So what's new? Well. I did this thing recently that I'm VERY proud of myself for. For the first time in my entire life, I worked out for 30 days straight. Actually, to be specific, I'm up to 33 days straight as of today. I'm not sure when I'll stop.
Let me go back over my past with health and fitness for you.
I was a naturally active child. Lots of energy. So much so that I was (very inaccurately) diagnosed with ADD at my first elementary school (I say "very inaccurately" and "first school" because as soon as the unqualified asshat of a "guidance counselor" told my parents that I needed to be heavily medicated for my lack of attention span, my loving parents removed me from that school and put me in a better one. Where I suddenly no longer had ADD.)
So here's where I stood with sports all throughout school. I rode horses almost daily (horseback riding is very athletic) from age 9 to about 21. I was pretty decent at it and I loved it. I still miss it, but horseback riding is an expensive hobby and my parents refused to pay for it after I moved out. I tried basketball during my 4th grade year (at the awful elementary school) and then again my 10th grade year, after a friend convinced me that because I was tall, I would naturally be good at basketball. WRONG. Pair clumsiness with lack of drive and a severe lack of confidence and you get a 6'1" gangley mess. I also dabbled in cross-country for a season my 7th grade year. Also really awful. I apologize to my then-team for lowering their stats significantly at every meet.
Jump to adulthood. I've never had a gym membership, I still have that familiar "you can't do that" voice playing in my head every time I get on my spin bike or I start a workout routine in my living room. I especially hear that voice when I go for a jog and a car passes. I have what everyone in America has: a huge part of me that wants to say, "screw it" and eat the whole pizza, the pint of ice cream, the 1/2 pound burger, the giant-ass soda... The "screw it" mentality then attempts to seep into my exercise regimen and I want to do nothing but sit in my sweats and watch, well, a whole TV series on Netflix...
Here's my point. I have never in my life been athletic. My high school classmates can attest to that, as can every friend I've ever had since my birth. You don't have to be in perfect (or even decent) shape to get started. You don't have to have a gym membership to work out. You don't have to listen to the "you can't do that voice" and you certainly don't have to cave into the "screw it" mentality. If your knee (or other part of your body) hurts, hop on a bicycle. If you want to jog but can't get very far, walk first. Do sit ups, jumping jacks, push ups, and lift some free weights in your living room. See? Now you have a way to justify watching blocks of Netflix-while you work out in your living room. Eat foods that are close to their natural form as often as possible. And most importantly, find friends and family who support you and who you can talk to about your progress and don't be intimidated by people who tell you that you can't or you shouldn't.
Don't give up. A healthy lifestyle is for life. It's not a week/month/year-long diet. It's something that you have to commit and resign yourself to for the rest of your life. I've said this in previous posts and I mean it from the bottom of my non-athletic heart: IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT.
No comments:
Post a Comment