I've always been into activity. I don't really watch sports on TV, and the only sport I enjoy playing and watching is basketball (I know, it doesn't fit my profile very well)
But I've always been into activity. I was in good shape as a teenager, I've had my powerlifter-period in my twenties and then I started enjoying cardiovascular sports like jogging, swimming and biking in my early thirties (which is where I am now..at 36..)
The last couple of years I've lost about 20kg's (45pounds), and after my mother died young from heart failure, or heart arrythmia or inherited ateroschlerosis or who knows really (not the doctors) I've been working hard to not exercise TOO much. I'm the sort of person who could run a ultra marathon on willpower only. I've also been working hard not to stress to much about it, because stress is probably a worse factor than genetics.
So I've been doing yoga and stretching exercises. Every human being needs to disconnect their body from their mind during the day. If it's sex, exercise, a movie or yoga. Vikings had their Gods who they spoke with, they did shrooms, they fought, they found sports in surviving for weeks in the cold alone. People have always been doing things to distract them from their mind. Ice bathing, religion, sports, sex, drugs, alcohol, entertainment, yoga, arts, music.
I've learned that it doesn't take that much. 30 minutes yoga. An hour jog, a cold shower. But what's often the hard part with all of these things is the patience to do it. After you've put your kids to sleep, do you go and do your yoga, or is it more tempting to watch another episode of Stranger Things?
But that patience is something that is worth working on or maintaining (if you have it) It could mean more than just patience. It is also about concentration, and the ability to control your body, through and with nerve impulses, muscle control and connectivity with the brain. That ability is shown to have a strong inverse correlation with things such as stroke and Alzheimers.
Some studies have found that people who are able to balance on one foot with their eyes closed for more than 20 seconds is more than 20% less likely to have a stroke or develop Alzheimers than those who weren't able to.
The reason is thought to be correlated with the ability to focus your mind. I'm sure it has something to do with nerves and muscles also, but the thing is it can be trained.
So because I am a person who likes to torture myself, here are some exercises and tests you can do at home, anytime. I do this usually 3-4 times a week. And I must say it has done (alongside a lot of jogging) wonders to my foot strength and stamina. I rarely feel fatigued in my feet, even after standing or walking the entire day. I think I also want to credit the barefoot theory a little bit. I have switched from cushioned shoes to barefoot shoes or semi-barefoot shoes (at least as little support and cushion as possible). I used to believe I needed so much support and cushion because of my dual ACL-tear on both knees. But I've never felt as good as I do now. I run over 120km monthly and take two 7-8 mile (10-12km) trips weekly.
Anyways, here are the test!
1. The Foot Stand
Stand on one foot with your eyes open. Just stand there as long as you can. When and where does it hurt? Your calves? The buttom of your feet? How long can you do it? I can do it for almost indefinitely now.
To make it harder stand on foot with your eyes closed. You're allowed to sway your arms etc. My record? 6 minutes. I think I'm able to do it for quite a bit longer, but at this point it hurts pretty much all over the place and I want to be able to walk the next day.
To make it EVEN harder, raise one foot and touch the inside of the opposite knee with it. Arms crossed. Eyes closes. GO! My record? 2 minutes. Not because of pain, but because of balance. You should be able to do and duplicate 20 seconds.
2 The Wall Sit
Ah..the classic. This one is a test of your willpower. I push my self to the point where I am in pain for about 10 minutes after. My record 6 minutes. You should be able to do 2 minutes.
But there is of course a worse version of this - the ONE legged wall sit. Oh, you didn't realize there was one? Try it. Fortunately it doesn't have that much to do with patience or willpower..more with pain tolerance. My record 120 seconds. You should be able to do 60 seconds.
Remember to keep your arms and hands away from your knee. No cheating. Arms should rest down your sides or push back against the wall.
3 The Calf raise
One leg only. Quickly raise up and hold for 2 seconds on top. Then slowly down. I'm at 25 reps x 3 sets now on each foot. Not pause between. A normal person should be able to do 20x3.
Please post your results in the comments. I'd love to see how good or bad you're doing! ;)