When I started working out on a regular basis (five to six days a week) three years ago, my primary aim was to lose weight so I would fit into my bridesmaid dress for my friend Patricia's wedding. It's a pretty common motivator for a lot of women in my age group. Who doesn't want to look cute in a friend's wedding pictures? Well, a three-month project turned into a three-year habit. I LOVE working out. LOVE it. And it's not just because it helps me maintain a trim body. As far as I'm concerned, that's just the icing on the proverbial cake.
I love the way exercise makes me feel. I love the challenge of maybe jumping a little higher in step class or lifting just a little more weight or stretching just a little further in yoga. I love the way resistance training makes me keenly aware of the muscles I'm working. I love how the heat in a cardio class limbers me up, allowing me to reach just a little bit higher. Over three years, those "little bits" have turned into milestones.
Where I was once resting on my elbows in wide-angle pose, I can now get my stomach flat on the floor (most days, anyway). I have my splits back. I can do a freaking handstand (supported by a wall, but for me, it's huge!)! I love how I can feel ever muscle in my upper back and shoulders supporting me in that handstand!
It amazes me that I enjoy working out. I was the world's most unathletic child! I would've much rather been sitting in my room with a good book that running around outside - although I did plenty of that my neighborhood friends, but that's different than being forced to play organized sports in school. I hated playing sports, thus PE was so not fun for me! The fact that I'm not very competitive might have something to do with it. I didn't run very fast and I couldn't throw worth a crap! The only organized game I liked was kickball. As far as physical activity was concerned, I loved to dance, and that was about it.
I think what I love most about working out is learning what my body can do and pushing its limits. I'm not competitive with other people, but I like to challenge myself. You think you'll never be able to do something (i.e. the aforementioned handstand), but one day, you can and you do! You find that you need to use more weight to really feel a squat - and you feel the difference just five extra pounds make. And you notice your legs are firmer. I was watching my kicks in Body Combat (think Tae-Bo) this morning and I noticed I didn't jiggle! I was amazed at the springiness in my knees and my feet and my ankles as I kicked and punched and twisted and pushed up and ...well, you get the idea! And in yoga, my backbend was just a little deeper than it was last week. My supported shoulderstand was just a touch closer to vertical. I may be a little sore tomorrow, but I like that part, too - it lets me know I succeeded in pushing myself - and therefore deserve a brownie!