I'm Worth It

Did two weeks really go by without a post?? I guess so! Well, I'm proud to say it's not due to headaches or a craptastic work schedule, but due to the fact that I've been taking care of myself and working out like a beast. The week, I have actually worked out 5 days in a row! Last week I worked out 4 days in a row! For those of you that know my poor track record with fitness, I'm fair-weather exerciser. However, I've come to some realizations:

*Working out doesn't have to be traditional in order to be effective.

*Working out can actually be fun.

*Having an i-pod is a requirement, not an option.

*Having a sports-bra is also a prerequisite. :)

*Having some variety has kept me motivated. I do a couple of treadmill/weight workouts a week, a couple of group fitness classes a week, and one "non-workout workout" a week (ie walk with the dogs, etc).

*My body can do more than I give it credit for.

*I'm very Caucasian, but Zumba is a blast. Cycling on a stationary bike with loud music and a disco ball is also more way more fun than I anticipated.

*A gym isn't always a meat-market. Sure you see the stereotypical "Guidos" and "Guidettes" but there are a lot of down to earth people that are there for the same reasons, and there is a lot of camaraderie with that. (If you don't know what a "Guido" is, click on this link for a picture, hehe).

*My body can improve and push harder with each workout.

*I feel like something is missing from my day if I don't work out.

*Working allows me to eat with less guilt (I'm still watching it, but I don't feel the guilt).

*Are those hamstrings I'm starting to see??

*I love the workout buddies that support me.

*I'm totally worth it.

Yep, you read that last part. I don't know if I've ever said that or felt that about myself. I've always made tons of excuses NOT to take care of myself. I just felt like a healthy lifestyle was for another genre of people and that I didn't fit that bill. I always came up with every reason under the sun to not take care of myself or to be a couch potato. My most famous ones were:

*I'm having a "fat" day.

*The diet starts Monday!

*Oh crap..I have nothing to wear to the gym.

*The weather sucks...I'm not going out in this.

*I just got my hair done, and I'm not going to ruin my hair and get sweat in it!

*It's been one heck of a day, and I'm going to park my butt on the couch and watch this Life-Time movie.

*I'm already a fat-so...how much harm is this one slice of cheesecake??

*I can't succeed, because my genetics have destined me to chubbiness. Heck my parents were way skinnier when they were my age than I am now...I am royally screwed.

But for all of those reasons NOT to take care of myself, there are even better ones to refute my excuses.

*I'm becoming a healthier person, inside and out.

*This is for life, not just to reach a goal or get my 20 year old body back.

*When Brad and I start a family, I won't have to worry about major pregnancy complications due to my weight.

*God gave me this one body and this one life...treat it the way it deserves to be treated.

I'm worth it.