Work Out - Not That Again!

Now, where was I? Oh, yes - weight gain - ugh! Following weight gain, there is the mandatory life style change that incorporates working out. What a total pain.

Workouts at this age require a lot more time and effort than they used to. Remember when you could get a pretty good workout just by reading about it? Those days are gone! Workouts at this age mean that you are going to have to dedicate lots of time to exercise. More time than you can tolerate - unless you're a fitness nut - then this is going to be the best time of your life.

I started out by using an elliptical machine every other day. This is hard work. I noticed that if I spent the same amount of time on a treadmill, I found the elliptical gave me a much better workout. So, I did that. I exercised and kept my daily calorie intake at about 1200 calories. It was not fun. The only thing worse I could think of was the weight gain. What a vicious cycle.

Another thing I did was pick up a Pilate's ring, resistance bands, a mat, hand and ankle weights, and a series of workout videos from the Firm. The purpose of this paraphernalia is to generate guilt whenever you see them - so they must be in an prominent location in order to generate the amount of guilt needed to cause actual exercise to occur.

So begins the workout ball and chain. Each day I need to figure out when I can workout, arrange my schedule so I don't miss the workout, and then actually work out. It's a tough life I lead. Missing a workout can cause immediate and unrelenting fear, guilt and paranoia. I become afraid that I will instantly gain 20 lbs after missing the workout. I feel guilty for not using any of the number of exercise machines and items that are readily available. I also become paranoid that I will have to answer for missing the workout. Now, who in the world am I going to have to answer to, other than myself?! Like I said, it's an exercise ball and chain.

I am totally bored when I exercise. I do not find it stimulating. The best thing about it is that eventually, it will be over. Due to this, I have many guilt inducing items in my home. In addition to the things I've already mentioned is a Bowflex, a stair stepper (that hasn't been stepped on in ages - but it induces guilt so it stays), a treadmill, jump rope, and a few other types of weights. Where ever I go in my house, I am faced with something that is going to remind me to work out.

Once the workout thing got to be a routine, a new complication arose - joint problems! I'll get into that next time - but this problem caused the biggest and most frustrating lifestyle change of all!