Betty and B* just posted about working out even though they did not want to. I completely understand how they feel.
Yesterday was one of those days when the thought of working out was the last thing I wanted to do. I had a long day at work, my students are driving me crazy with their stupid questions, the divorce case I am working on just will not end, and I have cramps. When 3:00 PM rolled around (The time I set aside to work out), I just did not want to go.
I don't know too many people who "love" to work out. For yours truly, it is a necessary evil. I don't really "love" it, but I know I have to do it for my physical, emotional and metal well-being. So, I dragged myself to the gym, telling myself that I will feel so much better afterward.
It didn’t get any better. It seemed like my workout took forever instead of the usual 35 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weights. I would look down at the clock on the treadmill and think "You mean only 10 minutes has gone by?" "D'oh!"
So, I had to begin the self talk. "Ok. Just another 10 minutes. Let's see how you feel in 10 minutes." Then I would hit the 20 minute mark. "Ok, now you just have 10 minutes, come on." All the while, my latest play list was blazing in my ears, urging me on. (I will post the new playlist as soon as I finish tweaking it). Finally, I finished 2.1 miles in 35 minutes. I also did my weights.
I was so happy to have finished my workout. I felt a little bit better. But I couldn’t wait to go home and crash on my couch!
Tags: Obstacles, Goals
Trying to balance academic life with a healthy lifestyle.
3 comments:
My brother loves to work out. He's an exercise science major and could yak your ear off about different techniques and the like. He's either at work (a YMCA), working out or reading about physiology.
Thank you for this post. I was just thinking today how I don't know you how always maintain such a positive attitude, so it helps to know that sometimes even you, SS, have to push through. And I do think the "let's see how I feel in 10 minutes" is a good way to push through.
I do this sometimes too, but it's more like "one more minute, come ON just ONE more!". This is how I learned to run actually. I got on the treadmill and I walked nine minutes and ran 1. Then I worked up to running more minutes in a row by tricking myself. Sometimes I count my steps or count the seconds. I don't think it makes the time go by any faster, but I keep going.
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