Lena’s Journey

In the famous words of Nike, “Just Do It” has been my motto this past week.  Regardless of how I’m feeling.  I had PMS again this past week, yet I managed to get on the treadmill every single day.  To me, that’s an accomplishment.  A slow transformation is taking place in my mind and soul.  It’s very slow… but I’m finding that slow and steady wins the race.  I didn’t walk yesterday, but as soon as I finish this blog, I will be hitting the trusty treadmill this morning.  It’s Sunday.  It’s a new day!  It’s beautiful!  Friends, buddies, countrymen, I can’t tell you all how much better I feel after just a week of steady exercise.  My buddy-twin Linda says in two weeks, I’ll feel amazing.  I can’t wait! 

Getting up at 4:00am really hasn’t been bad, and I found as I went through this past week, each day got a little easier to get up that early.  By the time I get to work, I feel pumped and ready to conquer the job.  My attitude and feelings have been better at work (not that they were bad before - I’m just feeling an overall sense of peace).  Even though I had some rough roads at work this past week - even cussed around my boss - which is something I’ve never done in my life before.  (I apologized to her later and she said “Girl please! I’m just as frustrated as you are, but we’ll work it out.  I support you, remember?”).  I have the best boss in the world - she tells me almost daily that she wishes she had 15 Lena’s.  <strut> 

So back to getting up at 4:00am and exercising.  I’ve been tossing around in my mind this past week why is it that exercise can help/change so many things about us?  Our outlook, our feelings, our depression, our bodies… and since it does all that, why don’t more people do it?  What baffles me even more is why have I let myself lapse these past years and try to survive without it?  The first answer that popped into my head was laziness.  But then, I’m far from a lazy person - I’m always doing something.  Then I thought about other reasons - like people don’t want to exercise alone, gym memberships aren’t affordable, exercise equipment isn’t affordable.  The list of potential reasons could go on and on.  But what it boils down to is a very very very basic fact.  Exercise isn’t a priority.  For me or most other people.  So…… after thinking that through, I’m making exercise a priority for me.  Just like I have to brush my teeth every day, go to work every day, take a shower every day, feed my dogs every day… I simply MUST exercise every day.  I realize that this won’t be possible every single day for the rest of my life because of whatever circumstances… but I think as long as I keep it as a daily priority, I will hit every day 99% of the time.  My goal is to get in a good workout M-F, rest on Saturday and then depending on what’s planned for Sunday, another good workout.  I believe we do have to allow ourselves a day or two of rest just so our bodies can catch up.

I’ve always been one who wants weight loss to be an immediate and fast process.  Like lose 10lbs every day.  I know that’s impossible, but in the past I’ve set my goals at the “way too lofty” level.  Back when I first joined Buddy Slim, my buddy Tina pegged me to a tee.  She said my mentality was one of “all or nothing”.  She’d been there too.  And she was totally right!  Because I wasn’t meeting my own silly, perfect, anal expectations, I would give up.  This is something that has been REALLY hard for me to accept about myself.  Not only has it opened my eyes with weight loss, but it’s also shown me that this is probably why past personal relationships have failed.  I can remember myself telling past boyfriends “It’s black or white.  There IS no gray!!!”  Boy was I wrong.  With anything in life, there is gray.  And within that, there are varying degrees of gray.  So, friends, I am doing my best to get out of the “all or nothing” thinking.   It’s amazing to me how our friends can hit on something that has been a major issue all our lives, but we never thought of it before.  (Love you Tina!)

So…………….. again I say, slow and steady wins the race.  I have this printed out and hung in my office at work as well as a few places around the house.  It’s also, slowly, changing the way I see life in general. 

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post… Linda, Nikki, Tina,  Wonder Woman (I agree with what you said about the super obese).  You guys are simply amazing to me.  As I sit here and think of everything you all have done for me, talked to me about, emailed me, supported me and accepted me, tears come to my eyes.  I wouldn’t trade you guys for anything.

 Off to the treadmill I go!

p.s. I’m down 2 more lbs!!!!  <happy happy joy joy!!>