I am so out of shape
Since this community is supposed to be all about finding support to accomplish your goals, I figure it's time for me to come clean regarding my ridiculously lacking state of trimness. And, I'm not talking about weight. Yes, I'm overweight and need desperately to get that under control. No, I'm talking about the fact that my body has become so used to sitting in front of the computer all day long and not even doing a basic trip out of the house to go down our steps most days, that riding a bike has become a grueling workout. Yes, I took my new bike out for a spin, and "spin" is about all I did.
I am so ashamed of how out of shape I am. I used to be a hiker, a walker, and long ago a biker. What has happened to my body?! I have to confess to just HOW bad my fitness level has gotten. I walked my bike around the house and down the back alley, then I proceeded to start riding down our street. I kid you not - I was huffing and puffing by the end of the street, feeling all awkward and squished (I'm sure I've never ridden a bike with this much belly to work around *sigh*), and I stopped to turn around before I got to the slight incline because I knew I wouldn't make it. So embarrassing.
My first instinct was to throw in the towel and do like I've done with so many other get-in-shape ideas because they didn't work well the first time - give up - pretend to use it in the future, but just let it taper off and just act like it was a bad idea and that's why it didn't work. That actually made me mad. What?! Give up after spending this money and being so excited about it and talking about getting in shape? NO. That is not acceptable. My future, Tom's future, OUR future is at stake here.
So, I've decided to swallow my pride and DO THIS THING. It's going to take time, which I'm very bad at dealing with. I have NO patience, ESPECIALLY when it comes to challenging myself with something. I want to be able to do it NOW, dammit! Anyway, so here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to go through the process of closing the dog in (I've found out that it's basically impossible to keep the dog in the fence while I try to maneuver the bike out), rolling the bike down the porch steps, through the fence gate, around the house to the side of the back yard that is navigable (sp?), down the alley to the road, then I'm going to ride it up and down the street as long as I can stand it (which for now is not very long), then bring it all the way back in. And, I'm going to do this EVERY DAY (or as often as I can - I'm not going to get mad at myself for not doing it on days I get injections, etc.).
Admitting how short of distances I can do and how pitifully short of time I'll be away from the house is what will eat at me, and that's the part where I have to swallow my pride. We have a neighbor kid that's probably 12 that's always hanging around, and it's going to be embarrassing taking my bike around the house right by him and being gone for like 1.5 minutes before coming back. I don't like admitting that I can't do longer than that. *sigh*
BUT, I've decided that doing it REGULARLY to get my mind and body used to the motions and the feel of it will help me do better in the long run. It's going to take time for me to be able to do anything besides the street, and that bothers me, but I think if I'm disciplined with myself, I can get better. I'm not going to give up, dammit! And, I'm not going to give in to self-pity. This is worth the struggle and worth the embarrassment. I CAN do this. I just have to admit to myself that it's going to take longer than I originally had thought.
I did step one yesterday. Got that baby out and rode it. I'm going to do it again today. I'm having to take some very literal baby steps here, but if that's what it takes for me to get more active, so be it.
Your embarrassed,
Cristy
I am so ashamed of how out of shape I am. I used to be a hiker, a walker, and long ago a biker. What has happened to my body?! I have to confess to just HOW bad my fitness level has gotten. I walked my bike around the house and down the back alley, then I proceeded to start riding down our street. I kid you not - I was huffing and puffing by the end of the street, feeling all awkward and squished (I'm sure I've never ridden a bike with this much belly to work around *sigh*), and I stopped to turn around before I got to the slight incline because I knew I wouldn't make it. So embarrassing.
My first instinct was to throw in the towel and do like I've done with so many other get-in-shape ideas because they didn't work well the first time - give up - pretend to use it in the future, but just let it taper off and just act like it was a bad idea and that's why it didn't work. That actually made me mad. What?! Give up after spending this money and being so excited about it and talking about getting in shape? NO. That is not acceptable. My future, Tom's future, OUR future is at stake here.
So, I've decided to swallow my pride and DO THIS THING. It's going to take time, which I'm very bad at dealing with. I have NO patience, ESPECIALLY when it comes to challenging myself with something. I want to be able to do it NOW, dammit! Anyway, so here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to go through the process of closing the dog in (I've found out that it's basically impossible to keep the dog in the fence while I try to maneuver the bike out), rolling the bike down the porch steps, through the fence gate, around the house to the side of the back yard that is navigable (sp?), down the alley to the road, then I'm going to ride it up and down the street as long as I can stand it (which for now is not very long), then bring it all the way back in. And, I'm going to do this EVERY DAY (or as often as I can - I'm not going to get mad at myself for not doing it on days I get injections, etc.).
Admitting how short of distances I can do and how pitifully short of time I'll be away from the house is what will eat at me, and that's the part where I have to swallow my pride. We have a neighbor kid that's probably 12 that's always hanging around, and it's going to be embarrassing taking my bike around the house right by him and being gone for like 1.5 minutes before coming back. I don't like admitting that I can't do longer than that. *sigh*
BUT, I've decided that doing it REGULARLY to get my mind and body used to the motions and the feel of it will help me do better in the long run. It's going to take time for me to be able to do anything besides the street, and that bothers me, but I think if I'm disciplined with myself, I can get better. I'm not going to give up, dammit! And, I'm not going to give in to self-pity. This is worth the struggle and worth the embarrassment. I CAN do this. I just have to admit to myself that it's going to take longer than I originally had thought.
I did step one yesterday. Got that baby out and rode it. I'm going to do it again today. I'm having to take some very literal baby steps here, but if that's what it takes for me to get more active, so be it.
Your embarrassed,
Cristy