Keeping Those Wolves In Check

I have not worked out very much lately. Between the flares, the medications and sinus trouble, exercise has taken a back seat. I am getting back in gear today.

In the past, exercise has always been an all or nothing concept. Maybe more of a punishment, I guess. In the past, I would mentally beat myself up for not sticking to the plan. When I would get back into it, I would overcompensate, which makes things worse.

Over the past year, I have realized that I need exercise. I need it as a form of outlet for my anxiety, depression and frustration. For me, it's one of the few things that keeps the wolf at bay. In the past, I would use more self destructive things, like not eating, which at the time seemed rather normal. It was normal in the sense that I felt like I was in control, even if everything else in my life was in chaos.

Well, that didn't work too well, now did it?

I had a conversation with a good friend who has been going through a rough patch. You probably read about her on my blog. She said that she found a new activity that she hopes will help keep her wolf at bay. It's not physical exercise, but it is exercise in the sense that she is doing something that takes her mind off all of life's crap.

And that's a good thing.

So I guess we all need something that keeps us relatively sane. Something that keeps that wolf from nipping our heels, be it exercise or something else. So long as that activity fills us up will good thoughts and not destructive thoughts disguised as coping skills.

I think part of being an Active Academic is exercising the emotional and mental, along with the physical. So what do you do to keep your wolf from nipping at your heels?

Inspired

I am in absolute awe of Dara Torres . It just goes to show that at 41, you can still kick ass.

Watching her only intensifies my desire to get fit. Not crazy, Olympian fit. But, fit, strong and fearless.

That is something we can all strive for, regardless of age.

Keeping it off

Yesterday I ran into a former co-worker of my Mom's that I hadn't seen in a few months. Her first comment was, "You're still keeping that weight off!" Um, huh? The tone of her comment, to me, sor of implied that she was surprised that I was maintaining the weight loss. I simply replied, "Yes, I am." I wanted to say, You're darn right I'm keeping that weight off! I worked hard to lose those pounds! What, do you think I'm just going to revert back to my old ways? No way!

I can acknowledge the fact that it is difficult for a lot of individuals to keep the pounds off once they lose the pounds. If a person doesn't continue to work at it then those pounds can easily creep back on. Oh please believe, I am well aware of that fact. Therefore, I work at it. I changed my eating habits, and become quite active to lose those pounds, and I continue to do those same things to maintain where I am now.

Is it difficult sometimes? Yes.

Do I slip-up on occasion? Yes.

Do I continue to persevere? Yes. I don't take it lightly.

Was I insulted I heard that comment? Slightly.

Will it make me continue to maintain my weight loss? Most definitely!

In all honesty, that just gave me some motivation to keep at it.

A good feeling

Last night I was running with my nephew down a breezeway at the tennis courts. It was wonderful to do that run with him, hear him laughing because he & I were racing, and for me to come to a stop and not feel out of breath. That, my friends, is what this challenge is all about.

Getting healthy & fit.

Increasing your cardio output will help in many aspects of your life:

• sleep
• breathing
• stamina
• weight loss
• self-confidence

Those are just a few that have improved in my life. What about you? Since you've been increasing your cardio output, what has changed for you?