Re-defining "Fitness".

I used to be somewhat of a "workoutaholic". I felt guilty if I didn't go to the gym, it was my go-to when I was upset or frustrated and it was absolutely UNHEARD of for me to go more than 3 days without donning an old tshirt and sweating a little.

Needless to say, since college, things have dramatically changed. For some reason, getting to the gym is more difficult and requires much more mental and physical effort than it used to. I think it's just because I've been out of the routine for so long, and as we all know, getting back into it is the most difficult part. I also, of course, stem from the mindset that unless you run multiple miles or burn 450 calories (via the cardio machines I'm sure always accurate records) that a workout isn't really worth it. This comes from 15 years of playing soccer, frequenting two-a-days during my last years of high school, and the fact that I used to run 3-miles 3 times a week like it was no big thing.

Since my body isn't used to the rigorous exercise (yet) and because I have a lot less free time than I ever did in high school and college, I am taking on a new attitude towards fitness and getting back in shape.

Image Credit: http://www.pinterest.com/

No matter how short, a workout is still a workout. Got 10 minutes? Run a mile. Got 20? Run a mile, do some free weights and a couple sets of crunches. On the nights I can make it to an hour long yoga class, it will just be icing on the cake (which I will feel a lot better about eating once I start rewarding my body with regular workouts again.)

In time, the strength and the fitness will come back, and running or yoga or whatever phsyical activity it happens to be will seem less daunting. I will start to crave it again and love it with all my heart like I used to. I will re-learn how to love the burning in my muscles and the exhaustion after pushing myself to my physical limit.

It all happens in time, but that doesn't mean it can't happen 10 minutes at a time. SWEAT.

♥mb.