When I was in high school, I ran mid-long distance (800 m & 1600 m) in track. Practice and a year-round weights class to prepare for the season always kept me in pretty amazing shape, and I took this for granted when I got to college. Freshman year of college I was an occasional exerciser, but I never got completely back on task...apparently it is much harder to do when you're not forced to run miles & miles and lift every day.
The summer before sophomore year, I worked in a coffee shop with very irregular hours (5:30 AM to Noon, usually) where all of my energy came from copious amounts of caffeine and the irregular baked goods that weren't pretty enough to be sold to customers. When I got home from work, I'd usually crash for a few hours and then go hang out with Lauren. If I decided to walk to her house (around 1.5 mi), that was my exercise for the day. This unhealthy cycle took a toll on my energy level and my body, and therefore my comfort in my own skin; I vowed to change when I had free access to a gym back at school.
Lo & behold, I managed to change my ways back at school. I started off slow, which was hard for me. Physical exertion is where my competitive side rears itself, and I had never really been out of shape in my life. Yeah, the beginning of track season was killer, but it would have been for anyone who wasn't training for a marathon or something. I am now on a regular exercise schedule, and I couldn't feel better about it. Sure, there are still times when I feel like I could look better and wish I was seeing more results for time spent in the gym, but these moments aren't constant the way they had been previously. Now I long for the gym if I haven't been in a couple of days; I even kept on task during finals week last semester, avoiding the typical 'I don't have time' excuse, and saw my stress levels at an incredibly manageable place. I've learned that I almost always have time for the gym; Q. What would I be doing if I didn't go? A. Laying on my bed, browsing various blogs and/or Facebook, procrastinating and feeling bad about my lack of productivity!
At least when I go to the gym I have accomplished something, and it makes me feel so good. Even when I really don't want to go, I get very into my workout upon arrival. Exercise really is addictive...thanks endorphins!
So far this break I haven't gotten around to exercising, but I feel it coming on today. It's snowed every day so far, but today the forecast is sunny & 36 degrees. I'm going to charge my iPod and head out on a several mile run, and hope my knees can withstand the pounding; it should be a welcome flashback to days of yore: running my ass off with the other distance runners, hoping against hope for a rare compliment from Mr. Dryden (my track coach who ran the Boston Marathon in his mid-fifties and could probably still beat me on a distance run). Sometimes I miss running competitively, but I mostly liked to compete against myself and, hey, I can still do that...bring on those 7 minute miles (doubtful...maybe if I was running just a mile but, hey, a girl can dream)!
PRANKSTER IS A WONDERFUL AND (MOSTLY) DUTIFUL GYM BUDDY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPLAUD HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO MY HEALTH.
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psh thanks for not mentioning your favorite gym buddy
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