When Money is Short

I put on my thinking cap.

I walked my treadmill to death.  Yes, it got used.  I can't tell you how many miles I walked on that thing.  Then I taught my dogs how to walk on it and the kids started using it too.  The stories that old treadmill could tell if it could only talk.  10 minutes up to 2 hours of continuous use.  1 mile to almost 10 at a time.

After we moved it Idaho I finally had to admit it was worn out and past all usefulness.  Unfortunately, we haven't had the money to replace it with a decent quality machine.  When the weather was good, I walked our little community.  My face was well known on every block.  My shoes wore a path in the dirt beside the road.  Every dog and cat knew I carried yummy treats in a little bag I carried over my shoulder.

Now we live by a major highway.  No treadmill, no safe place to walk outside.

What to do?  I need to move and that little Wii board just doesn't get the job done.  It isn't high enough to get a good workout.  No more than stepping forwards and backwards over and over.  Boring, repetitive aerobics.

Dragon built me a step.  It is about 5 inches tall and is the size of the Wii board box.  I can use it with the radio just like I did the treadmill.  Stepping up and down in different combinations.  I can use the weight vest or hand weights when I find then in the many boxes still left to unpack.  It can be used with the Wii board for the fitness program to get a better workout.

I like it.

I kept my time sort this morning.  Just 5 minutes.  Stretching first and then a short work out.  No overdoing it the first day.  I could have probable gotten away with 10 minutes but I rather take it slow at first.  I'll add 5 minutes a week until I get up to 30 minutes at a time.  That is the most I have time for.

A small step made out of scrap lumber.  Cost?  A box of screws and one broken drill bit.  Not bad for a very useful piece of fitness equipment.  How much do those steps cost at the sports store?  How much does a treadmill cost?  Much more than we spent.