Everyday Systems

Hey, everyone -

First time posting. My husband is Freakwitch, for those who may know him.

I have a question. I just started doing this shugging thang a couple of months ago. The big appeal was that I didn't have to GO anywhere to do it. That and the No-S thing really work for me. Besides doing those two components, I do yoga and bike or walk to work almost everyday. Plus, I walk a lot with my daughter and dog.

But this morning I was biking to work and had a thought: Oh, crap. What am I going to do in the WINTER for the Urban Ranger component?! Winter in Maine may be gorgeous for looking, but it isn't always conducive to walking. How does everyone else handle that bit? Sure, I could put on 66 layers of clothes, but you've really got to understand -5 with a -30 degree windchill to see where I'm coming from. A friend of mine does walking in place right in her home for x amount of minutes. Is that the answer?

Thanks for letting me go on a bit.... Lisa Marie

Two solutions for Minnesota winters, which are similar to Maine winters: treadmill and Leslie Sansone in-home walking dvd's. This is easier than wearing everything you own, trudging through snow, and slipping on the ice.

Welcome Lisa Marie!

Welcome, Lisa Marie! We are all knowers and admirers of Freakwitch here.

I wish I had something more useful to offer you than "I feel your pain..." When I was an undergrad in Madison Wisconsin, those long siberian winters found me a very reluctant (and unconscious, since I hadn't though of it yet) urban ranger. Only thing that helped was not having a choice in the matter...

Besides what Jan mentioned, you might want to thing about useful exertions that don't require you to go outside. Throw away the vacuum cleaner and the "roomba" and pick up the broom and mop (and get your husband to help, of course). Horrifying? I can't say I do it regularly, but it's honestly not that bad when I do... clears the mind, and does wonders for the abs. Anyway, just wanted to give you something to get the gears spinning.

Well, I know it requires a bit of equipment ... but isn't cross-country skiing like, one of the most fabulous full-body workouts known to humankind? I guess Portland would be a relatively easy place to access x-country trails?

The one weekend that I spent doing this in the Adirondacks, I hardly needed 66 layers of clothing because I got so warm. Heck, I could hardly bear the parka on top of my sweater.

Ooh... September isn't here and we are all worried about the Winter already! Yuck!.... LOL.... (well I am...)
Can you go to some indoor place like a big mall or Home depot???
I know that sounds monotonous.. but it is still walking...
I used to deliver food for a restaurant, for about 2 years... That was the best shape I was in probably for my whole life (minus when I was five! "snort"...)
I was always taking the stairs instead of the elevators and I walked from the car to the office buildings.. It added up... I had great strong legs then!
Do you have any stairs in the house?... Try to do 5 flights of stairs in the morning, to start off your day...
Good luck Lisa Marie!!!
We all are fans of your hubby and you have a darling looking daughter!!!
You seem cute already!!!
Peace and Love,
Deb

You know, shovelling show is great exercise. Also I envy you northerners in one regard... I used to live in New Hampshire and later Vermont, and come January/February it was never difficult to find a nice frozen pond or lake to ice skate on. Never did work it out such that I could ice skate to work though...

I did also see one person cross-country skiing on on some snow-covered neighborhood streets once, so ClickBeetle might be on to something with that suggestion. Golf courses are great for that, too.

Deb, I AM gorgeous! Where do you think that kid got her looks?!

Reinhard, et al... I'm all over the whole bustin'-yer-butt-while-cleaning thing. (I am SO not a couch-potato. Freakwitch is often telling me I should slow down and take a break!) I guess what it really comes down to is bucking up. I mean, people in 1805 certainly didn't have the advantage of LLBean's Primaloft! Maybe I do need to engage in something like a winter sport. Hmm... Definitely something to think about.

I just really don't think I'm the kind of person to drive to mall to walk around in it - although I do know people who do this. But, yes, we do have stairs, so that's something to definitely keep in mind. Good suggestion.

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback! I'll let you know if I come up with any other ingenious ideas!

Lisa Marie

Hey Lisa! I was referring to your personality, though I don't doubt your gorgeou-sity...
Yeah, driving somewhere to walk around a mall doesn't really appeal to me either, but I know lots of people do this to ride out the winter...
Personally, I'd hate passing the pretzle stands or countless starbuckian places to "opportunistically" mess up my NOS....

Feel like posting a pic of you pretty lady?
How about you and FW together with your twin Shovelgloves!!! LOL....
Peace,
Deb

Hey, Deb - I'll do that! I'll get Mo to take a picture of us shugging and will post it soon!

LM

Mo? I assume that's your cutie girl.....
My son Richard's middle name is Moses...
I used to think the name "Mose" would be cool.....

You know like the Blues/Jazz pianist singer from the sixties,
Mose Allison....

Looking forward to this.. No grim faces this time though!
It's antethical to SG to look Grim!
Have fun
Peace and Love,
Deb

I've actually been thinking about this some lately as well. For me, it's only a problem when it's snowing, I don't mind the cold as much as just not being able to walk. Snowshoes? Not really my style...

I'll probably just continue to do what I have been doing, which is: on days when I get a walk or another form of leg-exertion in, I'll do so. On days when I don't, I'll stick to my squats. Those rock my world, and can be done indoors no problem.

BTW, Deb, you do realize that by asking for non-grim in the photo, you're gonna get the silliest faces you've ever seen? My beautiful goddess of a wife and I are quite capable of the most ridiculous faces on "film" that you'll ever see.....

Awesome!!!!!!!!!
I love silly pics!
Happiness rules!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are great!
Love,
Deb

Lisa Marie:

I am just a Californian and I have never lived in the snow. Having said that, if I did live in the snow I would try cross country skiing. It looks like it is supposed to be a lot of fun. I don't think it is something you'd do every day but certainly a couple of times a week.

Just a suggestion.

Dru

P.S. Yes, we do all adore your husband here. Unfortunately my husband is still not with the No S groove. He thinks it is a passing phase. I am going to prove him wrong.

I've never actually tried cc-skiing. You'd think I would, since I used to really love the elliptical machine in the gym, and the motions seem similar.

I do want to try it sometime. Part of the problem is the expense; I'd certainly have to find somewhere to rent the gear to try it out.

Hmmm, maybe this winter sometime....

Re: the expense of activities... This is one of the top 3 reasons that I chose to do the shugging thang - because the only expense was the sledgehammer! Winter sports are crazy-ass (highly technical term) expensive.

Hey, Freakwitch, maybe you and I could strap cardboard boxes to the bottom of our shoes like snowshoes? What do you think, hun?

Lisa Marie