I have spent most of my life being fairly active and into fitness. I love anything and everything when it comes to group fitness classes and would move into the gym if I could. (The funny thing is, I hated gym and team sports in school!) I’ve done several half marathons and plan to do an Ironman before I turn 40. (I’ve got 4.5 years to make this happen! EEEK!!)
However, I have been anything BUT active over the last few months. Yes, I walk to and from the bus stop 5-6 times a week (which is about 1.5-2 miles per day depending on the route I take) and walk quite a bit when I run errands for my temp job. I try to squeeze in some weight lifting between recaps and live tweeting for my websites when I am home. As a result, I feel less than happy with my body and self. I wish I had time to do more, but lately it has been impossible.
I now understand why people say they have no time to work out. I used to be able to run to the gym between jobs and get in a decent workout (and tanning session!) when I was living in my previous town, but ever since I moved, that has changed. I no longer have easy access to an affordable gym that has the amenities I need and want. Yes, I can live without the tanning, but I loved how my previous gym had an entire room for abs and quickie workouts available 24/7. I tried one gym in the area and while it had most of the amenities and equipment I want, it was usually closed by the time I was done with work. It was also too far away to go to between jobs. My ‘break’ between jobs is now 45 minutes to an hour to grab a bite to eat, get the bus and get some errands done. I am out of the house from 9am to between 8 and 10pm and then need to eat, work on my websites and try and get housework done before the next day. Not that I am complaining. I love my websites and my jobs, but some days it is literally impossible to get a decent workout in.
This is why I get so upset with these no excuses posts on social media. I understand that people may think my reasons for not working out are just excuses, but the truth is, it is simply my reality. I wish I had the luxury to go to the gym or even go for a run. However, my jam packed schedule makes it virtually impossible. We all have different realities and responsibilities, so while they are able to carve time in to work out, some of us can’t. That is nothing to be ashamed of or be upset over. Life gets in the way.
Bills need to be paid. We have families and loved ones who need our attention. In short: everyone’s life is different. There is no need to shame anyone just because they don’t have a twenty minute window to work out. (And yes, I have read and seen the if you have time for social media and Netflix, you have time to work out posts. While that may be true to a point, nine times out ten most of us are on social media during lunch breaks or to unwind and Netflix is on while we multitask or need to shut our minds off.) There is no need to make them feel bad because they can’t afford a gym membership or want to use that money and time for something else. While there is access to home workouts, as I mentioned before, it is completely understandable that home and family responsibilities take priority.
That being said, I still want to get out of this slump and make my body great again. I don’t necessarily want to lose weight, but instead work on building muscle and toning.
To make thus happen, I am planning on finding some quickie, sneak them in workouts in order to become healthier and feel better in my own skin. Stay tuned for my new series about my journey.
