Two wheels, pedals, and spandex. I know that the last thought is not a pretty image. - Sorry.
Biking helps with blood sugars (unless I have a massive Reese Cup craving after a long ride.) Time on the bike helps transfer weight from my gut to my leg muscles and maybe also shed a few pounds off. I find a calm, meditative state when I ride. Particularly in a group ride where I don't need to think about navigation. Some folks get that in yoga, for me it kicks in around mile three of a long spin.
But even though I love biking, at times, I just don't want to go out. Last week I had 100 miles in five days. This week - zero. It is too hot, I told myself. The sofa is too comfy, whatever. It is super easy to swap being active for the shadow of being active.
I need some help keep at it. Peer pressure can be that nudge. I find knowing that my friends are out running or biking makes me feel I should 'keep up.' Strava.com, an activity tracking site helps me stay motivated.
I was invited to Stava years ago by a friend (thanks Adam) who is much younger, more fit than I am, and thinks about motivation more than I do (follow that link.) I was afraid Strava would put me in competition with him. That is something that I couldn't win. So it took me a while to join.
Turns out, we didn't complete we just gave each other 'attaboys. Who doesn't like a pat on the back?
Being part of a real-world group helps too. I don't socialize a lot on rides (see meditative above), but there is a comradery to groups, an implicit I'll show up and ride with you if you show up to ride with me. I have had rides where my ability/will to keep going broke. I hit the wall. Friends slowed down and helped me back. I have paid that forward for others.
Today Strava and real-world are colliding. I passed on riding on Tuesday. It was crazy hot. But there, on Strava, I see my friends showed up to ride anyway. That is enough to guilt me into a ride in the crazy hot tonight.
Thankfully, I have friends that help pull me back when I feel an excuse to not exercise. My type 2 device doesn't make a difference if I don't use it.
Biking helps with blood sugars (unless I have a massive Reese Cup craving after a long ride.) Time on the bike helps transfer weight from my gut to my leg muscles and maybe also shed a few pounds off. I find a calm, meditative state when I ride. Particularly in a group ride where I don't need to think about navigation. Some folks get that in yoga, for me it kicks in around mile three of a long spin.
But even though I love biking, at times, I just don't want to go out. Last week I had 100 miles in five days. This week - zero. It is too hot, I told myself. The sofa is too comfy, whatever. It is super easy to swap being active for the shadow of being active.
I need some help keep at it. Peer pressure can be that nudge. I find knowing that my friends are out running or biking makes me feel I should 'keep up.' Strava.com, an activity tracking site helps me stay motivated.I was invited to Stava years ago by a friend (thanks Adam) who is much younger, more fit than I am, and thinks about motivation more than I do (follow that link.) I was afraid Strava would put me in competition with him. That is something that I couldn't win. So it took me a while to join.
Turns out, we didn't complete we just gave each other 'attaboys. Who doesn't like a pat on the back?
Being part of a real-world group helps too. I don't socialize a lot on rides (see meditative above), but there is a comradery to groups, an implicit I'll show up and ride with you if you show up to ride with me. I have had rides where my ability/will to keep going broke. I hit the wall. Friends slowed down and helped me back. I have paid that forward for others.
Today Strava and real-world are colliding. I passed on riding on Tuesday. It was crazy hot. But there, on Strava, I see my friends showed up to ride anyway. That is enough to guilt me into a ride in the crazy hot tonight.
Thankfully, I have friends that help pull me back when I feel an excuse to not exercise. My type 2 device doesn't make a difference if I don't use it.
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