I’ve never been shy about telling you guys how much I don’t enjoy working out. Heck, even Jillian Michaels mentioned that she doesn’t love killing it in the gym. Thanks for that reality check, Jill.
As part of this healthy living community, I know that I am definitely not the norm. My social media feeds are peppered with folks that are leveraging those endorphins every single day. Some of them do it for a living, some of them are conquering new and exciting physical challenges (Yes — I’m talking about you, Alan!,) and some seem to be wired to work out overcoming all odds.
Many of you are going after it every single day in the most impressive of ways. Thank you for sharing your stories, posting your pics, and displaying your positive mantras. I’ve wanted to be inspired by you. I’ve wanted to use your sweatie selflies as an inspiration for me to put on my sneakers and get to the gym.
But… I didn’t, and I haven’t for a while. While I’ve been hitting up yoga at least once or twice a week, it’s been a long time since I had that super-sweaty, adrenaline-filled night at the gym. The hardest part… I haven’t had the desire to be there AT ALL.
If you’ve met me and or know me even a little bit, you likely know that I don’t do anything that I truly don’t want to do. Yep, that’s me. I’ve been stubborn about this. I’ve justified it in my head… and I’ve taken a break. I told myself that I would maintain my weight (and lose a little) solely through managing my food consumption.
So… How’s that Going?
I am a FIRM believer (refer back to the stubborn paragraph above, if needed) that your weight story is told in the kitchen, not in the gym. For example: It is VERY hard to work off an extra 500 calorie snack you indulge in every single day. It can be done, but to me, it makes better sense to just choose the 100 calorie equivalent of said snack, and move on.
This is why I am wildly passionate about cooking, why I am a huge volumizer on the Jenny Craig program, and why I allowed myself to (pretty much) take a month off of working out…
I absolutely know that I can lose/maintain weight by just eating better. I have for the past month with Jenny! While the program is working for me, I need a little “wiggle room.” And, I get wiggle room from adding in physical activity.
Truth be told, I don’t feel great. I miss those endorphins and the sense of accomplishment associated with even walking through the door at the YMCA. I also feel like I’m holding all my stress in as opposed to releasing it. This isn’t good for me. I can also feel that in my body. Lastly, summer is JUST around the corner. Even though we’re expecting snow this week (AGAIN!), I will be in a swimsuit soon, and I want to feel fabulous.
Right now, I don’t feel fabulous. I truthfully feel like I’ve entered a self-approved form of laziness. Meaning, I accept it and I don’t judge myself for it… since I wrote myself a permission slip a month ago to take a break. However, it’s time to tear up that pretty piece of paper.
It’s time to end this gym-cation! Does this mean that I’ll be at the gym every day? Probably not. Does this mean that I’m going to make an effort to add more activity every single week? Yep.
One last confession: The idea of doing this… it doesn’t sound exactly fun to me, but neither does saying no to a slice of cake, a piece of pizza, or a second glass of wine. But sometimes, you just have to do it. It’s time.
So, starting this week, I plan be there. I’ll be on the treadmill, lifting weights, and maybe even in that new class I’ve wanted to try. I may not be the peppiest about it, certainly not the fastest, nor the most excited about it… but I’ll be burning calories and doing something great for my body at the same time.
I’m in Phoenix for the next few days, and I have workout clothes with me… and I plan to use them. I need this. It’s time. I’m choosing me.
Have you ever taken a “gym-cation”?