Walking the mall

January 2, 2010 - In keeping my goal to workout 5 to 7 days a week, and being home today and not close to the gym, I was determined to get my exercise in. I would make the sacrafice and do the only thing I could think of, " Walk the Mall." This involves all parts of the body, as there is walking, stretching, pulling, pushing and heavy breathing and that is just to get in the car. What with pulling on my Uggs ( appropriately named as as when done putting them on I heard myself sigh..Ugg, I hate winter), putting on my wool coat, wrapping my scarf around my neck and getting my gloves on I already had my heart rate at the fat burning level. All I had left to do was to try to slide gracefully behind the wheel, get adjusted, get my seat belt belted and then back out of the garage. And ofcourse once half way down the street remember I forgot something so back up (stretches your neck to see behind you) jump, well not jump, but pull myself out of the car, run back into the house to grab the 3 coupons I left on the table, just in case I happen to walk into my favorite store. Although even if the coupon is not for my favorite store I am somehow compelled to use it. After all I am saving money. Once inside the mall I gave myself a full body workout. All this was accomplished by doing that magical word, "shoppping". Shopping works all the muscle groups, tricepts and bicepts as you reach out quickly to grab the last shirt your size and pull it to your chest so the other woman who was eyeing it can't get it from you. If you are a man, it is similar to holding the football after a fumble, close to the chest with one arm out for blocking. Then it is on to upper body strength training to see how much I can hold in my arms before I sprinted (thus working my calves and hamstrings)to the very last dressing room available. Trying on clothes allows you to stretch your arms over your head to try on that new silky shirt, hold in your tummy so you can snap your jeans, hold your upper body upright so you can admire yourself in the mirror, and lastly practice your breathing while waiting in line for a clerk to ring you up, which will happen right after she nods your way and says, "I'll be with you when I finish my break". All in all I can't complain, I got a work out in, I did a little shopping, and I even came home with a few dollars in my pocket. I thought keeping my goal of exercizing daily would be hard to do, but it is not, if I can't find a gym, there is always a mall, let's just hope my dollars don't run out.