There are moments in working out where I have to remind myself- I won’t look like a Victoria’s Secret model because I like things like chocolate. And bread.
And tequila.
And I have to tell myself it’s ok if I don’t look like them as long as I am healthy and working to stay that way.
But man do I struggle some days when I look in the mirror and I don’t have the perfect abs like the girl on my Pinterest board.
I heard the other day on the radio that the CDC estimates that only 20% of US adults get the daily recommended dosage of exercise. Twenty Percent. Maybe 40 million out of the 400 million people in the United States. How do we consider that number ok? How do we not scream and riot in the streets? How do we not get disgusted with the example we are setting for the impressionable youth of today?
I have moments where I fear I am not doing enough. That working out several days a week and trying to maintain a decent diet is not good enough. I like to call it former fat kid mentality. I have to sit back and readjust how I think because their is a very fine line between being health conscious and unhealthily obsessed.
I try to instill my beliefs in living a healthy lifestyle with the kids I babysit. And I am so lucky to have had kids that are super active and love to be outdoors. The other day we did the deck of cards workout outside, while the kids took alternating turns on an electric scooter my dad saved and refurbished from the dump.
They love to take my dogs for mile long walks and then to come back and take the little dogs for half mile walks- mostly because Nala is rotund and can’t make it past that.
They constantly inspire me to strive for more- both physically and mentally. The other day I took them to Jumpology and spent an hour hurling myself into the air in order to try and keep up. Jumping tag- is exhausting. Period. But they made it awesome and worth it.
I have also been lucky enough to get in a few PT workouts with my best friend. He keeps kicking my butt and pushing me to work harder and get stronger. And that has certainly helped me feel a lot better about myself and my workouts.
So I have to remind myself not to compare and not to feel guilty. Not to be upset that I can’t run 15 miles and look like a fitness angel. I need to not doubt myself and the journey I am on.
Because fitness is a journey. There are ups and downs. There are moments of triumph and moments of disappointment- but you can always pick yourself up and keep going. You can always do better.
I just need to keep that in mind today and this week as I prep for my first triathlon. As I maybe run a little slower or bike a little differently then I planned.
-Kerith
