Heading into my last decade of work and some fitness related thoughts

I started full-time academic work as an assistant professor of philosophy at Western University in 1993. So this July 1, Saturday, marked my 30th anniversary of full-time academic employment. My contract at Western began July 1. I remember being nervous about that because my thesis defense wasn’t until July 21. What if I didn’t pass?… Continue reading Heading into my last decade of work and some fitness related thoughts

Reading about riding around the world

Two years ago I finished and reviewed This Road I Ride: My Incredible Journey from Novice to Fastest Woman to Cycle the Globe by Juliana Buhring. This year I read Coffee First, Then the World: One Woman’s Record Breaking Pedal Around the Planet by Jenny Graham. I was reading it at the same time as… Continue reading Reading about riding around the world

To listen, read, watch on a weekend #ListenReadWatch

Listen Hear Her Sports Sarah Douglas Canadian Olympic Sailor…Ep151 “Born in Burlington, Ontario, Sarah started sailing at the age of seven on the island of Barbados. Starting in the Optimist, she competed in North American and World Championships before the age of 15. After outgrowing the boat, Sarah returned to Canada and transitioned into the… Continue reading To listen, read, watch on a weekend #ListenReadWatch

Birding and Biking?

We sort of knew birding was having a feminist moment when Teen Vogue took up the cause. And then there’s the story of Christian Cooper. NPR writes, “Cooper was birdwatching in Central Park in 2020 when a white woman falsely accused him of threatening her. His book chronicles life as a Black birder, gay activist… Continue reading Birding and Biking?

Top Ten June 2023 Posts, #ICYMI

We all loved Catherine’s post: Meet our newest sports hero: Jolien Boumkwo, Belgian shot-putter and substitute hurdler. And it was the most read post in June Cate’s still menstruating post was the second most read post in June. We’re not shocked. In 2019 Catherine wrote about yoga poses she can’t do and what she does instead. Yoga poses was… Continue reading Top Ten June 2023 Posts, #ICYMI

Last x before surgery…

Okay, I’ve set up work auto-reply for medical leave. Thank you for your message. I am on medical leave, recovering from knee replacement surgery. All going well, I expect to back in the office Monday, May 24th. Professor … and Professor …. will be taking turns as Acting Dean of the College of Arts while… Continue reading Last x before surgery…

April Challenges I’m Not Doing But Maybe You Would Enjoy Them

It’s April. Spring! And it’s also the month of fitness challenges it seems. There’s the 30 Day Cycling Challenge. We blogged about it here. I won’t make it for all 30 days. I’ve got knee surgery on the 11th. But so far I’ve managed 3/3. Day 1 was an outdoor ride with Sarah. Day 2… Continue reading April Challenges I’m Not Doing But Maybe You Would Enjoy Them

One week countdown to second knee replacement surgery: 10 things Sam is doing to get ready

Sleep Obviously it’s good to arrive at the hospital the day of surgery well rested. I’ll try to get a good night’s sleep the night before but more importantly I’ll try to get lots of regular sleep the week before. I’m doing pretty well these days. No 4 hour nights, followed by 10 hour nights.… Continue reading One week countdown to second knee replacement surgery: 10 things Sam is doing to get ready

To listen, read, and watch this week, the first week of April 2023

Listen There’s a new fit and feminist podcast in town! #34 The benefits of journaling and getting started The Fit and Feminist Podcast Read Our books club is starting soon! Do you have your copy? “The co-host of Maintenance Phase and creator of Your Fat Friend equips you with the facts to debunk common anti-fat… Continue reading To listen, read, and watch this week, the first week of April 2023

Sam survives the darkest winter in 80 years

It didn’t just feel like a really dark and gloomy winter. It was a very dark and gloomy winter. CTV news recently reported: “If you found yourself pining for some sunshine in Ontario in recent months, it’s likely because the province just lived through one of the darkest winter seasons in nearly a century. According… Continue reading Sam survives the darkest winter in 80 years

Get out of your fitness rut and try a new thing this spring

Occasionally we share something on our Facebook page that gets lots of people excited. The tweet above certainly did. More than 500 people liked it. So many comments! In many ways it’s one of the key ideas of the blog and of the book that Tracy and I wrote. In the book I describe myself… Continue reading Get out of your fitness rut and try a new thing this spring

The world is changing its perception of larger active bodies but not Garmin

So it turns out, according to Garmin, that my fitness age is 74. My fitness is poor and I’m in the bottom 5 percent for my age bracket. Colour me shocked. I thought it was because of inactivity due to knee replacement surgery. Garmin doesn’t track my weightlifting or my physio so all it knows… Continue reading The world is changing its perception of larger active bodies but not Garmin

Please let Sam have some good (even passable) bike riding weather before surgery!

On the one hand, there’s this: The Beautiful and Terrifying Arrival of Early Spring. On the other hand, there’s my second knee replacement surgery April 11th. So I’m wishing for early spring so I can ride before surgery at the same time I’m worried about what that means for the pace of global warming and… Continue reading Please let Sam have some good (even passable) bike riding weather before surgery!

One month fitness countdown to my next knee replacement. Yikes!

Today is Monday, March 6th. Last Monday, February 27th, I spent the morning at the hospital, London’s University Hospital, getting my left knee checked out by the surgical team. It’s been 6 months since total knee replacement surgery. While there we discussed the timeline for the next surgery, total knee replacement of my right knee.… Continue reading One month fitness countdown to my next knee replacement. Yikes!

Thoughts on quitting

Some of our past blog posts on quitting: Christine H is an early quitter and she’s cool with that Thinking about quitting: Life lessons from Kenny Rogers and Aristotle Happy Quitters’ Day! Do you have any thoughts about quitting?

To listen, read, and watch this weekend, #ListenReadWatch

To Listen Equal, a Spotify playlist in honour of International Women’s Day Read Here at the blog we’re reading and reviewing “You Just Need to Lose Weight” and 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon. Pick up a copy and join in. We’d love to know what you think. Some purchasing options are… Continue reading To listen, read, and watch this weekend, #ListenReadWatch

It’s snowing again!

Here’s Martha from a few months ago with advice we likely need again, at least those of us in North America, whether you’re in California or Ontario! How to shovel safely and fitly

Top Ten February 2023 Posts, #ICYMI

2. I’m 53 and a half and I’m still menstruating: is this a good thing? (Cate) 3. Yoga poses I simply can’t do, and what I do instead (Catherine) 4. Keeping Fit While Healing from Hysterectomy (Guest Post) (Marjorie) 5. I walk 20K steps a day… and I’m getting rid of my Fitbit (Guest Post)… Continue reading Top Ten February 2023 Posts, #ICYMI

A six month journey recovering from total knee replacement

I thought it would help me, and maybe help others going through this, or contemplating going through knee replacement surgery, to see what the six month journey after knee replacement surgery looks like. For me, it’s to remind me–as much as anything–how far I’ve come, but also to think about what’s next as I gear… Continue reading A six month journey recovering from total knee replacement

Watch, listen, and read suggestions for a Sunday

Watch “…the original, debut documentary by Caroline Treadway. LIGHT reveals the hidden world of eating disorders in professional rock climbing as the filmmaker follows two best friends on their harrowing journey in a courageous narrative that breaks the silence about the sport’s darkest secret. Angie Payne, Emily Harrington, Andrea Szekely and Kai Lightner share their… Continue reading Watch, listen, and read suggestions for a Sunday