Sorry, but I'm one who has always fought and resisted exercise.
When I started on my Medi Weight Loss diet six months ago (and 61 pounds ago) one of the ingredients was to exercise every day. For three months I kept trying to fit it into my schedule, and never did. It's hot here in Florida. Can't do it in the middle of the day - takes too much time. Wanted to do it at the end of the day, but was always too exhausted to do it (yes, I know, that would cure the exhaustion).
My mornings are precious - not only is it time for myself, it's peaceful time to get so much done, from reading the paper to blogging to planning out my day. But it turns out that's the only time I can - or WILL - do it. So...
My alarm goes off at 5 am, and I get up and am in the car on my way to the gym before I'm awake enough to argue with myself. Who's going to turn around when you're on your way?
For the first month, I'd drive 15 minutes to the gym and after exercising, go back home to shower and get ready for my professional day. So, not only was I taking the exercise time out of my day, I was taking the extra commuting time.
Now I go to the gym, spend 30 minutes on the treadmill 5 days a week, and add 30 minutes of strength training three times a week. Then I shower and change there, and go up to the hotel lobby (luxury) and enjoy coffee and the newspapers, classical music, and a peaceful time. When I leave there for the office, I come out of the parking garage and the early morning sun is shining on the new highrise condo buildings, with a warm light that only occurs now in the morning, and I start my day in Paradise, grateful for life.
I think you have finally found peace with exercise ! Now you see that is the key to making your weight-loss/lifestyle program the most successful..... I am so proud of you for staying on task with your goals this year!
Sounds like you have hit a stride with making time for yourself and your work. That harmony is shining thru in your post!
Sharon,
See we do have sooo much in common! Love your attitude, thanks so much for sharing :)
Michele - yes, I have. I'm even more diligent about my exercise now than my eating or drinking. Even out of town I get up at 5 am and find the fitness center. In Albuquerque I even asked the GM of the hotel to open it at 5 am instead of 6 am to meet my schedule - and she did. I know I have to do it in the morning. I guess that's getting to know yourself.
Suzanne - thanks for inviting me to the group. Co-encouragement is great.
Rich - so did I, for years - and wound up at 260 pounds of blubber. Getting out of bed at 5 am isn't fun, but if I ignore that 5 second call to shut the alarm and turn over, the rest of the day goes fine.
Sharon,
Funny you wrote this because I wrote a post back in Nov called Have a Happy and a Healthy one.....exersise realtor style! and just put it in the Active Rain Fit club group. It is very important to get in at least 3 days a week of exersise with at least 30 min of cardio and of course a bit of weight training...even if it is very light weights. And you have to do all that and diet too if you want to lose and also reduce the stress from our job...but I bet all in all you feel better and more energized.
Sharon,
We all need it sometimes! I'm sooo glad you are here :)
Suzanne - thanks.
Therese - it's more habit than strength. The only strength required is to get out of bed when the alarm goes off. I look forward to the time after exercise when I relax in the lobby of the old Mediterranean hotel, listen to classic music and read the newspapers while I'm served coffee and fresh berries. Makes a great start for the day.
Sharon,
I often say the hardest part is getting my butt out of bed, I also enjoy my time after work out. Keep up the good work! :)
Suzanne - you're right. Once you start, you seldom turn around. I leave the house early, before I'm awake enough to talk myself out of it.
Kay - I tried for months to exercise at the end of the day, but I was always too busy or too exhausted, and never did. As much as I always have treasured my quiet productive time early in the morning, that turned out to be the only time I can consistently exercise. Try doing it first thing...