Exercise is still an ugly word for me but I’m getting around to accepting it as an everyday ‘must’ in my life. In my mid-forties, like everyone else, I was looking to lose weight and feel better. Like everyone else I was looking for a cardio exercise to burn off those calories. Spinning was the rage back then. So, for the first time I stepped into ‘The Gym’, the place years ago my teenage boys would spend most of their free time in hopes of building up muscle. The spinning class ended up being a flop. I thought I could just take it easy on my first session and if it ever got to be too much work I would slow down on my cycling. Well, about 15 minutes into the class, my heart was pounding a bit too much so I eased up on the pedals. My heart rate didn’t seem to slow down, and I got scared. I jumped off the bike and started pacing in the back of the room. After a few more minutes of pacing, my heart finally slowed down. No more spinning cardio for me. As I began to walk out of the gym, feeling defeated and wondering what my next move was going to be. There must be an exercise type out there I can do and enjoy doing. On my way out of the gym, I glazed at the postings at the front desk and saw an offering for personal training sessions for a reasonable price. Why not? And so began a new chapter in my life with strength training.
Balance Bites of Life
I was teamed up with another woman who was also a beginner and 12 years older than me. For five years I looked forward to my workouts, three days a week. I felt myself making progress every day. I became stronger and more energetic. I no later had mood swings or feelings of anxiety or depression. After three years, my workout partner and I felt confident enough to do our own workouts without a trainer. At that point I started looking into creating strength programs and proper nutrition to meet my goals.
Strength training saved my life. I was going through a mid-life crisis. Kids were raised, career job gone, and I no longer felt needed or wanted. Going to the gym gave me purpose and structure. The environment was positively stimulating and gave me a sense of belonging in a healthy community.
Exercise can raise your serotonin levels. Known as the happy hormone, it gives you the feeling of confidence when physical tasks are conquered. It’s a way of telling yourself, “I value you.” Exercising sends you a message that you are worth taking the time out for yourself to make your body and mind healthier and stronger.
Balance Bites of Life