Pushing Thirtyy

The Fight to Stay Fit

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.