Aug 23 to Sept 12

 

Whoa, I am so sorry, faithful readers of this blog. This time of year is always just so stressful and jam-packed with stuff that I forget to update this ongoing discussion. Rest assured, I kept up my habits of fitness and even got better ones coming along. Let me explain.

Morning workouts continue basically every day. Weekends and holidays are always a challenge, as my time becomes communal. I get to do more with family members, and I get to do more for family members, but that is the cost of being a family member and father. 

When I get my time back, I try to get back into my good routines and habits. When I see opportunity in the wild, so to speak, I’m able to take advantage of it too. 

For example, my adventure van is now a “take the dog for hikes in the nearest provincial park” van. The dog loves the room; I love the 30-40 minute walks we are doing, and my fitness is loving them as well. I saw the supercool plunge tub above in the local thrift store for 10 bucks. And today I had a nice yoga session, then a plunge afterwards. I had my Apple Watch on and saw my HR go from over 100 to under 60 in just a few minutes of being in the chilly water. 

I was worried about cost, but I do have an ozone generator on the way, paid for with Amazon gift cards. Just everything came together to add a recovery system to my garage gym. So far, so good. I’m touching wood as I write this, though.

Morning sessions:

8-10 minutes of overall mobility: downward dog to cobra pose. Push-ups, thread the needle, WGS and DJJ. 50 lb sandbag bench press.  

8-10 minutes of ab work, hip mobility: clamshells, side leg raises, 90/90 stretches, bicycle kicks ot BJJ leg pummeling for 30 seconds or so. DJJ at times as well. I might also use the air bike I have in the garage for 10 minutes at this point; sometimes it is 50 lb sandbag deadlifts.

4-10 minutes of standing yoga poses - warrior one and two, hip CARS and the like. It has been all good.

So this past week, the morning sessions were all done before work, and the evening sessions were 30-40 minute walks with the dog on three or four evenings in the week. Solid cardio efforts there. No swimming, though, which I regret. 

Aug 10 -22

 

The dog is seeing things for the first time

Well, I'll start with the bad: I missed two mornings this week. These days are harder to get up for as I have no outside motivation to help me along, but whatever. I know I need to get these done for the 80-year-old inside my head. He'll appreciate my workouts these days.

I did get some bad news in the last few days about my working conditions for September onwards. Things are not looking nearly as smooth as they have in the past few years, and I'm wondering why I got this bag of donut burgers. Shrug. We will do, and we will do. 

What is it that you do?

A deed without a name.

The good news is ... well, My Shakespeare Project is going along nicely. I did get a couple of really nice hikes in the local provincial park with the dog as well. With the change in my working conditions, I get to revamp the van for work and for hikes/picnics ... so I'm finding silver linings here. 

Anyway, got this done in the mornings:

8-10 minutes downward dogs, to plank, push-ups. WGS, hip opening stuff from physios and other random influencers

8-10 minute abs - DJJ, BJJ leg pummelling, swimmers kick, 90/90 stretches. 

4-8 minutes of standing stretches, hip opening stuff, leg swings and warrior poses. 

Aug 1-9

 

The Office. Soundsticks are awesome

Yeah, I've been both lazy and active in the last little bit. I'm tired, and I'm using some physical fitness to keep me in the loop. But then, the next day I'll collapse and have what my kids used to call a "No Bones Day". Not sure if that reference is up to the standards of 2026, but I digress.

Morning sessions continue - just not always in the morning. Two of the three rings are closed on the regular, lots of walks with the dog, lots of DJJ, lots of stretching/mobility with some swimming. 

Swims are still in the 20-25 minute range. 

Morning sessions are also in that same range. 

I'll need to prep the garage for the winter/fall shortly.

In any case, in August, we are enjoying the brief respite and peace ... while planning and setting goals for 26-27.

Morning sessions

8-10 minutes for shoulders and hips: baby pose, cat/cow stretch, plank to downward dog, then 90/90 stretch. Hip thrusts and push-ups.

