on exercise and fitness

Since Ann Marie was born I've really wanted to put some emphasis on my health. I want to be strong again and have more energy. I also want to lose a lot of body fat, but I'm trying to focus on feeling better rather than how I look. It's taken me a while to figure out what I want to do to get more fit. I've been going for walks a few times a week, but I've been wanting to do more.

I decided to start with the Couch to 5K running program. I've been interested in it for a few years, but I never got motivated enough to try it before. Last Tuesday I found Robert Ullrey's podcasts and downloaded the one for the first week. I've finished the first week now and I thought it was great! He tells you when to run and when to walk and has a very friendly and motivating voice. It was a bit of a push on the first day, but I can tell that it's getting easier for me. I think I'm going to repeat week one this week before moving on because I'm still feeling pretty tired at the end. I think this will work for me. I feel like it's okay for me to start slow if it means that I can stay motivated. I was really turned off by running when I was on the track team in middle school because the coach expected too much of me (but didn't give me much advice or support), so I appreciate that with Couch to 5K I get some guidance but don't have anyone pushing me too hard and giving me disapproving glares. Even though I'm sweaty and tired when I get back from my runs, I also have a feeling of exhilaration and pride in what I've done.

I've also been wanting to strengthen my core, and a friend suggested that I could try Pilates. I tried it once in high school and I remember liking it, so I thought I'd give it another try. I went to a class at the YMCA yesterday and enjoyed it. It was really difficult for me, but the instructor was really understanding and didn't push me too hard. There was a really friendly and supportive atmosphere, with people of all different ages. I felt like this is a place where they're just happy that I'm trying to get more fit. I don't have to be as strong as everyone else. I'm planning to start going to this class twice a week.

Both the Couch to 5K program and the Pilates classes have a scheduled element to them, which I'm hoping will help me to stay consistent so that I can make progress.



I've been thinking about Victor Frankl's lecture (embedded above) and how it applies to me and exercise. I often give myself a hard time when I get out of the habit of exercise for a while. But it occurred to me this week that it's better for me to aim for consistency and keep making fitness goals, because even though sometimes I fall short, it's better than if I didn't even aim, because if I don't bother then I won't do anything and then my heart and muscles and emotional well-being will suffer the consequences. I want to be healthy so that I can play with my kids, have the energy to fulfill all of my responsibilities, be happier, and live a fuller and longer life.