7 Reasons Why It's Hard to Work Out (But Worth It)

If you have a Pinterest account, you'll understand when I say these kind of blog posts are 

EVERYWHERE! 

I wanted to write a little "somethin', somethin'" about my love hate relationship with working out. 

1. Being Noticed

First, let me just say that while I'm working out, I don't even want my husband to see me let alone anybody else. The hard part about working out is after. You're sore, you feel AMAZING but it's very rare for anyone to say, "You look like you worked out today! Way to go!" 

All, in all, it doesn't really matter if other people notice how you look and there is no way for someone else to feel your workout either. 

I guess it just helps when you know someone has taken the time to encourage you with words rather than "like" the selfie of your sweaty face "proving" you went on a run or got your butt kicked at Xtend Barre classes. (Here's looking at you, Bri.)

2. Showering

I love me a good shower but every day? First off, I know it's necessary especially if you've worked up a good sweat but UHG! My skin gets dried out, my hair can't handle being washed that much and, I don't know, it's too time consuming. Then I'm so tired from working out that all I want to do is hang out in my PJs with wet hair, a make-up free face, and, if I'm being honest, bra-less. Girls, you know I'm right. So maybe it's not the showering I hate but the prepping that goes into the daily look. Even a relaxed look (a step above stay-inside-all-day-hermit, just FYI) takes effort. Doing my hair whether it's still wet or I've blow dried it. It's effort that I'd rather not take but feel obligated to complete so that I can prove I'm not as lazy as I often feel and would like to be. 

3. Others

Comparison is the thief of joy. How many times have you heard that? Alas, it is true. Don't compare your running pace, your thighs, your workout hair or how red your skin gets to the next person because it will take the joy and momentum OUT of working out. If it happens just remember that you're on your own journey. I lose sight of that fact 90% of the time. I don't believe it. BUT if I tell myself that I want to believe it, that desire carries me. So, don't give up on yourself. That can be hard. 

4.Weather

If you work out outside, this can be tricky. I hate, yes, hate running outside when it's hot. Or if there is a possibility that it may become hot while on my run. Which leads to number 5...

5. Early Wake-up Call

I like working out when there is natural light, but not enough light to make it hot. So this can be a tricky thing. I get up early and run or it just doesn't happen and not because I'm busy. It's because the sun makes it too hot. And in the summer? Oi vei.

6. Memberships

For me, if I have one, I try to get myself to go enough times in the month to "pay for itself" so that I don't feel guilty about having a "gym" category on our monthly budget. So, in that sense it's good but then you have to fight for a machine. Or plan to go when there is less "traffic". Sometimes even then you're just waiting around. I don't have time for that. However, not having a membership means that I can't always go with friends to the gym for a good swim or spin class. At least, not as often as I'd like. 

7. Fear

The infamous, "What if" comes into play here more than anywhere else in my life. What if I get injured again? What if my body doesn't respond as quickly as it did last time? What if it doesn't respond at all? What if I'm stuck feeling and looking like this forever? 

Fear is real. Fear can be debilitating or it can be a superpower. It's how you view it.

"I know you’re afraid, but being afraid is alright. Because didn’t anybody ever tell you? Fear is a superpower. Fear can make you faster and cleverer and stronger... because if you’re very wise and very strong fear doesn’t have to make you cruel or cowardly. Fear can make you kind. It doesn’t matter if there’s nothing under the bed or in the dark so long as you know it’s okay to be afraid of it. So listen. If you listen to anything else, listen to this. You’re always gonna be afraid even if you learn to hide it. Fear is like a companion, a constant companion, always there. But that’s okay because fear can bring us together. Fear can bring you home... Fear makes companions of us all." -Clara Oswald, Dr. Who, "Listen"

Forgive my geekiness for a second and take a minute to let that sink in. It's true. Fear is the reason I can't give up. Not the reason that I should.

Positoovity

If you don't know where that word comes from, don't you fret. 

It's a pretty famous bird that sings a whole song about "Positoovity" and quite frankly it's easily becoming one of my favorite songs. 

Okay, okay, I'll tell you where it comes from, Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway. 

I'm including a video so that you can all be introduced to the beauty that is Positoovity. 

I'm blogging about it today because this morning was a "running" day. Meaning I ran this morning. (Just the thought alone of me FINALLY back out there are running makes my heart do a happy dance!)

Positoovity is on my playlist for what I think are obvious reasons. Let me explain. 

Scuttle sings this song and if anyone has seen The Little Mermaid, you'll know that Scuttle has quite an interesting vernacular for things. For example, a "fork" is a "dinglehopper" and is not used for eating but for combing one's hair, or in this case, "positivity" is "positoovity" and thank goodness they mean the same thing. 

He is a know-it-all bird who knows really "nothing" but is actually pretty wise. 

Wait. What?

Yeah, he may be terribly misinformed but he has good intentions and what he says helps Ariel develop her land legs, if you will. 

Now for the running part of this post. Usually the first 15 minutes of my run are energy packed. During the "walk" intervals, it's a brisk heart pumping walk that is almost faster than the "jog" intervals of the workout. However, when minutes 16-20 hit, suddenly I'm dragging my burning legs along at a pretty slow pace. That being said, I do try to pace myself in the first half of the workout so that this doesn't happen but clearly I need to keep working on that... Anyway, around minute 16ish my calves were BURNING. A good burn, but still burning. I was playfully debating with myself about calling it quits but then this song came on. 

The first line Scuttle says is "What's this? You giving up so soon? You gotta have a little gumption. Yeah! A can-do kinda attitude. Take it from a gull who knows."

