30 min exercise for 30 days - join me?

[OublietteBravo]

This is something I'm doing via an initiative at work. The aim is to do 30 min exercise every day for 30 (working) days. Start date is June 2nd - end date is July 11. On a busy day you are allowed to do 3x10 mins or 2x15 mins instead of 1x30 mins. I'm supposed to keep a journal - hence the thread.

I thought it sounded like such a good idea that I wanted to share it. Anyone want to join me?

Once DH arrived home I DD and DS with him and went swimming. I haven't been to our local pool in ages - which is crazy as it is a 5 min walk away. My aim was to do ~1.5 km (or 45 lengths of a 33 m pool). I actually managed ~2 km (or 60 lengths). I'm quite tired now, but pleased I can still manage it (I used to swim 3-4 times a week until DH changed job and started commuting). I think I might take things a bit easier tomorrow though!

A bit more gentle today. A brisk 20 min walk to take DS to football, then a 10 min run to collect DD from athletics and finally a gentle 15 min walk home. Hopefully enough to count as 30 mins. Not sure I'd want to leave the car at home for the various pick-ups and drop-offs every week though...

Good for you OB. Keep it up.

Back to swimming today. I had to fit a quick session in between DH getting back from work and heading out to play touch rugby. This left me with 55 mins to get to the pool, get changed, swim, get changed and get home. Good job the pool is only 5 mins away! Anyway, I managed a mile (or 42 lengths).

No idea how I'm going to fit in 30 mins tomorrow, as DD has swim squad before school, I have choir at lunchtime, and I have to collect DD and DS from different sides of town after work. Plus DH has just mentioned that he'll be back late as he is going out with a friend after work. Does choir count? I'll be on my feet singing for an hour... With occasional swaying, clapping and dancing.

You can work out in your garden at home. Squats, sit ups, press ups, lunges. Use a chair to do dips. Do you have a skipping rope?

I just spent 30 mins prancing around in my kitchen whilst listening to Pulp. I picked 10 exercises and did each one for a minute, and cycled through them 3 times. A mixture of body circuits and (very) light weights (from my rowing days - found in the bottom of my wardrobe). Sit ups and lunges are OK, but press ups are a struggle, and burpies are torture (but then I seem to remember they always were).

I was just wondering if I had the energy to do any exercise tonight (started a 4-week get in shape for holidays mission earlier this week), and after reading this I'm off to get on the exercise bike! Beats the ironing anyway

Ugh - ironing. I'd much rather prance around in my kitchen for another 30 mins! Really should get round to doing some though, you've inspired me to go and get the ironing board out.

Imagine that - fitter and uncreased

That's my 30 minute cycle done. 4 nights in a row. That's more exercise than I've done in the last 4 years! The ironing pile hasn't magically disappeared sadly... Ironing must burn a couple of calories I suppose

Well done! I managed 5 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers and a summer dress. Still plenty of ironing to go, but at least I made a start.

I didn't get to the ironing unsurprisingly!

What do you have planned for your 30 mins tomorrow?

I have discovered an added benefit to my evening cycle - I'm drinking a lot more water and because I'm having a shower at night, I'm taking a bit of time to use a face oil, do some body brushing and use a light tanning moisturiser - all goals I was struggling to get round to. So even though I'm only four nights in I'm feeling a lot better in myself.

Well done you. It's nice doing body lotion at bed time isn't it?
OB, would you like to be ableto do press ups?

Another 30 mins prancing around in the kitchen. Slightly less aerobic exercises and slightly more light weights. I'm pleased that I've managed the first 5 days - only 25 days to go!

The main benefit for me is snacking less. I'm most likely to snack when I get in from work and I'm sorting out supper for DD and DS. If I know I'm going to exercise, I hold off.

I'm debating whether to have both Sat and Sun as rest days. I think I'll rest tomorrow and see how I'm feeling on Sunday. DC have a party to go to, so I should have time to swim.

I'm not bothered whether I can do press-ups or not. I used to be able to (I rowed very seriously during my PhD - 30+ hours training per week), and now I can only do about 5

I've been deliberating a rest day too. I did walk up a big hill today on the way home though, so that was 15 minutes at least!

Snacking less here too - I'm put off by the thought of undoing my good work.

I won't be completing the ironing tonight. I quite fancy a tonight (once I've had a shower, and picked DD up from her school disco).

I'm going to do a little bit of ironing then wine (but no snacks )

Good luck with the ironing - you will definitely have earned .

Well done on the hill. I used to live at the top of a and remember how much energy getting back home used to take (and I always seemed to be walking into the wind - even if I'd had the wind in my face on the way down the hill in the morning).

After having a rest day yesterday, I went back to circuits in the kitchen today. I did the same mix as Friday. Hoping to go for a swim tomorrow, but I need DH back from work before 7pm to make it happen (the pool shuts at 8pm on a Monday).

I really didn't want to bother tonight. It took me an hour to get home this evening rather than the usual 20 mins. The main road was shut due to a gas leak, so I had to go the long way round. I was late collecting DS from after school club - his teacher was ever so nice about it (it is only the 2nd time I've ever been late in the 6 years I've had kids at the school). I was really feeling hot and bothered and stressed when I finally got home, and not at all motivated.

However, I made myself go to the pool, and I now feel relaxed but tired. I managed 2km (or 60 lengths). It was harder work this week.

A week in, I'm definitely into the stage where I'm starting to feel tired and a bit sore. I'm looking forward to coming out the other side and feeling fitter - I expect that is 2-3 weeks away though.

Today I did:
20 min walk (DS to football)
10 min run (collect DD)
10 min walk (home)
20 min circuits
Looking forward to having a shower - I'm quite sweaty and want to wash the pollen off as my eyes are really itching.

Well done! I've been very lax over the weekend, but now about to get back on the exercise bike for 30 mins. I definitely noticed a difference in my overall energy levels last week so keen to get back to it!

Right, that's half an hour of interval training on the exercise bike. Now I just need to get my breath before I have the energy to get upstairs for a shower.

Well done for keeping the training going, and getting back into the swing if things after the weekend.

I was rather lax yesterday. I had a team building day with work followed by dinner. Apart from spending 90 mins wandering around Cambridge on a treasure hunt I did no exercise at all.

I got back to circuits thus evening. I even added another 5 minutes of time, so I'm up to 35 minutes rather than 30. It doesn't seem to hurt as much now, so my body must be starting to get used to being more active.