I've put on a few kgs over the past few months, most likely because my preferred form of exercise, swimming, is currently a bit too dangerous for my liking. There are a lot of older people who frequent the pool and I'd hate to put their lives or my own at risk. So, I've had to pick up other ways to get my exercise in, other ways that are not as effective at burning fat and building muscle as swimming. As a result, I'm getting fat. What I feel I really need to do is, besides focusing on eating healthily, making some sort of routine for exercise. It used to be that I would go to the pool at least twice a week, and that was enough, but other forms of exercise require a bit more effort from me since I'm not used to them.

So, I've started trying to run at least twice a week, and to use the rowing machine, at least 5k each time, also at least twice a week. That coupled with a mountain each week and I should have myself covered, right? Thankfully the past few weeks have been relatively mild in terms of weather, meaning I could get out and go for a run or climb a mountain, but what to do once the snow starts to fall? I guess I may just have to rely on the rowing machine, and be grateful that I have one.

I find that if you want to make an effective change, such as building an exercise habit, you have to make it a part of your daily or weekly routine. There's simply no other way. You have to dedicate some time each week to the task and make sure you do it, even if, or especially if, you don't feel like doing it. If you're not really feeling it, allow yourself to do it at a half-assed level, or at a very slow pace, but just make sure you get the exercise in. It may not feel good in the moment, but it will help you feel good later when you do feel motivated.

That for me has been something that I've learned over the years, and it's something I always try to do when I'm trying to build up a new habit. I feel very jealous of people who are able to do their exercise of choice at the moment, but I guess things could be much worse.