's skin is something everyone should experience, no matter what their stage on the journey towards ultimate health and healing. Wanna come do my garden next? ;)

(formerly) no-blog-rachel said...

Yay TMK! I don't know you personally but I'm proud of you.

I've been following your blog, as I'm dealing with some health issues myself. I was doing 'everything right' but due to something mysterious (probably hormonal), it wasn't enough. So I'm working on doing it all even better. Reading about what you're doing helps keep me going!

Anonymous said...

Right on! MaryB

karen said...

I'm so proud of you! Great job, and plans for soccer, too...wowie! You're an inspiration.