Getting My Life and My Body In Balance
(And Staying There. Starting Now.)

One thing this program has gotten going for me is consistent, whole-body exercise. This has been a real struggle–just getting started–for some time, a couple of years, maybe much longer. The last time I remember being really consistent about total exercise (cardio, strength, flexibility) is around 7 years ago. 

At the time, I worked very early mornings at a gym near my full-time job and got a free membership to work out, so I started working out. It’s the first time I ever used weights and really worked at it–along with regular cardio. I liked biking. In a few months I looked better and was fitter than I was at 20. The funny thing is, all I focused on was each workout. Little by little I got slimmer and my muscles got more defined until I was in better shape than I ever was. It was almost a surprise since I literally just did what I had to do–one day at a time.

During that time I remember never letting my emotions or anything else get in the way of my workout schedule (within reason, of course). I remember describing it to a friend who had gained a lot of weight and asked how I did it as, “I still bathe and brush my teeth whether I feel like it or not”. Very simply, I just did it! No excuses.

Well, that was then.  The past few years I found neither the desire nor whatever it is that made me “do it, no excuses”. Each day stretched into a week, a month, a year, 2 years…My tiredness and lack of motivation got worse and worse. What snapped me to action? A photo and all my pants feeling tight.  Way too tight.  I couldn’t hide “the roll” anymore. And the opportunity to be a part of this group, this blog, with the support and honest self examination that could make a more balanced, healthier life permanent.

I’m not surprised by the soreness. The RIGHT kind of soreness is, I’m told, those hibernating muscles being told to “wake up and grow so you can burn more calories and lift this poor woman up if she’s falling out a window hanging from her hands”! After all, you never know what adventures you might find yourself in.

I AM surprised by how quickly my endurance is improving. And how “at peace” I feel because I’m keeping a big, important promise to myself: I’M EXERCISING.

Is that cool or what!?!