8-10 minutes ab work - putting on socks stretch, palms of the feet together/groin stretch, clamshell and single-side leg lifts, sideways ab crunches, BJJ leg twirling, swimming kicks as well. Push-ups. 

4-8 minutes of standing leg stretches, swings, hip CARS, warrior poses. 

July 13-30

 

Not a bad gym for a week

Whoa, sorry ...July got away from me. It was a rather rough month, and I just didn't make the time to include this blog along with the voyage. That's a shame, because I was working basically full-time while living in an RV for at least a week.

The contract is coming to an end soon and I'll be off for August. Lots of chances to do the things I like to do, pee when I want to pee and generally be a good human being. I'd like to finally get my bike and kayak out and do some fun stuff as well. 

I did hit every day with the morning session; it was sometimes later on at night. I did get back into swimming, but some of the swims were crashing into waves of Georgian Bay. Not great swims, but great memories. Generally they were in the 25-30 minute range, either in the pool or the Bay.

Lots of walks with the wife or the dog. Both are wonderful partners and good communicators in their own way. XD They are both wonderful and I'm happy when they are happy.

Morning sessions were mainly

6-8 minutes shoulders and arms - baby pose, arms stretch overhead, thread the needle, flappy arms, runner's stretch, WGS, push ups.

6-10 minutes ab work - putting on socks stretch, rotating trucks, swimmers' kicks, bjj leg pummelling,  hollow holds and push ups

6-10 minutes standing hips and leg stretches with the poles and yoga mat.

Me, walking back into my office at the end of the week

July 5 to 12

 

This was a wilder week, man. Wild. 

I did get to the pool three times and got a 25-30 minute swim each time. 

Morning sessions were all good as well:

8-10 minutes of baby pose, runner's stretch, thread the needle, shoulder rotations, downward dog to plank to cobra poses. Push ups

8-10 ab work - crossing the leg stretch, putting socks on stretch, swimmers' kicks and BJJ leg pummelling.  Standing BW squats, push-ups.

8-10 minutes hip CARS, leg swinging, warrior one poses.

In having the workouts at the local public pool, I keep running into kids I've known at the local public school. Such is the result of having a short commute and living in the same community in which you live. I'm happy to say the ones who say hello are mostly friendly.

June 15 to July 4

Might be a photo, might be a drawing

Not sure how many days that is, but everything got away from me; sorry, loyal readers. I did keep my daily training up for these days, even got back to swimming with my wife, whom I'm helping recover from her injuries. Sleeping is going ok, but I've had to have "no bones" days with naps in a constant manner.

I did manage a few days away, but the power blackout in that area sent me home. I did have one way to make coffee in the RV without power, but why risk it? I have fifty ways of making coffee at home, and so here we are. Besides, I missed stretching with my dog. And ... evidently, she missed stretching with me as well. 

Did stretch every day, just not necessarily in the mornings, but I got a 20-30 session done every day. 

Morning sessions looked like:

8-10 minutes baby pose, push-ups, runners stretch, WGS, 90/90s downward dog to cobra.

8-10 minutes hip and lower back stuff - putting on socks stretch, swimmers' kicks, BJJ leg pummeling,  hollow ab holds, push-ups

5-8 minutes hip CARS, standing leg swings, warrior one and two poses, hamstring stretch from standing.

June 8-14

"Putting on socks" stretch

 

This was a good week with a lot of tough moments, which were overcome with habits.  As always, habits eat everything.

I was up early all these days and got my walk in without a problem. The stretching was usually done right after, and then off to work. Weekends and evenings, where my time is less structured, I get lost in the demands of my family, but return to my stretching and training as I can. 

I did get two or three evening workouts done this week as well. Nothing stupid, nothing crazy - cardio or more stretching was all. But a good foundation for better habits to come (back).

Morning sessions were:

8-10 minutes baby pose, push-ups, runners stretch, WGS, 90/90s downward dog to cobra.

8-10 minutes hip and lower back stuff - putting on socks stretch, swimmers kicks, Bjj leg pummeling,  hollow ab holds, push-ups

5-8 minutes hip CARS, standing leg swings, warrior one and two poses, hamstring stretch from standing.