The fitness journey continues

I was never the sporty type girl, instead I excelled in books and organizations. Oh sure I played games on the playground and participated in the community softball league. There was also that season of rugby I played my freshmen year in college, intramural though. But if given the opportunity to describe myself in a few key words, sporty would never be one of them.

I’m also clumsy, as anyone who knows me will attest. I’ve perfected the art of falling, tripping, running into things, all topped with an overall lack of balance.

With these great foundations, my journey of physical fitness has been comedic to say the least. Over the last four weeks I’ve discovered the following:

• I can’t stand on one leg without falling over.
• I have no core, or at least a very small core.
• If an exercise requires me to be coordinated it is very entertaining to watch me attempt it.
• I laugh at myself a lot.
• I don’t get sore but I do get tired.

(Note I started this a month ago and am picking it back up now – yikes, but oh well here are the rest of my thoughts)

But with 8 weeks of training sessions down, I find that I’m the bitter gym rat. I’m there 6 days a week, enough in fact that a few of the people at the front desk greet me by name as soon as I walk through the doors, many of the trainers recognize me and stop to say hello, and I’m beginning to notice the people that are “regulars” during my normal work out times. Also, I’m stronger and fitter than I have been in a long while. I found my core, though it’s still pretty small and only semi-functional. My balance has improved immensely although my clumsiness hasn’t. And best of all I surprise my trainer weekly with my progress. There’s something about the praise of a professional that makes you feel a bit better about yourself.

Now for more things I’ve  discovered about myself:

• I can run but I don’t like it, nor do I ever anticipate myself liking it.
• I don’t think I have endorphins (at least the ones that are supposed to fill you with joy after a tough workout).
• I make faces when I lift weights – as I found out when a complete stranger complimented me on them. AUGH!
• I competitive with myself when it comes to trying things I don’t think I can actually do. This was a nice discovery because I knew it applied to0 other areas of my life, but I’d pretty much given up on the athletic competitive area.
• And lastly, I think I’ve created a habit for working out. 

So that’s the update on my journey. I have about 3 or 4 weeks left with the trainer and then I’m on my own. Honestly, that freaks me out a bit, because without accountability I am really good at making excuses and justifying not working out. So I guess that’s the main test of whether this is a habit or a fad. Here’s to four more weeks of pain (or fun as my trainer calls it).