Sugar Turned On Me

Structured exercise is a pain in the butt for me. The biggest factor is always time and the lack in my schedule thereof, or at least any that isn’t already dedicated to something else. The second is inertia, in that once I fall out of a routine, it’s hard to get back into one. Despite this being about half of what I do to keep my diabetes under control, motivation comes to me slower than a cool day comes to Death Valley.

Part of this was evidenced today when cleaning up and and rearranging the monitors on my desk were enough to raise my pulse. I felt slightly ashamed as I finished and sat back down, though now the monitor that is in front of me is my work one and the one I use for personal/non-work items I have to make some effort to look at; my theory is that it will make it easier for me to focus on work if I do this.

Which, reminded me of the words of Bruce Lee.

Follow me through this. I promise it will make sense in a minute.

Bruce Lee wrote, as part of the notes that were later collected into The Tao of Jeet Kun Do, that one should do things the hard way as often as possible to keep yourself from going soft. He followed this as part of his efforts to better his body and keep it a singular and impressive instrument. By following this advice, I think that people looking to maintain their health, diabetic or not, to more easily make up for the gaps in their exercise regimen. For instance:

• Park one block over from your destination. Walk there briskly.
• Take the stairs over the elevator whenever possible.
• Practice balance by standing on one foot instead of just standing.

Some suggestions I would (humbly) include:

•  If you’re doing nothing with your hands, grip them tightly, count to five and then let go and stretch them for a five count. Repeat.
• Carry a basket at the grocery store rather than get a cart if you’re only getting a few items.  If you think you can do it without too much difficulty, use two for larger trips.
• Use the bathroom farthest away from you (assuming it’s not an emergency). Up stairs is better.

Now, I’m not suggesting the above is in any way a replacement for real exercise. I’m also not suggesting you do anything that you don’t feel safe or of which you don’t feel physically capable. But I do encourage you (and me for that matter) to find your limits and push them, especially the ones that are just there to keep you comfortable. Push yourself now… so that later, you’ll still be able.

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