Motivation and Mojo

 

For the first time since my COVID stay at home precautions (10 months ago), I've finally begun making a concerted effort to return to formal exercising. I had been active in my yard during the wonderful summer weather, and kayaked a good deal during the fall (with lots of painful side-effects), but winter is here now, and most of my activities (reading, knitting, eating, writing, crocheting, eating, watching movies, sewing, playing Scrabble, eating) are sedentary. I lost my formalized exercising mojo some time ago, and have been struggling to find that regular slot and and desire for an exercise 'high' ever since.

I have to manage a fine line between 'just enough' and 'too much' exercise - I need just enough to keep my arthritic joints flexible, but not so much that inflammation is initiated. I'm not good at finding that sweet spot in between, and so I keep letting it slide. In my mind, I had been contemplating exercising, and considering how and when I'd start, but that didn't quite cut it as far as burning calories goes. I KNEW I'd eventually have to try again, physically, to get results. 

My daughter recently reminded me that I once LIVED for that exercise high. Prompting the exact memory of just how good it felt (which many friends have been trying to remind me of, too) finally did it! It was as if I'd been waiting for a miracle to happen to me, without acknowledging that it was up to me to initiate the miracle (or buy that lottery ticket!).

I completed a 15 minute Pilates workout that day. And the next. And the next, and the next. It's going to be a long road back to what I could once do, but as soon as I'm finished documenting this (another delay tactic?), I'm going to do another session. Maybe putting it out there and going 'public' will help keep me committed? (And I mean committed to an exercise regimen, not committed to an asylum 🤣)