A Contract

So I just finished mowing the lawn. Nothing lets me think like a good bit of exercise. Now I'm all warmed up for the real exercise... the initial test of the 100 Push-Up Challenge. This is always the embarrassing part. I haven't done the test yet, of course, so I'm thinking I'll just make an addendum to this blog later today. I haven't even done any of my other goals yet, so I'll have to update those too. I just came up with this idea while mowing the lawn, so I of course had to act.

Exercise has been something I've done on and off for most of my adolescent life, and I always feel really, really good when I'm in the habit of doing it. It's something that you basically have to re-commit yourself to all the time, something you have to reinvigorate frequently, and most of all, something that you have to do anything it takes to keep up. It's really not easy for most of us to keep the habit up because we get tired, but like everything else, there will be ups and downs.

So, for now, I've decided to write myself a contract--a living document to be updated and changed as I see necessary.

CONTRACT BETWEEN STEPHEN JOHNSON AND HIS BODY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND RELATED BENEFITS THEREIN

On this day, June the Twenty-First of the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Ten, I, Stephen Johnson, do hereby agree to the following:

1. Aerobic exercise
a. Henceforth defined as "physical exercise that intends to improve the oxygen system" (courtesy of wikipedia.org)
b. To be executed a majority of days a week, preferably 5-6 days a week, for at least 20 minutes.
c. In order to accommodate the incredible temperatures of your locality, aerobic exercise should most likely occur early in the morning, as close to dawn as possible (around 6:30 AM) for best likelihood of success. Thus, it will require a commitment to going to sleep at an early hour. As this is not yet a habit, begin with committing to waking up at 8:00 AM and set the alarm for five minutes earlier every subsequent morning.

2. Anaerobic exercise

a. Henceforth defined as "exercise intense enough to trigger anaerobic metabolism." (courtesy of wikipedia.org)

b. The frequency of execution shall be divided into two categories:

(1) Upper Body/Lower Body Strength: to be executed on alternating days, 2-3 days a week each

(2) Abdominal Strength: to be executed daily, a majority of days a week

c. For the purpose of minimizing personal hygiene needs such as showering and laundry, this shall be executed within 1 hour of aerobic exercise.

3. Flexibility training

a. Henceforth defined as exercise intended to "improve the range of motion in muscles and joints" (courtesy of wikipedia.org)

b. To be executed before and after any exercise session, especially focusing on the muscles which will be or have been exercised.

4. Other requirements

a. Extenuating circumstances

(1) I hereby agree that I will accept few excuses not to exercise and will make it my priority to vacate promptly my nocturnal furniture in the morning in order to do so.

(2) Excuses shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis, but should not include lack of desire or of motivation.

(3) I will make it my firm purpose to accomplish that which I can within my surroundings should I be somewhere other than my residence, including, but not limited to, hotels, conventions, or friends' residences.

b. Recording

(1) Blog

(i) Since recording results in blog form will be lengthy and frequently redundant, a shorthand will be used to record results: Aerobic exercise will be marked with an "A," abdominal with a "B," Upper body with a "U," and Lower body with an "L."

(ii) Examination results from programs such as the 100 push-up challenge which involve occasional tests to show progress will be recorded in a postscript format.

(2) A personal, handwritten notebook will be kept for the sole purpose of recording daily progress

(3) The 30-day calendar will be kept using the shorthand of the blog for the initial 30 days of the program.

c. Addenda and adjustments will be made as either contract holder sees fit. Health, personal abilities, and desires will all be taken into account therein.

With my signature, I do hereby swear my commitment to the execution of this contract and will, to the best of my abilities, follow all requirements therein.

Stephen Johnson, 6/21/2010

Stephen Johnson's body, 6/21/2010

Sleep: O (gosh darn tinychat. I broke my 11:00 promise because of peer pressure. Not gonna happen again.)

German: X

Clarinet: X

Exercise: If mowing the lawn counts as A, ABU

Blogging: X

**UPDATE**

Push-ups completed: 17. I surprised myself with this one, especially because I'm a real stickler for doing them right. This puts me in category 3 of the push-up challenge. Yesss!