NY, NY: A golden state

I don't know about any of the other 95 folks, but I am feeling a measure of new. A bit more jaunty since starting the New Year, New You: Healthy Lifestyle Challenge this past Monday. 

Day 3 (which was yesterday): A mighty wind

From The Spokesman-Review

Trees crashed through roofs, onto cars, and across roads. Towering pines snagged power lines on the way down and a good portion of Spokane lost electricity between Tuesday night and yesterday morning. This windstorm was not as epic as one we had in 2015, but it surely stunk for lots of my fellows. 

My place, however, stayed powered up all day, which meant I went about working, drinking my water, eating healthy meals, and exercising as planned. Well, maybe not exactly as planned. I figured on getting on my bike again, but then the day was blessed with sun pouring down from an absolutely cloudless sky. The wind got rid of the gray we've had since maybe two weeks ago. With no dithering whatsoever, I switched out biking on an indoor trainer to walking through the neighborhood. 

It's true, my heart rate doesn't climb as much on a walk as when spinning, but wow, the cheeriness of the sun, the way it and a blue sky lift a certain weight off my shoulders just by being out in it and beneath it. Golden.  

You know what else is golden? Chocolate. While out on the walk, I stopped by the store for some dark chocolate Dove hearts. Harry Potter, after all, proved chocolate has healing powers and it's a nice treat to have on hand when I finally get cozy on the couch for some reading in the evening. If I stick to one heart a day, I think I can count that as part of my healthy eating. 

Day 4: Pedal to the metal

Several of my friends post regularly to social media about how much they enjoy their Peleton stationary bikes and the virtual workouts with personal trainers available through an accompanying app. One of them quipped that he's been attending the church of Peleton for a few months and is a true believer. 

I looked into this phenomenon. Checked out even just the app, because you don't need the Peleton brand bike to use the app. Through the research, I solidified something in my mind that I've know intuitively for a good while. There are two main things that are true about exercise/participating in sports or outdoor activities: 1) I don't stick with things that cost money every time I do them (skiing, golf, a membership to a gym or an app), and 2) Working out is my time to get away from screens. 

So, no Peleton for me. But I can still cinch that drum against the back wheel of my own bike and put the pedal to metal for a serious sweat. Tonight my ride was 33 minutes. I listened to music and cycled through several key words or concepts, repeating each one silently for several minutes at a time. These are things I want to let go or things I want to achieve. It's a new practice while on my bike, this repetition of mantras, and much like the sun and blue skies, a weight is lifted when I glide to a stop 30 or 40 or 60 minutes later.