1000+ KM

1000+ KM

Yes, for those of you wondering, I did ski more than 1000 KM by Saturday April 15th and took a well-deserved rest on Sunday. It is still snowing here, but hopefully, spring will make a magical appearance soon and I can move on to another outdoor activity. This week is about getting back to my regular weight lifting routine, taking a few days off to recover and making a plan for the next season.

We did it.

Exercise is my solution, to (almost) every problem.

I will explore a few options and welcome your thoughts on what should be next, but I thought I would share a few things I learned about my deliberate practice and skiing 1000 KM.

First, I feel like a better skier. Fitter, and with better technique.

Why should this matter? Because doing anything well is worthwhile.

I know that it is currently popular to “hack” your fitness, diet, life, but I have to ask why bother? I don’t want my life to consist of a series of “quick fixes” to make up for past mistakes. A lifestyle medicine doctor recently described the way we view health care as an overflowing sink, instead of turning off the water we get a mop and a bucket. True. We often neglect the source of our problems and want the quick fix.

I want the solution.

A recent study from the American Heart Association asked young people which high blood pressure treatment would you be willing to take if it meant an extra five years of life?

The results:

• 96 % would take a pill every day for an extra five years of life.
• 96 % would drink a cup of tea if it meant extra five years of life.
• 93 % would exercise regularly for an extra five years of life.
• 88 % would get a monthly injection for five extra years of life.

At least exercise was more popular than injections.

The rates for exercise were higher than I thought they would be. Maybe many people still believe that getting older means inevitable decline, medications and more. It doesn’t have to be that way, exercise is one way to stay healthy and fit. It also has no side effects, unless you count the good ones, and it comes with many other benefits besides reducing blood pressure.

I am acutely aware of the effects of having high blood pressure. My father’s blood pressure was extremely high. He had three strokes. I recommend knowing and managing your blood pressure. I am sure that if I didn’t exercise as much as I do and didn’t eat as well as I do, my blood pressure would also be high too. But, I have personal experience with what high blood pressure (and the medication) does and I am sticking with diet and exercise.

Whatever the problem. Exercise is the answer.

I learned a few other things during my season of deliberate practice and skiing 1000 KM.

1. Physical exertion has another amazing side effect. A great night’s sleep.

2. You can always do more than you thought possible. My regular ski was about 10-15 KM, now a 20 KM ski is normal and not that difficult. I would have never done it regularly if not for this goal. Not only do I know it’s possible, it is enjoyable.

3. Deliberate practice spills over into all areas if your life. You start realizing that there are more worthwhile aspects of life that can improve with deliberate, focused effort.

4. Too much of a good thing is still too much. I admit that I neglected the gym for my ski goal and I noticed a difference. I feel less flexible and have a few new aches that will have to be resolved before they become a problem.

5. When you have the opportunity take it. So many things could have got in my way. The weather, the trail conditions, fatigue, illness, injury and I was aware of every one of these. Every opportunity I had to do a little bit more, I took it. That meant that on Saturday when it finally felt like spring skiing and I only had 10 KM to ski to complete my goal, I did 20 KM.

So what’s next?

I have to think about it. I am going commit to a new goal for May 1st. I will publicly commit and maybe you want join me? What do you think? Are you ready for a challenge? Let me know.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla