Welcome Cary (I'm guessing that is your name?). Great start. I find that posting here helps to keep me accountable to myself. It also helps me to see what others are doing.

September 6: 60 minutes Zumba... barely broke a sweat today for some reason... trying to decide why. One of my hips was bothering me but I was still dancing hard.

With my Tough Mudder event right around the corner, I've got to decide if I need to do anything different with my training. I had signed up for a Zumba event tomorrow evening but I'm not sure that dancing is the best training at this point. I did lift heavily yesterday and I'm sore so I don't want to overdue it. On Sunday, we are (my boot camp) doing a practice tough mudder. I'm scared!

Totals:
6 days
545 minutes

Exercise is great! This past summer I exercised more than ever and I am convinced it helped a lot with my weight loss. Plus drastic reductions in grains of all kinds. You go!

Exercise hasn't ever helped me **lose** more weight, but it does help me **maintain** many things. Among them is my weight, but it also helps me maintain my sanity and equilibrium during times of extreme stress. I have had at least two occasions in my life when I learned the truth of this.

Why, I'm not sure. I don't know if it's focusing on something purely physical, just when my mind is exploding with anxiety and my mental state is not good. Or the time it allows me for contemplation. Or that it enables me to burn off adrenalin. Or gives me a rush of endorphins. Or maybe it's the calming effect of adhering to a routine and, when my session is done, checking one thing off the day's to-do list. When my life is out of control and feels unstructured, I take comfort in structure, and workouts are very structured. I suspect it's a combination of all of those things. Which is why I recommend it to anyone facing a hard time in their lives.

No, the regular exercise doesn't, by itself, solve everything. We still have to work on that ourselves, but we know that, deep down, don't we?

And the thing is, it doesn't have to be a really punishing workout. I know my example & my daily hours logged in this thread suggest otherwise, but never mind my compulsions for a moment.

Friday, Sept. 7th:

20 minutes Stairmaster step mill, aerobic intervals, resistance upped to nine.
60 minutes back & biceps routine
40 minutes arc trainer, resistance at 10, hill intervals

Running late at the gym today, but determined to get through the whole routine on this fairly calm day working from home.

Next week the managers return from their offsite and the atmosphere is bound to change.

Friday, 9/7:

55 minute walk
30 min stationary bike, level 6, 12+ mph

Yes, Saef, you covered the list of why I need the extra exercise right now.

September 7: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga

Totals:
7 days
635 minutes

Saturday, Sept. 8th:

60 minute spin class with weight intervals, in great pain due to my new cycling shoes, which I thought were the right size. My right big toe felt like it was being amputated without anesthesia.
60 minute Pilates mat class, really full today, our mats almost touching, maybe because of the hard rain outside.

Sat, 9/8

Just the 55 minute walk today, same planned for tomorrow.

Ow! returning the shoes?

September 8: 65 minutes spin class in the morning
95 minutes bikram yoga in the afternoon
Hoping to see a drop on the scale. Saw a small one today and hope it isn't temporary.

Totals:
8 days
795 minutes

Sunday, Sept. 9th:

15 minutes Stairmaster stepmill, aerobic intervals, resistance at nine
60 minutes shoulders, biceps and triceps workout
45 minute spin class, plain old spin, no weights, thank goodness, with an instructor whom I like but who teaches on nights when I do other stuff. I am so glad to see her but always want to reassure her it's not personal, it's just my schedule that keeps me from her classes.

September 9: "mock" tough mudder today. I am wiped out. Amazed that I am so tired. I hope to get off the couch later. I'm not even sure yet what is hurt. But I survived-- almost 9 miles up and down hills-- crawling-- burpees-- you name it.

2.5 hours today

Totals:
9 days
945 minutes

Sunday, 9/9

Change in plans today due to gorgeous weather. Managed to make time for a trip to the river for a 2 hour hike.

Saturday- 60 min of myofascial release massage. Those who've gone through it know why I'm calling it exercise.

Sunday- despite feeling like I was in a car wreck from Saturday's adventure, I spent 30 minutes digging thistles. The average taproot was over 12".