I'm a runner. My typical week, depending on my training cycle and what I'm working towards, includes 20-30 miles, sometimes more.
So when I bumped my head and was told to keep my pulse down, meaning no running (or weight lifting, or swimming, or cross training, or biking, or kick boxing, or yoga....)
I freaked.
Running is a big deal to me.
So when I bumped my head and was told to keep my pulse down, meaning no running (or weight lifting, or swimming, or cross training, or biking, or kick boxing, or yoga....)
I freaked.
Running is a big deal to me.
It gives me my smiles, the pep in my step, a reason to wake up in the morning, an excuse to eat tons of sugar and peanut butter, some self confidence, and it wears me out enough to sleep at night.
I went a total of 10 days with no rigorous physical activity. I relished all of my walks around campus, especially the particularly hilly ones. It reminded me why I bother with running and training when its cold or inconvenient and push myself through soreness and sniffles.
These 10 days left me feeling flabby, out of shape, and cranky. I was moodier and had trouble sleeping, yet less energy. I wasn't working out, and therefore burning less calories, yet somehow I constantly craved unhealthy food.
I went a total of 10 days with no rigorous physical activity. I relished all of my walks around campus, especially the particularly hilly ones. It reminded me why I bother with running and training when its cold or inconvenient and push myself through soreness and sniffles.
These 10 days left me feeling flabby, out of shape, and cranky. I was moodier and had trouble sleeping, yet less energy. I wasn't working out, and therefore burning less calories, yet somehow I constantly craved unhealthy food.
I also realized, in all my free time spent drinking ginger ale, eating tortilla chips and watching 30 Rock on Netflix, that not working out is really easy. Like, really really easy. I could wake up every day of my life, sit around and eat tortilla chips and candy, take naps, and not work out.
But like I said, I felt like crap about myself. My skin was dull. My jeans got tight. I was crankier and didn't sleep as well. I didn't have as much energy. Instead of looking forward to a 5-mile run or meeting a new time goal, I looked forward to watching TV or eating.
So yeah, not working out for 10 days was easy, and working out is, admittedly, hard. It's not like I'm a runner because it's the easy thing to do. Perhaps I love it, all us crazy runners love it because it's hard. But it's 100% worth it every time you lace up those sneakers and run, lift some heavy things, yoga it up, or do whatever makes you sweat.
Moving our bodies is what makes us live longer, makes us happier, and makes us healthier. For me, it makes me feel confident and sane, makes me an easier person to be around, and makes me able to sleep at night. Maybe an (admittedly necessary) break is what it took to remind me of that.
If you aren't the kind of person who works out on the reg, I challenge you to try it for just 10 days (the amount of time I had to take off to heal up!) See if that's enough time to convince you it's worth the endorphin rush!
Are you a daily exerciser?
I take at least one "rest day" a week or else I'll go crazy, but otherwise fitness it a part of my life!
What's your favorite way to sweat/work out?
I'm a runner, but I also lift weights and kick box with a punching bag. I want to get back into yoga because I need to get better at stretching out those muscles!
Every been injured and unable to work out? How did you deal with it?
I'm pretty cranky when it comes to dealing with injury!
But like I said, I felt like crap about myself. My skin was dull. My jeans got tight. I was crankier and didn't sleep as well. I didn't have as much energy. Instead of looking forward to a 5-mile run or meeting a new time goal, I looked forward to watching TV or eating.
So yeah, not working out for 10 days was easy, and working out is, admittedly, hard. It's not like I'm a runner because it's the easy thing to do. Perhaps I love it, all us crazy runners love it because it's hard. But it's 100% worth it every time you lace up those sneakers and run, lift some heavy things, yoga it up, or do whatever makes you sweat.
Moving our bodies is what makes us live longer, makes us happier, and makes us healthier. For me, it makes me feel confident and sane, makes me an easier person to be around, and makes me able to sleep at night. Maybe an (admittedly necessary) break is what it took to remind me of that.
If you aren't the kind of person who works out on the reg, I challenge you to try it for just 10 days (the amount of time I had to take off to heal up!) See if that's enough time to convince you it's worth the endorphin rush!
Are you a daily exerciser?
I take at least one "rest day" a week or else I'll go crazy, but otherwise fitness it a part of my life!
What's your favorite way to sweat/work out?
I'm a runner, but I also lift weights and kick box with a punching bag. I want to get back into yoga because I need to get better at stretching out those muscles!
Every been injured and unable to work out? How did you deal with it?
I'm pretty cranky when it comes to dealing with injury!