Except for thinking up reasons I'm allowed to skip the gym, my schedule is almost totally empty. (Today's reason is because I have a cold. Yesterday's was the dog seemed sad.)" ~ Jen Lancaster (from her memoir - Such a Pretty Fat)
I am approximately a 30-second walk from my community gym. I also have a free membership to the gym across from my office, which is paid for by my employer. Who, by the way, encourages us to leave the office during work hours to go use that gym! His thinking is that a healthy employee will be less stressed and will miss less work...and he would be right. Regardless, I never seem to make it to either gym for a workout. Of course, I have a million reasons as to why I can't make it - I need to walk my dog, my workout clothes are dirty, my heel hurts (my only somewhat legit excuse), I forgot to throw socks in my bag, my dog is lonely, I am slammed with work, I need to go to the store, blah, blah, blah....
The thing is, I actually kind of enjoy working out once I get started. And I certainly love the feeling of accomplishment afterward. The issue is just actually getting myself to the gym. I swear, it is harder for me to put on my workout clothes and saunter the 20 yards to the gym, than it is to sweat my eyeballs out, burning 500+ calories in an hour-long Zumba class! How is it that what is supposed to be the easiest part of working out is actually the hardest for me?
I've thought long and hard about my crazy gym predicament. It seems, as with my grocery store dilemma, it basically just boils down to poor planning on my part. I need to schedule it, and be very specific in doing so. I cannot leave any room for error. If I don't declare in advance the exact hour, day, and type of exercise that I am planning for my workout, it leaves the door open for my mind to enter the equation. And my mind loves the couch...and my dog.
So I formulated a plan. I have decided I am going to run a 5k. Just typing that sentence sends chills down my spine, but I am determined to do this. It has always been on my "bucket list" to run a marathon. This could be a good start! I would love to do the Disney Marathon one day or, better yet, the New York City Marathon. I could visit my good friend that lives in New York and reward myself after my run with a shopping extravaganza! Good plan! I know it sounds like a bit of a lofty goal to shoot for, but it beats walking aimlessly for miles and miles on a treadmill with no end or reward in sight.
I don't enjoy running at all. In fact, that whole "runner's high" thing? I'm not buying it, folks. So go peddle that crazy talk to someone who is, okay? But running, or at least walking anyway, is something I know I can do. I am not the world's greatest athlete, but despite the mess I have gotten myself into physically, I am still able to move one foot in front of the other. Plus, I have a feeling that by starting out slowly and building up, that I may actually like doing it one day. What a concept! My previous attempts at running have always started off with me going all out, hard core on day one. I am thinking that may likely be the reason I have always hated running. Two words: shin splints.
I am actually excited about starting my fitness journey tomorrow. and I am proud of myself for making a plan, for once. I have already downloaded the "Couch to 5k" app for my iPhone, and have pinned the "Couch to 5k" schedule to my fitness-board on Pinterest. I am sorting through all of my workout clothes tonight, laundering them, and pairing up shirts with pants together in a drawer for quick and easy access. Day one workout? 10 minutes of walking, 2 minutes of jogging, then 10 more minutes of walking again. Sounds doable. Rock on. #noexcuses
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