My Exercise Lineage

I come from a long line of naysayer exercise anti-enthusiasts. I have heard it all from my elders: Tennis - - "It's a phase. It'll pass. Don't quit your day job." Swimming - - "You'll burn to a crisp." The gym - - "You'll waste gas getting over there." And now, cycling - - "You'll break something, like a bone. Isn't that expensive? I'd hate to know I had to wag a bike around with me everywhere I go. Say, that bike rack looks like a wheelchair lift stuck on the back of your car."

It's accurate; I have tried several forms of fitness. The big BUT of it is: Cycling is the first time exercise doesn't feel like monotonous, brainless, sweat-generating exercise. Cycling has this restorative power over me.

It seems my family has generation old recipes for things like Mile High Peanut Butter Cookies and Can't Leave 'Em Alone Bars, yet no recipes for fitness. Unfortunately, this family needs it. I love them, but they need it, and their gut says they need it.

For weeks I've tread through doubting familial looks which announcing "I want to do long distance fitness team rides," will get you in a herd of expanding girths. No one really cheers or comments as if I'd turned out a good cheesecake this time.

But that's okay. I'm trying to keep the doubling chin up: I want something different for my grandchildren. I want a "Wow, my cougar-grandma can sure spin a wheel." Instead of, "Did you use real mayo in that dish?"

My schedule now includes a moderate bike training routine. Everyday, except one, in the saddle I'm working at 70 percent of my maximum heart rate. I'm throwing in a little weight training and yoga just to spice it up a bit. And here's a research tip for recovery time after exercise - - milk.

Just to feed the info appetite - - Researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine found a glass of low-fat chocolate milk was more effective in muscle recovery after intense workouts as expensive high carbohydrate energy drinks. A shot of plain skim milk has my vote.

As for my family, while they sit at the post-feast table at our next get together, too full to lift a finger for dessert until something settles, I'll be out hitting the log trails straddling a bike, trying not 'to break something.'