I was so proud of my neighborhood this morning! When it's 83 degrees outside when you wake up, it's pretty difficult to drag your butt out of bed to get a run in. This morning the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

But if I don't get up and take care of myself, gravity will. Even though the air was not at all refreshing, watching families in my neighborhood get exercise together was. Very kool to see the parents out running with the little ones on their bikes. I thought to myself, "I might do this another week, but probably not much longer!"

When it's just too hot for me to go for a run, I do have alternatives you might enjoy trying yourself, if you don't already do them. One thing is for sure, as a writer, not exercising is NOT an option. Getting some movement in my day really helps me stay in control of neck and lower back stiffness. These things have kept me in shape for 42 years, believe it or not!
  • Creating a path through my home and walking it while the news or some 1/2 hour show is on.
  • Taking the stairs for 5 minutes at a time throughout the day.
  • Lying on my bed with my head in the corner and my shoulders just hanging off, and bench pressing weights like on a workout bench.
  • Alternating stomach exercises to keep abs confused. Do a different type every day, or every other day.
  • Treading water in my pool
I'm not the type to end up at the gym. Over the years I've accumulated all the free weights and balls you can imagine. I've taken fitness seriously since I was fifteen, and when I didn't have actual weights, I used cans from the pantry and my own body resistance.

Setting time limits for different activity will help you set goals and encourage yourself to break them. When your body doesn't want to do what it needs to, your mind can tune into a TV show or a song on the radio and keep you going longer.

Working out sets a good example for the kids. All of mine now work out quite naturally, and I don't worry about their lack of physical activity.

Do you have any strange work out routines that have kept you in shape through the years? Tell us about it!