Friend of Julie: Get Outside! Or NOT!

Earlier this year, I went to a refresher. Someone asked Julie to "tell her" to exercise. Julie's reply? Julie spoke to us about "getting off the hamster wheel." She said "I can't make you exercise. YOU are unlike any other animal on the earth. YOU don't need to wait for someone to open the door and 'let you out.' YOU can go outside and WALK any time YOU want. So, that is what you should do. You should get up off of your couch, and go WALK OUTSIDE."

Get off the hamster wheel. Video by Theresa.

So, in the spring, when it was beautiful out, I got my music, my sneakers and my water, and out the door I went. I enjoy my neighborhood. It is beautiful, has hills and for the most part is very peaceful.

Until a neighbor's dog scared the heebie-jeebies out of me.....

Over the past years, while out walking, I have been bitten twice by dogs. Not in the neighborhood I live now, but still - something like that just doesn't leave you after it happens....And boy did this last encounter push me right back inside, back to sitting on my couch. I mean, Julie said get OUTSIDE and WALK!

Even with my little can of pepper spray, I was rattled by that dog. The dog came running into the road, barking his head off. I yelled all sorts of obscenities at the dog and then the owner came out. I continue on, my adrenaline just a flowing. After this incident, I didn't want to go outside anymore. With this kind of assault, it wasn't as much fun anymore!

I have had a treadmill for years and I've used it on and off. After the dog incident, the treadmill remained dormant. I used that dog and Julie telling me to get outside to walk as my excuse to get my butt sitting back on the couch! Oh, really? Those ribbons that I use to measure myself show I've gained weight? Really? Surprised?

No. Epiphany.

I may have been able to lose my weight without exercising, but that doesn't mean I get to KEEP it off just by being in the river.....my lazy paddling around may not be enough for me to maintain!

HELLLLOOOOOOO!

My little corner in Man's Land

I came to this conclusion: I think Julie would be just fine with me using my treadmill, especially living in New England where the weather has been not so great, and while I work on getting rid of my "dog nerves" yet again......

My second conclusion? I LOVE my treadmill! Yes, I can go out and walk, but why not still do what I love? I love having the television on, my music on, my fans on....I absolutely LOVE being on it! It has all sorts of inclines and speeds - I mix it up all the time. I have even been known to run on it! And I still have the CHOICE to get on it!

I owe it to myself to where I have come on this journey, to get on my treadmill, and to allow myself to enjoy it. I owe it to myself to do what I appreciate and what I like to do. Julie would never want me to do nothing! And if walking outside is not my favorite thing, then why not DO what I like?

I hope you all find what you truly love to do-yoga, swimming, walking, whatever, and that you follow what Julie says: GET MOVING!