I'm Scared of the Measuring Tape

I want the truth, but I'm scared.

What if I don't like the results?

Context: I've promised myself that I will take my measurements on March 15th. A month ago, I restarted my exercise regime in a more serious way. One of the things I did to indicate this new seriousness was take my hips, waist and bust measurements.

What if there is no change? What if I have gained inches?

And, what if I have lost inches?

The consequences of stasis or failure are easy for me to handle. Just keep at it. Maybe tweak my workouts, change something in my diet.

But success means I'm doing something right, and for some reason that is the scariest thing of all.

Because for the first time in my adult life I am completely self-motivated, completely in charge (as much as anyone can be), completely working a change regime from the inside out.

I'll keep you posted. And I will face the truth.

For the Love of Exercise

Monday, February 22, 2010, 3:12pm

I've been exclaiming lately, "I love to sweat!"

I posted that on Facebook the other day, via my sparkpeople account, and a young man had the audacity to write back, "Women don't sweat! They have perfume!"

I wrote back, "Not in this century, buddy!"

I was surprised to get that kind of pushback from a young-looking man (young as in 25-ish). We aren't in the 19th century, buddy! Cheesh!

Hey, I love to sweat. Once I realized that that's what I like about exercise, I could go for it. Like today! I'm proud to say I did 35 minutes on my Nordic track, with arms going most fo the time!

If I walk the neighborhood, though, I don't get my sweat, not at my regular pace. I guess that means I'll have to pick up the pace next time I go out there!

My body is craving more exercise. I've been doing well at twice a week, at doing sweaty aerobics. But, I realized last night that my body wants more. So our goal (my body and I!) is now three times a week! I am so happy to have my love of exercising back!

Walking

I haven't been walking outside for the last few months, or maybe the last year. I honestly don't remember. i don't mean the once in a while walking around the lake with my mother-in-law. i mean the 2-3 times a week walking in my hilly neighborhood to admire the roses and trees and smell the fresh air of the day. I mean stopping at the ridge to admire Mt. Tamalpias in the west, across the bay. I mean enjoying the rhythm of my limbs swinging in syncopation, stretching and releasing, and the oxygen effortlessly pumping in and out of my lungs. I mean feeling the breeze on my cheeks, and feeling my always cold hands warm up because the blood is pumping pumping coursing through my body, all my limbs, my extremities. I mean the kind of walking that let's my mind wander, and flit like a hummingbird. Oh! Look! There's a hummingbird! And crows wheeling and cawing making fun of the air currents they glide upon. That's the kind of walking I mean.