The alarm brought me to life and I did what I do every morning. I began to slowly stretch out my muscles from the nights sleep… it’s a nice way to wake up… stretching things out while I’m still laying down 😛
I’m kinda used to waking up with some kind of tight muscle somewhere on my body.
No, I don’t mean that comment I hear from people about having random and various aches and pains, the “it’s what happens when you get old” aches and pains complaint ( I have my thoughts on that too).
I wiggled my shoulders feeling the tightness in my chest and across my back.
Ahhhh, yes. Yesterday I had finally gotten back to do some boxing. I had taken weeks away from it while my new tattoo healed ( more on that later;) I launched into it with gusto and spent some time as well lifting heavy things.
Hello deadlift, weighted shoulder squats and chest presses.
My body was reminding me that’s what we did yesterday.
Some mornings… it’s the legs… or the glutes.. or…. yeah… you get it….
Fun you’re thinking.
No, seriously, I don’t mind.
You see when you exercise your body adapts to the demands put on it. In the beginning you do feel that tightness or ache or whatever (that, unfortunately, is when many people give up and quit) but as you keep at it your body wonderfully adapts to those demands.
After awhile you might not really “feel” that activity anymore. It seemingly becomes easier but the reality is, you, are getting stronger =)
Therefore, I like pushing myself a bit more to where I “feel” it. I don’t want to become complacent in doing the same old thing over and over.
I want to challenge myself, to do a little more, to continue to build my strength and endurance.
I shared with hubby recently that I had been thinking of some things ( he gets a troubled look on his face when I say that haha;)
But I was thinking how there are things in life we cannot control. Things we have no control over…. no matter how we try….
And then…. there are some things we have a level of control over…. for instance….
I can control whether or not I’m fluffy or frail…. neither of which I have any desire to be… and I do have control over that.
I want to move ahead in my life being strong, fit, and healthy.
I can control what I eat, how I eat, and maintain a lean, strong fighting weight.
I can engage in activities that make me stronger for daily living and the tasks I take on. That time spent working out is the “pre-game” for real life that goes down way beyond my scheduled workout time.
I was chatting with a doctor the other day and we were discussing the benefits of being active and staying fit. As we age we don’t have to become weak, many do because they don’t actively use their bodies. I love reading stories about people who are definitely in their “senior” years…. 70,80’s….. and they are strong and fit.
Why? They have stayed active. They run, power walk, cycle, do yoga, weight lift etc. they do things that they enjoy and have stuck with it. They know the benefits of eating well combined with purposeful exercise.
The results? they are strong… not frail or weak. They are at a healthy body weight.
Lifting heavy things keeps our muscles strong… that old saying … use it or lose it.. is pretty true.
Cardio work keeps our insides strong and healthy.
We become weak when we don’t work our bodies. But… that is something we have control over.
I don’t care how young you are… or how old… you have the power to make changes in yourself that are positive and that can impact your life in great ways.
We are always capable of making changes in ourselves.
How do you do that ?
Make a commitment to yourself that you really are worth it. This isn’t the time to be a martyr and say other things need you more, you don’t have the time to do it, you can’t take the time away etc.
Start small.
Add or increase your activities slowly to avoid injury.
Know some discomfort comes with the process!
Be realistic with your goals. Expect progress, not perfection.
Finally, don’t quit or give up! Even with a bad day, pressing on will get you steadily to your goals.
sassyfitnesschick 