September Surrender: Day Twenty Four
I’ve been doing really good with my workouts. I restarted the Chloe Ting programs a day or two after arriving home from my trip. I’ve kept up with the schedule she laid out, doing all the workouts each day, even using weights this time around. I feel stronger already and that’s what’s important, considering what I’m taking, which has already been a huge help. But I’m heeding my doctor’s advice and keeping my muscles strong, as that was her only caveat in taking the shot. I’m getting serious about it. Or rather not being lazy about it. There’s no slog to the finish line anymore, just the satisfaction of another exercise getting done.
Yesterday was a “rest” day according to Chloe, but I did one of her thirty-minute workouts anyway. I texted my boyfriend after I was done, which has been a great way to keep me accountable. I run him through all my daily routines anyway, so letting him know I completed another workout is a net positive for us both.
I didn’t workout once during my overseas trip. It was work, but still had some vacation elements to it. Why would I work out on vacation? Even if I did bring a resistance band just in case I felt motivated enough to do it. But honestly, I was wiped. I was sleeping around three hours each night and consuming an incredible amount of Peronis. So I vowed to hustle myself into gear and start back up with the programs when I got back home.
One girl in my Fellowship was not lazy like me. She was an avid runner, in the midst of training for the upcoming Disney marathon. The first night, she was talking with my co-worker and I about how she started running six years ago and only rarely misses a day. We asked questions about what her routines are like, if she listens to music, and if she was going to run while abroad. She said she’d think about it, but did end up making the effort each morning of our trip. We’d ask her if she went for a run while at breakfast and she’d tell us all about it. It sounded like fun, as we were in a beautiful part of Italy, so working up a sweat while seeing the sights sounds like a perfect way to stay in shape.
I admired her dedication. It was inspiring to say the least, only my motivation got transferred back home. I was already in vacation mode so it was fine to take a break. I’m back at it now. I’m going to keep doing it because it’s the best thing for my health. Things really ramp up when you’ve got a safety net to motivate you. I looked in the mirror to flex a bit and saw my collarbones pop for the first time in years. I’ve stepped onto one of the most positive paths I’ve taken in years and have finally found something keeping me going. I suppose I won’t know the true results until I’ve hit them, but I’m more confident that I’ve found a good pace here. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, as they say. And if my knees only allow for a brisk jog, I’ll take that too.