Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Being Able - D Blessings Week Day 2

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I’m not shy about sharing how much I despise exercise.  I know it’s important.  I know it’s good for me.  I know it will help my blood sugar.  But I still don’t like it.

I’ve tried time and time again to get motivated for a regular exercise routine.  Sometimes it lasts for a few months.  Sometimes it lasts for a few weeks.  And yes, sometimes it only lasts for a few days.  I still haven’t quite figured out how to make exercise a lasting part of my life.

ugh_thumbBut here’s the thing.  I hate the way I look.  I am fat.  I see pictures of myself and cringe.  Over the past several years, weight has crept on steadily.  I’ve been talking about losing weight for quite some time now.  As with exercise, I start strong and quickly sputter out.  But every pair of pants I have is unbelievably tight.  I am NOT going up yet another clothing size.  And so, I’m starting over.  Yesterday was Day 1 - and I did pretty well.  I pulled out Your Diabetes Science Experiment and looked over my notes from last time I was working out.  I went to the store and stocked up on healthy foods.  I put in 45 minutes on the treadmill and I made good food choices all day long.  This morning, I did 50 minutes.  And it didn’t seem like a struggle.  It seemed like a blessing.

Yes, I have a chronic illness that makes diet and exercise a bit more tricky.  But I am blessed to still have a strong body that can move.  I am blessed to have the tools I need to navigate a successful workout.  I am blessed that although I’m unhappy with how I look right  now, I have the power to do something about it.

5 comments:

  1. Yes you do!! Good for you, Karen. Exercise should be an important part of our lives these days, but it rarely is. Such a struggle, but it's so cool that you haven't given up. I'm with ya!

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  2. oh karen, i know how you feel. this time last year i bought a treadmill. it is collecting dust downstairs in my "workout room". everyday i swear that "tomorrow" will be the day. i, like you, know how important it is to excercise, but I. HATE. IT!!! i need something to motivate me, and i don't mean my husband, who works out all the time. perhaps the lure of new clothes will be my goal. i am following your lead, and starting fresh ~ tomorrow!

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  3. When I was losing weight before, the woman that cut my hair told me that a friend of hers hung up one of her favorite outfits that she couldn’t get into anymore – as soon as she woke up in the morning, she would see the outfit hanging there as a reminder. I did that and I also put a picture of “skinny me” on my treadmill to remind me what I was working for.

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  4. So how are you doing with the exercise program? Keep up the good work.

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  5. Oh Karen, right there with you on the weight issue. I don't hate exercise, but I get really bored, and then I give up. I found cycling to be great. I don't get bored! But as a diabetic, I find it really hard to lose weight because of lows and eating calories as the result. I haven't read Ginger's book, but I'm about to buy it I think. Anyway, it takes me twice as long as most to lose it, so I feel your pain. Good luck, and if you need a cheerleader, let me know!!!

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