Aug 8 to 26

 This keyboard is messing up - and I know that line about a poor carpenter, so ease up on this old man before you get to commenting. 

This August went really well - lots of activities, lots of playing on a beach. Lots of positive energy and working to form positive habits going into a return to school. 

The long weekend messed me up - basically I slept and didn't do anything. And the 18th - well, I was at the hospital with my eldest helping her with a flare up of her stuff they have going on. 

I discovered I like starting my day with some stretching, which my Apple Watch calls "yoga". I'm not going to complain, as it helps my rings get closed. I'm also enjoying the swimming these days. At least my breast stroke is getting better. I'm being wary of my ears, though. And back it seems is slightly irritated by swimming, too. Interesting.

Most days looked like this:

6-7 up and doing something. Stretching and kayak or walking or training.

9am coffee time ends and I got to an August project

Something cool I saw last week

lunch

drive with family and go and see something cool.

Nap

Dinner

Watch a bit of the Jays game with my wife

Swim or walk outside

Stretch

Sleeping by 11pm, sometimes earlier.

It was nice to see the sleeping pattern being so normal. At least more normal than other Augusts I've had in the past. And ... and I got out there and saw stuff. I'm hoping the purchase of an RV for next season and next summer will be another step towards an awesome retirement for us

July 21 to Aug 7

 So ... like two weeks, right?

Let me check my Apple Rings to see how many I've closed. As I'm looking here, I got pretty stressed about things by the end of summer school. A lot of Activity rings closed, not many Standing or Exercise rings being closed.

Once school was over, it's been pretty close to every day getting everything closed. I even got a kettle bell / HIIT session done today, Aug 7th. See pic for tools. It was a lot of sweat in the heat and a lot of fun. 

I've also gotten the kayak out five or six times - my son and wife each had at least one go on it too. Something I'm leaving in the van in case we get a chance to get to the beach together. And we've been doing that a lot recently, too. 

Generally speaking I'm still getting up stupidly early. The getting to the water in the kayak or out for a walk. Today the kettle bell session was finished by 8am.

Then it's home with coffee with my wife

Then we do separate stuff; we both have things we want to do in August.

Then have dinner together - usually while watching the Jays together. 

I'm generally leaving to get a swim in around 8pm, as the pool closes at 9pm.

Then bed.

I missed being active, I missed being on the move all the time. And while I'm far from being in decent shape, I like this feeling. I'm also finding out how much more energy I have for stupid crap around the house, too. 

I have one basket of laundry to do in the house and that is it. 

Anyway .... here is today's HIIT:

20 Hand to Hand Kb

10 Kb cleans

10 Kb presses

25 yards overhead press walk both sides

10 body weight squats

10 band bicep curls

It took about a half hour to get four rounds of this done. I was walking on the rugby pitch between rounds. It was gorgeous. So green and damp from early morning waterings. Unreal, man. Seriously. 

July 12 to 20

Yeah, this was a long few days. I got to Sunday and the weather around here switched from warm to hot.

That isn't complaining, just point out the obvious. I had to stay up late and get up and get to work. The heat tends to slow everything down.

The rings on my Apple Watch weren't closed in the last four days - but they were up to Saturday. Slow times make it more difficult for me. 

Lots of walks and lots of sleeping going on. Not resting, just sleeping.

The fact is the last walk I did was the one on Saturday and I wrote somewhere that it was pain free. I should not have written that - 'cuz that just was stupid. Meh, whatever. It was a good session, and since then haven't worked properly. That is the way things work around here. 

July 1 to 11

 

Most of these days were active - the big red ring got closed most of these days thanks to getting up early and getting a decent walk in before work. Some after work as well.

Conversations are happening about ext summer and a return to rugby, too. A dedication to fitness is most critical. Be better. Be fit and able to resist injury is also super important.

Walks and hikes were the order of the day though. I want to get lifting back in, or at least some sort of Crossfit /HITT workouts. I find them  helpful and able to help with my goals.

Haven't thought too much about anything else but work these days - mind on automatic when it comes to fitness or personal life. At least I have August to do that thinking.

Last weekend I spent sleeping, man. Just ugh. Couldn't move. At least Monday I got up and did a 2.5 km hike by 6:15am. That was pretty cool.

June 17 to July

These are rough times for people in my industry - it's not an excuse, but rather an explanation. It's been rough to do the things and to keep a blog about them, too.

In any case, lots of hikes and lots of walks these days. Yes, I know it's really not the greatest cardio or workouts, but it is what time I have made available to myself for this.

Actually it's been nice weather and it's been great to get outside and see different places in my community. Although I've also been heading to the beach to see the water. Lots of after school swimming with my son, too. 

Best walk was with a daughter this week - took about 20 minutes to do just under 2 kms. I know I need to start up again with the kettlebells and with the weight training. That is duly noted in my mind. 

I'm looking at battle ropes and a new to me kayak these days - but I'm not going to get either unless I start to train again. Rewards are needed for work, not for messing about. 

not a bad place for a hike

June 6 to 16

 

I saw this and wanted it here - the cool stuff I'm interested in starts at 1:10.

Anyway, things have been progressing nicely. Workouts are fun, but mostly hikes with some lifting and stretching. Lots of stretching, man. A number of times taking my son and going for a swim, too.

I have a few confirmations about reading this summer and have at least two jobs at the moment for July. I will be busy.

I have been waking up really early for the last week or so, and getting up and going for an early morning walk - before 6am I'm done. It is just not me, but I'll take it.

 I've been doing some awesome hikes - nothing stupid yet, the longest during this time was 2 kms. I'm looking forward to the time when I can get my rear end back to 8km runs without a sweat.

What else? looking for a kayak and lessons for watersports at the moment. Lots of hiking and reading - I did get The Mandalorian actor Pedro Pascal to read a book to me this past week. I didn't know it was him until listening to the credits at the end. 

May 24 to June 5

Hit either a swim or a hike and sometimes both every day over this time. Every day with the rings closed - or pretty close to closed every day. 

Lots of outside activity - even on the days that were hot and muggy. I even got lost on one hike - not really lost, but took a long way back to the van. Lots of water on the hour-long hike. 

In any case, the hikes have been good - need to just keep going around and around the place where I live and just see the place - it is, after all literally the first time I've been able to see them ever.

I did think about that the other day - started wondering about what I've missed with being so focused on just one thing for so long. What else have I missed?

In any case, I did miss an awful lot of the woods, so I'm getting out there and seeing them. Taking pics, leaving footprints. 

Not any lifting, but I'll have to change that this week. I just want my legs back a little better before I start back to lifting.

Most days looked like this

Morning - about fifteen minutes of stretching, with a focus on breathing and getting ready for the day

Afternoon - hiking and or swimming with my youngest.

Evenings - working and then sometimes swimming, some walks, mostly prep for the next days.