Today is Friday! Time to celebrate! And by celebrate I mean finally get my butt into the gym after two days of rest and get to work! Oh gym, I have missed you but things have been a little hectic over here.
Do you ever feel like you are going backwards? Or like in that novel, are going “Up the Down Staircase”? Sometimes you put in the required hard work but things still go wrong.
This past year I have faced my control issues head on and have tried to be more comfortable with going with the flow. Well, it has definitely been difficult but I know I have made progress. Why? Because I didn’t work out for two days and had zero feelings of regret or self-loathing!
Sounds a little intense but working out is a physical and mental outlet that I absolutely love. However, it has also been a way of controlling my body and how I look. Before, if I missed a scheduled workout I would freak out and immediately become unhappy, blaming a lack of physical activity for my emotional state. Well honestly that is ridiculous.
During my last trip to China in February, I had no scheduled workouts but walked everyday and sporadically visited the gym for quick bursts of random activity. This was completely different from my 4 days/week split body lifting and 3 days/week cardio routine at home. And you know what? I still felt good, looked good, and didn’t gain 20 pounds. Amazing right?? Well duh Kirsten.
Working out is not my life. Working out is something I enjoy that makes me feel good both inside and out. Losing control of my workout schedule in China helped me realize that working out is important to me but does not define me. Being active and eating well keeps me healthy so I can live my best life. Shockingly my life includes activities beyond working out. Say it isn’t so…
No, I have not been to the gym to lift since Sunday. However I have been active. I have been walking outside, taking bike rides with my favorite guy, and taking the stairs! At Peter’s dad’s condo, I get off at the 9th floor and take the stairs to the 18th floor! Do you know that climbing stairs is a great workout? Just put the stairmaster on high and you’ll see what I mean.
Now I would talk about the crazy day I had driving around like a madwoman yesterday but instead I will leave you with this quote:
“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin–real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. AT last it dawned on me that these obstacles were life.” – Alfred D. Souza
So true! Sometimes we focus so much on our goals and our future that we miss out on living life right now. Like Peter always says to me, “Life is the longest thing you will ever do.”
I intend to enjoy every second of it.
Kirsten Captures 
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