Fitness and writing

Writing's going well. Part of the reason is because my arms are getting much better (yay!). I've started to use weight machines in the fitness room, something I haven't done since before the tendinitis stuff first hit several years ago. I have to set the machines on the lowest weight possible and still can only do a pitiful few reps before my muscles tire out, but it's a start. And a far cry from a couple years ago when I couldn't even cut my own food.
![]() Corel Painter doodle. Pencil outline, gouache and chalk fill. |
Anyway, the rest of me is doing okay and my daily crunches are paying off; I can even almost see my abs! Wee things, they are, but still... ;-) Did a lot of power walking over the winter, and I've also been cooking from scratch more, eating less processed food. I used to avoid cooking from scratch because I figured it took too much time but I'm finding that it's possible to find simple low-prep recipes that are still healthy. Plus I like experimenting with different fresh ingredients.
Also doing more running in the fitness room upstairs than outside right now since this area isn't the greatest for outdoor sports. Even walking is a challenge because of the clusters of smokers frantically puffing outside almost all the building entrances; it's impossible to go anywhere without inhaling second-hand smoke every block or so. Ugh. Ironically, it was more fun to go walking in the winter, even in crappy weather; the smokers stayed inside.
Anyway, I definitely do find that keeping up a regular exercise program gives me more energy. When I slack off, I inevitably get drowsier in the afternoon, feeling sluggish and lazy, uninspired.
Sent out two queries yesterday, but I'm focusing on my novel right now. Another reason writing's going so well is that I'm starting to be more aware of how much time I spent online. It's so easy to lose track of time when I "just check e-mail one more time" or browse blogs, or even when I start off by fact-checking but then get distracted by interesting-looking links. More on this topic in a future Blathering.
The following photo is another from the archives; it was taken on our Nahanni River canoe trip six years ago: Frebis and me after a gruelling hike up Sunblood Mountain. For the trip report archives, click here. Hey, I just tried typing in "nahanni canoe trip" into Google, and my trip report comes out at the top! How cool is that?

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