We really sweated whether or not to continue our outdoor exercise during the Covid 19 lockdown. There are many pro’s and con’s, and some surprises on both sides of active distancing.

Reasons to Continue to Exercise

• Health
• Goals
• Sleep Better
• Stress Relief
• Physical Health
• Mental Well Being
• Prevent Weight Gain
• Competition Schedule
• Boost Immune System
• Example for Your Children
• Sitting Longer While Working From Home
• Limited Trips to Grocery = Less Fresh Food
• Stress Eating Higher Calorie / Comfort Foods
• Higher Calorie Consumption (Eating/Grazing More at Home)
• Coping with Fear, Stress, Anxiety, Financial Worries, Isolation, Boredom = Mental Well Being

Unbelievable

I was telling an acquaintance that we had discontinued our high-speed, black-top road cycling for a couple months. She was flabbergasted at my reason.

Number One: Health care workers are overworked, tired, maybe sick, and if some dumb dog runs out in front of me and I fall and get injured… I’m suddenly yet another strain on the overburdened health care system.

She said she’d never even considered that! I gotta repeat that – she had never considered that her actions putting her in danger might be more than just a regular trip to the hospital and inconvenience not only health care workers, their families, but also anyone fighting the Covid-19 virus.

It seemed to us quite selfish to put our physical goals ahead of other people’s medical health at such a time. Plus, if you go to the hospital, you know what they say – that’s where the sick people are. You don’t want to have to go there.

We also have heavily weighed every single time we move the car out of the driveway – and unless it’s an absolute “must,” we don’t go anywhere. No extra trips anywhere; even a flat tire could mean contact with roadside emergency and tire store workers.

What Exercise Routines We Chose to Keep

So, we continued our three-times weekly core strength workouts, and added about two days a week of intense cardio and lifting; mowing, trimming, raking, hauling, stacking, clearing. All outdoor work.

All this yard work is really topping out my FitBit monthly averages. The device counts my steps daily and puts a report on my cell phone. I have my original Charge 2 that is damaged but working, and my newer Charge 3. Most days are nearly 20,000 steps just from the extra work around the house.

My best day was a mowing day two days ago – I logged 33,000 steps on my FitBit; 14.39 miles. Can you believe I raked up over 14 miles just by mowing, trimming shrubs, and walking dogs? Well, mostly it was the mowing.

Why Exercise Could Be A Bad Idea

• You live in a congested area and it’s not too safe due to traffic.
• Or, you live in a congested area and there are too many people breathing coughing sneezing around you.
• Truthfully, you are klutzy and better not risk a trip to the ED/ER during these stressful times.
• I can’t think of any more – can you?

Some Ideas for Indoor Exercise

Recently I read about the people who are participating in marathons – around their bed, down their hall, to the elevator and back. 6,000 repetitions. That’s wild!

1. All that exercise equipment you have – get it out. Now. And try it out. Maybe you actually do like the exercise band, or the doorway chin-up bar. Have fun mastering your exercise ball. Bring out all that weird stuff you bought with great intentions, and make up a workout routine that uses it all. Have fun! When I can’t get out, I use the Cycleops trainer to go for a virtual bike ride.
2. Pull out your best workout clothes. This is the time! Quit saving them “for good.” When is “good,” actually? Look like a pro athlete while you trot the neighborhood. I love my Vanderkitten cycling kits. They make me feel fast! Use code “DeepWH” for 15% off some cool kits for yourself!
3. Set a challenge for yourself – like a goal, or, better yet, a streak! Make a plan to do something 20 days in a row, or even 15. I know my plank streak finally took me over the top and now I can shiver and shake as long as my husband, finally!
4. Yoga, weight training with things around the house, resistance training, body weight exercises…
5. IF YOU HAVE one of those machines in the corner of your bedroom or living room – you know the one – a bicycle used for hanging clothes, or a stationary bike used for a dirty clothes gathering area; clear it off, pull it out, crank up your favorite tunes and go for a ride/run/walk/whatever! Make use of that expensive piece of equipment.

Takin’ It To The Streets

1. Family time – play ball, walk, bike (with helmet please), run, dance, morning yoga; find reasons to work a bit of movement into your day. Running, walking, and dancing need very little special equipment.
2. Outdoor peek time – every hour, run around the outside of your house. Every other hour, run to the mailbox and back. Then double it. Then triple.
3. Dance, jump rope. Walk the dog. Twice. They’ll love you eve more.
4. THE YARD. Oh, yeah. All those things you keep putting off? Make a list, a very long list, and start. Pressure wash the house. Paint all the trim. Weed all the areas that need it. Trim trees. Split and stack that firewood. Tear down something unusable. Build something usable. Re-everything; repaint, rescreen, retrim, replace. Mow. Rake. Plant. Dig.

Get Online!

1. Online access through TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube – so many exercise aficionados are providing lessons, sessions, and classes for no charge. Take advantage!
2. Virtual classes – take advantage of all those online exercise resources I mentioned.
3. TikTok – put together a family dance video. By the time you all rehearse it several times, you will have upped your step count!

What’s Too Much Exercise?

Don’t overdo it, or weaken your immune system by over-fatiguing yourself. But, do participate in some exercise to reap the benefits. Check with your doctor before starting a new high-intensity regime.

I read in USA Today that the recommended amount of exercise in a week is around 150 minutes. I also read that around 300 minutes is where benefits “top out.” That’s too bad for me – we just finished a four-day demolition of two houses, and are about to begin another of that durn houseboat that’s sunk at our dock.

I Don’t Go Anywhere Without:

• Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “KimW” for 10% off.
• Crisis Medicine Tactical Casualty Care Course knowledge so we can help ourselves. With code “DeepWH” you save 20% on the TC2 course
• MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “DeepWH15” will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
• North American Rescue CAT tourniquets. Use code “MAY25” for 20% off through midnight on 5/31/20. This is a huge savings!
• Airbnb, “Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.”
• Airbnb says, “Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure.
• Uber gives you $2 off your first three rides.
• Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
• Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
• REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
• Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
• PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
• BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: “HEWAF88”
• RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
• Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
• AD: affiliate links used.

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