It wasn’t until recently that I’ve made the commitment to working out at least three times a week, come what may. In the short three months I’ve found I have learned so much about exercise and about myself that I hope to make it a lifelong priority.
Lesson One: Exercise is an antidepressant like no other.
When antidepressants had me seeing creepy black figures floating past the doorway I quickly poured them in the trash and decided to get my mind right with my only hope: God and exercise. Having heard that exercise helps I figured “What do I have to lose?!”
Lesson Two: It’s all or nothing.
I couldn’t expect any great change, mentally or physically, by going to they gym once a week. There’s not much in my life I can do once a week and think it’s going to pay off, so I had to up the ante – three days a week is a must. When I don’t get in three days I can really tell – my body aches and I can tell my brain starts to short-circuit. If I want to steer clear of the “crazies” and the soreness tight muscles bring about, it’s three times a week.
Lesson Three: Exercise is not the cure all when it comes to the number on the scale.
This one hurts my heart. I thought if I exercised the number on the scale would shrink…not so much! Between having gained muscle and not changing my eating habits all that much I’m at a stand-still. Muscle weighs more than fat. Big whoop. I want to weigh less than the pre-exercising Natalie and that just doesn’t seem to be the case! Not fair, if you ask me. I have lost inches and find my stamina is much greater, but I have yet to discover the magic of weight-loss. Some days this is okay, others I could just say “To heck with that gym” and quit altogether.
Lesson Four: I am much stronger than I know.
When I work out with Babe I push myself harder. I pay for it later, but I know that when I work out with him it’ll have been a job well-done. This guy does very little halfway and takes his workout quite seriously. When he tells me to do certain things using free weights I think to myself (and sometimes even say out loud) “But I’m a GIRL!” He’s hearing none of it. Challenging myself has never been my strong point, but in the gym I try to increase the resistance on the elliptical, climb that hill on the treadmill, lift an additional 5 pounds. After getting through 3 sets of 10 reps I am proud of myself. I’m definitely much stronger than I thought!
Lesson Five: Persistence is the key.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and my body didn’t get this way in such a time frame either. On my less critical days I realize this. There are days when I think, “Why do I bother?” But I get my buns back to that gym ready to do what I can – some days I feel like it was a pitiful effort, but most days I find that if I just stay at it I will continue to get stronger, both physically and mentally.
I’ve learned a lot from working out consistently. If I never lose an ounce I will have gained stamina and strength like you wouldn’t believe. If I never lose a single pound I know that I am able to huff and puff my way through a workout that will pay off huge dividends in the end.
1 comment:
You're my role model. I wish that I had the perseverance that you show me EVERY week. I'm just not there yet. I could probably walk 5 times a week, without snow, and with an unemployed husband. Give me a little resistance and I'm DONE. Someday I hope to be like you. :) And, yes, SO not fair that working out doesn't show on the scale. That's why I usually avoid the scale.:) Merry Christmas,dear!
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