Soon after arriving in Sydney, I realised that the ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’ slogan was less about litter and more about getting your gym kit on and getting out there. It seemed the whole of Sydney was up and about at the break of dawn swimming, running the beach, at yoga or something.
I have always enjoyed exercise and have gone through different phases – including Mr Motivator and Rosemary Connolly exercise videos…..embarrassing! At University I remember going to my first Pilates class and dragging my friend Liz along. Half way through the class I’m whispering to her “This is rubbish…..it’s not doing ANYTHING!” We left feeling like we’d wasted our time with teeny, tiny movements that barely broke a sweat. The next morning I woke up and could barely move. I shuffled my arm out of bed to reach my mobile and called Liz next door. “Can you come through, I’m really sick. I think I might have meningitis….” Thankfully when we compared ‘symptoms’ we finally realised that Pilates had done a lot more than we realised……!
My exercise habit developed in a hap hazard way but usually only if I had a friend with me. Working out with a mate is a great way to get going, but ultimately I think I talked myself and others out of exercising more than we actually exercised! I realised when I moved to Sydney that exercise was my responsibility and no one else. Sometimes my bestie would run with me and we would sweat and hobble our way around Mona Vale. Other times, I would head out in the rain to beat my way around the block and get my sweat on while she stayed tucked up on the sofa. Something had clicked in my head and I realised that exercise is a decision. And it is a decision you have to stick to. It doesn’t matter if someone I wanted to go to the pool with can’t make it, they weren’t going to burn my calories anyway. I soon got into a routine of jogging and Zumba, and knowing a day was a ‘run day’ and another day was a ‘zumba day’, which meant I didn’t have to fight my schedule to fit it in. It is there and not negotiable.
We all know the benefits of exercising and if I didn’t feel like it I reminded myself that I didn’t like the feel of my jeans being tight or feeling fat either. Focusing on the feeling afterwards is better than whingeing to yourself that you don’t want to. Just do it, get it over and done with, push through it, focus on feeling better, healthier, lighter. It works.
I go through phases. Running phases, Zumba phases, swimming phases, Pilates phases, Yoga phases. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re moving, getting sweaty, raising your heart beat and feeling alive.
N.B. My bestie is now in a running phases herself, and has just completed the 9km harbour bridge run – with much of the training on her own – go Lyndsey!
Find what works for you. Because not doing anything isn’t working. No one will burn your calories for you…. 🙂
Gut Feelings 