Exercise

When I was over to visit my folks for Thanksgiving, they sent an early Christmas present back with me: an exercise bicycle. A recumbent exercise bike. Thing is heavy as all get-out, I had to recruit some fellows after church on Sunday to carry the box into my house and upstairs. And it took me a while yesterday to get the bike unpacked and assembled: "Some assembly required" would be an understatement! But the bike is now up and running, and it runs very nicely indeed. Computerized workout programs and whatnot.

Let's hope I can stick with using this thing. I sure could stand to lose 60 pounds or more in these latter days.

I can remember back in high school, my days in cross-country. I'd go out running along country roads, at a good brisk pace. Six or seven miles and I wouldn't even be breathing hard. I could've kept it up indefinitely.

In my early 20s, I'd go out jogging every morning, jogging along the Lakeshore path and across campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I'd jog a few miles, then finish with a sprint down Bascom Hill and across the State Street Mall. Then read the newspaper at Memorial Library before returning to my apartment right across the street.

In my early 30s, I was sort of giving up on the jogging, but I still did a lot of walking. Lived a 20-minute walk from the campus of Duke University, and often walked to campus and back, sometimes a couple of times a day.

In my early 40s, mired in the world of wholesale sports merchandise, I did warehouse work day by day, and was generally at a good weight and in good shape.

Now at age 50... well, I do go walking once in a while. Once in a great while. But I don't go walking nearly like I should. And with winter drawing near, I'm sure not going to be getting out more than I have been.

So I sure do hope I can get in the habit of using this exercise bike. And stick with it. Stick with it, lose weight, and all.