Working It Out and Working It Through

The arrival of January in a New Year presented a wonderful opportunity for me to get healthy. I was given a fabulous gift of health club membership for one month. Mind you, I am fully aware of my weaknesses, both emotionally and physically. Most of which involve some method of copping out on “follow through” and “completion”. I immediately knew how attack this weakness. I signed on for the remaining 11 months of the year. 1 year membership. 12 months of healthy fitness. 21 days to a new habit. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Come to find out…all that self cheer (you know, the rah rah sis boom bah self affirming positive statements) worked great the second week of January. For about three days. Since then, time has passed. And my aggressive approach to bettering myself fell by the wayside as days and weeks passed between visits.

Recognizing my need to work things out right now, I headed out to the gym yesterday. What a great way to take advantage of a paid day off from work…as well as bringing closure to this long running “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired” mindset I’ve been living with on a regular basis. Do some cardio, weight training, sweat it out in the steam room and relax in the Jacuzzi. Maybe even grab a swim. Ahhhh yes. This will help. This will help immensely. And it did.

Now it’s Tuesday. You know, the day after working out. Less than 24 hours later. Everything hurts. Everything hurts everywhere. All over my body. I think somehow I overworked my pinky finger – it hurts too. Is that pain radiating from my big toe? What weight machine would cause my big toe to hurt? I hate to say it but I think my hair hurts and I’m quite certain working out had something to do with it. I can barely lift my cup of coffee to take a sip much less put my coat on (that requires way too much major movement). Standing outside in the rain, drenched and shivering, seems like a more viable option as opposed to moving my arms and twisting my body just to put on my coat. Wait - shivering involves body movement. So much for that option!

But here’s the really cool thing…I’m working it out and working it through. Getting to the gym is incredibly tough…but once I’m there I feel so good. And feeling good comes with hard work! And a few uncomfortable moments. So what if my upper body strength is equivalent to a 2 year old as I grunt and groan desperately trying to complete 3 sets of 10 reps at 10 pounds (my sister is at 40 pounds on the same machine-go figure). So what if the leg press machine requires me to sit in a physical position that bears an all too familiar resemblance to giving birth. So what if I look like a lost little puppy wandering through the equipment trying to find the correct tricep press machine. Was it upstairs? Was it downstairs?

But when the weight machines are done and the cardio work completed, I feel mentally stronger. I feel physically stronger. I feel like I can handle anything life is going to throw my way...as long as I don't have to lift it, pick it up, or hold it for any period of time.

Today is a "rest" day. Or at least that's what I'm calling it. And then tomorrow - back to the gym. I can do this. I really really really can do this. My stress levels demand that I do this. And it is going to feel soooooo good when I do.