Originally Posted by Razcsak

Lusitano: We did the same time of thing in our xc group, except we would go for 25 seconds, lift one arm straight out (pretend you are superman) and hold that for 15. Switch arms and hold for 15. Likewise, lift one leg just off the ground, so your toes are about an inch above. 15, then switch and another 15. All four limbs on the ground, hold for 10 more.

Then, you get to do the same thing, except you raise one arm and the opposite leg at the same time, all without adjusting your posture. Brilliant workout for abdominal muscles.

Yeah, I know, it's pretty amazing what that little time can do for you.

Drizzid: I am not of the opinion that goals must be ridgid like "get to the top of the mountain today". If you get there you're done, and if you don't you get discouraged. Now if you state it and think of it as "get to the top of the mountain someday", then you'll keep trying and working at it all the while bettering yourself. If and when you do reach the top of the mountain you will probably not slump in the couch right afterward with a feeling of objective accomplished but rather realize that the journey IS the destination, in a way, and just keep going.

In fact I think your ultimate goal should be clearly stated but somewhat undefined. What I mean is that you set yourself up to "strive for well being". That way you may not be in the mood to run 5K today but you may just walk 10K in a trail in the rain because it nurtures your soul and gives you inner strength to keep up your physical activity or, like someone else already mentioned, because that time can be used for some deep reflection that provides answers to nagging problems and that sort of thing. If you do it with your kids, friends or family it can also be a bonding experience. In the end, whether you are consciously trying to delve deeper within yourself or just go out for a stroll the result will be similar because it will take your mind off of things.

In my job I once had to go to a group retreat over a weekend in the Algonquin region. The result was that I worked for about 2 hours and since I took my wife and a couple who are our friends we ended up canoing, hiking and stuff like that. On Monday it felt like I had a week off just because while doing all that stuff my mind was focused in the moment and away from all the worries and rush of day-to-day life. Sometimes that's all it takes. There is more to health than the physical.

The ancients had it right: Mens sana in corpore sano. Keep a balance and it gets much easier.

BTW, from what you said I am one year shy of your age and I'd love to try Parkour. Why don't you set a goal of getting in shape to get arrested for jumping around your neighbor's backyards? It would be a great story for your kids to tell the grandkids and it would keep life interesting.