The Fight to Stay Fit
December 2, 2010 at 7:32 am | Posted in Fashion, Fitness and Beauty | 19 CommentsTags: fitness, gym, health, weight
There is always an excuse, always a reason not to work out. It takes real effort and determination nowadays for me to prioritize fitness. But it wasn’t always this way.
There was a time when I worked at the local gym. I worked out five days a week: a half hour on the elliptical, then on to the weights and abs, alternating days between upper and lower body. I had things going well.
In college, there was an added bonus to working out. I could get credit towards graduation! I took water aerobics, kick boxing, and weight training classes, and then I taught weight training. I really loved working out, particularly lifting.
Just last week I joined the gym for the first time in three years. Yes, I went THREE YEARS without a proper fitness routine. When I started working full time, I found it hard to fit fitness into my schedule, and it only got worse from there. After I got my dog, he demanded a lot of attention. Being out of the house ten hours a day, I couldn’t stand being apart from him any longer, so I went home and walked my puppy.
I did try to find a fitness routine that worked from home. I bought a body bar, a yoga mat, and ankle weights, and being a self-proclaimed expert in weight training, I knew I could make use of these items. But I’m not the type of person who can just up and lift weights in my apartment. I need to be out of the house, but it also needs to be convenient for me. Plus, have you ever tried to work out with a dog near you? It doesn’t turn out so well. I did try running this spring, but then it just got too hot and a week long business trip through me off course.
I really enjoyed classes, so I tried finding some kind of class I could take without joining a gym. I was very close to signing up for a pole dancing class, but that fell through.
I reasoned that I get enough exercise. I walk the dog a mile and a half a day and go up and down the 40 stairs it takes to get into my apartment several times a day. I can still wear the same pants I wore in college. I am fine.
But here’s the truth — the real reason why many people work out. They have a fear of gaining weight. And rightfully so. You can’t have your cake, eat it, and stay thin while sitting on your ass. I got real into working out in college for fear of gaining the freshman 15 (I didn’t) and as I get older I know it will only get harder to keep my size down.
So now the dog is no longer a puppy and with the live in boyfriend, he gets plenty of attention. I can get back to me now. No more excuses.
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