I hate exercise. At one point just hearing the word sent shivers up and down my spine, but in the past couple of years I’ve become a committed exerciser. Why? Once I finally started working out regularly I found out that there actually are some benefits!
All of those articles telling me that my heart will be stronger or that exercise will lengthen my life by 20 years frankly had no effect on me because the results were not tangible. I was not convinced that exercise would do anything for me that I could see.
After the birth of my fourth child, however, I realized that I had to have some kind of outlet and walking seemed like the easiest choice. I continued that habit for several years and then walking turned into jogging and before I knew it I had run a 5K. I never thought I would be saying that!
So why am I sticking with this exercise idea?
It Makes Me Productive-Exercising first thing in the morning sets the tone for my day and helps me to accomplish more.
It Makes Me Smarter- Getting that adrenaline flowing makes my thinking sharper. I come up with some of my best ideas during my morning workout session.
It Makes Me Happy-I feel content and at peace after exercising, and those good feelings carry throughout the day.
It Makes Me Proud-I feel better about myself because I have challenged myself to do something difficult.
Granted it has taken me several years to work up to this place and I won’t be running a marathon any time soon, but I think I’ll stick with this exercise thing a while longer.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I am sooo proud of you for making the commitment to exercise. You have inspired me. I need to start and then “just do it” every day! I read about exercising and talk about how I wish I could be like those people who just love to exercise. I’m not one of them. I do enjoy walking through the woods and enjoying our local nature center trails but I am not into running yet, maybe someday I’ll get there. ;o) I’ve enjoyed reading a book called The Courage to Start by John “The Penguin” Bingham. He has a FB page and a web site. I do think he’ll inspire you too and will certainly make you smile. Keep up the good work! P.S. I enjoyed reading your Top Five Stress Busters. ;o)
Thanks Bobbi! I actually haven’t been running that much lately, just walking but I try to do it most days before the day gets started. It really helps me stay stress-free the rest of the day. Thanks for the book suggestion. I’ll take a look at it.
Awesome. I started the same way 2 yrs ago. If feels so good to do something for yourself. Keep at it. Never regretted a workout or a run, but have regretted not doing one!! Doing my 2nd half marathon later this yr.
Wow Karen–that’s great!
I am an official “lug about”. LOL…I HATE TO EXERCISE!! Yes I know all the benefits but I still hate it…well God is slowly changing my mind. I fell recently and broke my arm and I realized that I don’t want to get to be an old lady with brittle bones so I need to exercise. I am starting slow…but I have started.
Way to go Faye. Just take baby steps every day.
In my personal planner, I have section labeled personal time/other.
It is so much easier to see that I am building up to something when all I have to do is just look at each week’s section and see that yes, I was able to keep this up all week.
I take it day by day and if I miss a day, I don’t stress about it. Life goes on.
Great idea Traci–thanks!