Just Do It

Posted by Theresa on August 09, 2012 1 comment
It's Thursday morning and I'm getting ready for work, but before I head out the door - I'm looking for motivation to get back into exercise. It's times like this that I listen to my inner Nike voice just do it! In Greek mythology: Nike was a goddess who personified victory. I like her story, so I'll pull motivation from her as well as the sneakers named after the Greek goddess Nike.
Goddess Nike at Ephesus, Turkey.
Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory.
Source: Wikipedia
Since completing my six-week mini-triathlon (and my vacation) I stopped exercising. I walked once this week, but my body wants more exercise. Although I have to say, when Aime and I walked the parameter of the campus at lunch earlier this week, I marveled that it only took 25 minutes and neither of us were having trouble breathing going up the steep hill. In the past, this walk was a much slower pace and it would take us almost an hour. I hadn't brought my gym equipment, so I walked outside even though this meant wearing sandals instead of sneakers. It was quite hot outside, but I knew this walk was just what I needed. I feel so much more energized when I exercise and I wanted an energy boost.

So this morning, before I hop into the shower and start the fast pace of my day, I have my gym bag packed and waiting at the top of the stairs where I will trip over it if I don't pick it up. No excuses today. Plus, it's going to be 90 degrees out there today, so I need to be in the gym instead of walking outside. I know that I will reap the benefits once I get started and for the rest of the day. This isn't just about this one moment of asking myself "do I exercise today or put it off one more day?" It's about how I want to feel for the rest of my life. I love feeling good and exercise helps set the tone for how I'm feeling.

It's the same when I make food choices - it's not about the moment - it's about a lifetime of choices. Healthy choices make me feel good every time. Just like exercise, I don't regret making the healthy food choice (staying on program vs. having something "just this one time") and that choice spins off more energy for me. Staying on program is the same as staying on my exercise routine, both give me energy and I'm much happier with myself for making the positive/healthy choice later that day and in the morning.

What about you? What do you do to keep yourself motivated? What do you do to get back on track when you've strayed from your exercise routine? What do you need to do get get started again - or for the first time?

1 comment:

  1. twinglesmomma8/09/2012

    Great job for getting back out there and exercising! Getting started is always the hard part, in my opinion. Work it!

    For me, I went almost two weeks in between working out(camping and then Florida). But I knew I had to keep going. The way I stay motivated is to sign up for races. I ran my first 5K on April 28, 2012. So then I switched my exercise over to sprinting(15 minutes total instead of 30+). I have a friend who wanted me to do a half marathon. I didn't let on to her I was thinking about it, but I knew if I did it, it would keep me running.


    So! I signed up for my first half marathon. It's November 4, 2012, and I am currently on week 3 of training. I run every day but Monday and Friday, with Sunday being the long run of the week(this week will be 5 miles). Getting to 13.1 miles is my motivation. I don't want to be last, and there is a 3.5 hour time limit. I'm not going to put a limit on my time but I don't want to be last lol!

    And, I've already got another race I will do in March. My grandmother passed away on St. Patricks Day this past year. She loved her Irish background, and took me to Irish step dancing classes for 13 years. So on March 16, on the eve of the first anniversary of her passing, I will run the St. Patrick's Day road race in Holyoke in her honor.


    As long as I keep having something to run for, it will keep me running!

    Good luck hopping back up on that exercise train! And if you fall off, the great thing is you can always get back on, at any point!

    ReplyDelete

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