Inspiration

One of the reasons I haven't posted much is that I've finally been getting some regular exercise in the mornings. I've started slowly, by necessity: I'm a 40-something who's been pretty much completely sedentary for more than a year, and have the body to show for it.

Earlier this year, by fits and starts, I managed to get into the gym now and then. It was better than nothing, but it wasn't the consistent effort that I need to get healthy and fit. Six weeks ago, I'd had enough of that. I simply made the decision that I was going to get started working out seriously, and do it without any further delay. Since then, I've used the elliptical machine four times a week. The machine has a heart rate sensor, and with the right settings it automatically adjusts the resistance level so that I'm exercizing at the right level of intensity. It's great -- I don't have to worry about "am I ready to move from level 4 to level 5" or anything like that, I just climb on, keep a steady pace, and by the time I'm done, 45 minutes later, I'll be dripping with sweat, almost (but not quite) gasping with the effort, and feeling the warm glow that comes from a good solid workout.

When I first started out, it didn't take much work at all to give me that effect. My year or more of laziness was showing. But consistent effort over time has already shown some results, and it's been heartening to see that it now takes a good bit more resistance to get my heart rate elevated than it used to.

But all of that is prologue. While my clothes are a little looser and my energy level is a little higher, I've barely even started on the road to fitness. I thought of what I'd done up to yesterday as something like laying a foundation -- I've got a solid place to build now, but I still haven't actually built anything. And with that thought in mind, I set out across the Internets to see what I should do next.

More on that later.