The Simple Way This Couch Potato Started Moving More: If I Can Do It, What’s Stopping You?
I am a recovering couch potato.
The number I see when I step on our bathroom scales disgusts me. No, I am not fat shaming; I’m simply stating a preference. When I look at the scales, I want to see double digits (i.e., less than 100kg / ~220 pounds).
That’s my initial target.
Apparently there’s a simple solution: eat less and move more.
Keeping it simple
Convincing couch potatoes to exercise isn’t easy. So allow me to narrow the scope to:
- one person (me), and
- one exercise (skipping).
Maybe this simple method might inspire you too.
Equipment
- A nice skipping rope — paying a bit more increases my changes of using it and looking after it.
- An old pair of shoes — I only went barefoot for a day before I quickly learnt that hitting my toes with a skipping rope hurts!
- A notebook and pen — to record my progress.
Set up
- Hang the skipping rope over the door knob of the bedroom door
- Place shoes, notebook and pen next to the door
Method
Before opening the door in the morning:
- Put shoes on
- Grab the skipping rope
- Jump one rotation of the rope
- Record progress
- Add one extra rotation per day
- Split the amount of rotations in half once the amount reaches 50, and do one half in the morning and the other half in the evening (i.e., 50 rotations will become 25 rotations in the morning and evening)
- Alternate step 5 between the amount in the morning and evening
- Split the amount of rotations in half once both amounts reach 50 and add a small break between them (i.e., two sets of 25 in the morning and in the evening)
- Repeat step 7 and continue to split each set in half when it reaches 50, adding a small break between them (i.e., two sets of 50 in the morning and evening will become four sets of 25 with small break both in the morning and evening, etc.)
Reflection
I’m glad this method got me moving more. It’s easy to overlook because it is so simple. Thankfully, it’s also easy to pick up again from wherever I left off when I miss a day.
Let me know if you give this method a try.