It made me smile. "Okay, Scuttle, I'll keep going." Then. all of a sudden I could imagine this fluffy seagull tap-dancing next to me as I ran. It's silly I know but after listening to the song, can't you feel it too?

Something else I noticed is one of Sebastian's lines. He says, "Positoovity? Why there's no such word." Okay, Mr. Crabby-pants! (teheh) But Scuttle isn't deterred. He keeps going. And says, "'Course there is! In the dictionary between popsuckle and prehysterical. Believe you me, I've seen it work miracles!" 

How true is that? The power of positivity is SO much more than just positive thinking. It can work MIRACLES!!! Now, don't get me wrong, some things require positivity in addition to a health regime set up by a doctor or therapist etc. What I like to take away from this though is the idea that being positive, having the best outlook on life no matter what you're dealing with, can truly help you with anything you might be facing. School. Work. A baby who won't sleep. Depression. All of those things in one bundle. Bills. A crappy car. Burning calf muscles. A positive outlook won't make those things go away but it can help the situation not seem so gargantuan and help you through it. That is what I think the word "positoovity" really means.

Got it?

I don't really think the writers of the song thought, "Gee, Caitlin will need this song for running just as much as Ariel is going to need it for when she gets her legs and has to kiss Prince Eric!" but here you have it. So, here is my challenge to you via Scuttle:

Let that POSITOOVITY work for YOU!!! 

Happy positoovitying, friends!

Ready to Run

Don't worry, I'm not going to post about my running experiences every day but I AM going to be writing about it. Often. Why? Because that's what kept me going the first time I started running. 

Running is a weird experience for me. 

My lungs hate it, until about 20 minutes in. 

My feet love it until about 20 minutes after I'm finished.

My brain keeps saying "I can do this!" but my legs start to feel like jello after not too long.

Not only that but I have been on a running "hiatus" for almost a year now because of a stress fracture, followed by flair ups of tendonitis. So, I've been SO chicken pants to start running again. Getting hurt is not fun and I don't want to go through that again. Therefore, I've been avoiding running until today.

This time will be different!!

For example, today I changed some things about how I ran. 

I used the full 5 minutes of my warm up and actually warmed up instead of just jumping right on in to running. I prayed that my body would be able to handle it. I actually used my inhaler. 

I made sure I had a killer playlist. 

And I stretched when I got home. Good, LONG stretching. 

It's been about 20 minutes since I got back home and guess what?

My feet don't hurt like they usually do. They're a little tired but I did just go running to that is to be expected, I think. I also feel really good. My body is a little tired but I know that I was only able to run as well as I did this morning because I gave everything I had and I had divine help. Because I asked for it. 

I am still using my Couch to 5K app on my phone so I didn't run a full 30 minutes or anything but those minutes I was supposed to run, I ran!

So, here goes! 8 weeks of training, 3 days a week. 

Totally doable. 

And on my "off" days I'll be doing my stability ball and Jillian Michaels work outs. 

It's also the first day of Fall Semester classes! I haven't been this excited about school for a long time but this semester, I'm taking some really exciting classes! French and Italian Cinema, Food in the Home, History of Design and Architecture part 2! I'm stoked. 

So, here's to new beginnings! Happy September everyone!

We'll Have a Ball!

For most who know me or follow me on Instagram know that I like to work out. 

I've even given myself the name of "Bike Babe" because about a year ago I had tendonitis bad enough that I had to stop running and turned to biking. 

Lately, biking has only been one of the many workouts I've been doing. I really enjoy water aerobics or aqua zumba, weights, the eliptical and...

THIS.

A weighted stability ball. 

(It doesn't hurt that this Reebok ball is purple!! Love it.)

I think the reason I like this so much is because it's pretty easy to watch TV and workout, which I have done almost everyday since buying it at Target.

Not only that but it comes with a DVD with two workouts. An express 20 minute workout or a 40 minute workout for when you have the time. So, if you're me, you have no excuse to not do the 40 minute workout.

Let me just tell you that it is INTENSE!!

I thought, "Oh, it's just a ball and we're just going to be bouncing on it."

HA! HAHAHA! No.

 This ball is weighted. There is sand in the ball and, by George, if that doesn't up the ante I don't know what will. It's like doing Jillian Michaels with five pound weights strapped to your arms!! My body hurts SO GOOD after finishing a workout which mean two things: 1. Clearly I need to workout like that more because there are muscles that hurt that haven't hurt for ages and 2. It's a good workout.

I think my favorite part about this stability ball is the fact that crunches don't hurt my back. As for my favorite part of the workout? THE INSTRUCTOR!! She's pretty funny and seems really sweet. Encouraging but not forceful. It's basically an awesome 40 minutes of my day. You should try it out!

Bike Babe: Fitness Formula

I'm not the picture of "fitness" so I hope you didn't come here to find a magic formula for fitness. 

And I don't mean to burst your bubble when I say this but if there is anything I have learned, the word magic does not belong anywhere near health/fitness related anything! Unless, of course, we're talking about a MagicBullet blender. 

Moving on. I have had a couple of questions about my workout routine and what I eat etc. Well, nobody is perfect so we'll leave the food out of it until I can really get a better handle on that. (It's getting better everyday but it's not stellar, tweaks need to be made.) 

Anywho, I work out at the gym 4 days a week for at least 45 minutes. If I don't bike the whole time, I'll speed walk a few laps on the track or a treadmill to make up the difference. Two days a week are supposed to be toning days (Jillian Michaels abs, or Tone It Up fitness routines-more info about Tone It Up to come soon).  The last day, Sunday usually, is a walk or nothing. 

So there you have it. My "routine". 

Today's workout: