Finding Self-Esteem in Exercise

I am approaching the two-month mark on my decision to live a healthier lifestyle.  A death in the family and the horrendous tubing trip led to almost a week-long fall off the wagon, but I was determined not to let a lapse turn into a relapse.

I’m trying not to stick too closely to the scale, as I believe that can lead to doubts and loss in self-esteem. Instead, I am going to let my loose clothes, compliments, and overall feeling of wellness speak for my success.

However, after a month or two, one’s pound-droppage starts to plateau. It’s time to ante up on the exercise!

Now, for someone who sits at a cubicle for the majority of her day and gets teased because every single time she walks from one building to the next, she trips at least once, I am probably not the best candidate for major athletics.  In fact, anything involving a ball terrifies me, which is funny, since I regularly attempt to play tennis (hey, one day, Roger Federer will come to his senses and realize I’m The One).  And on my second day of my job, I thought it would be great to tackle the walking trail that circled the perimeter of the main building and the garden (I still think it’s awesome that we have a garden at work).  I gave myself a goal of walking the circle six times and would try to build up from there.

I walked two laps. I thought I was going to die.

Never mind it was a gillion degrees outside, I felt so defeated that two simple laps kicked my ass that hard.  It felt like such an epic fail that I immediately went home and inevitably drowned myself in fried Southern food and sweets.

Now I know better, as I have seen that fateful scale number that led to all of this change. But I am still scared.  So, what can you do to get back into the game when you have been out for awhile?

Here are a few tips:

1. Walk before you run:  Running and jogging are high-injury sports because your feet hit the ground with a force greater than twice your body weight.
2. So what if you can only do two laps?  Or only a walk to the mailbox? So what?  Try it again the next day. Go a little further each day.  Soon enough, you’ll be running across the United States like Forrest Gump. Or, at least six laps won’t seem like such a big deal.
3. Try biking or swimming.  They’re fun, and they don’t seem like exercise.  Pedaling and swimming are also safer than running or jogging because you pedal in a smooth rotary motion and when you swim, and the buoyancy of the water dampens forces on your muscles.
4. Move for your self-esteem:  you can move to lose weight, to build muscle, or to generally get in shape, but when you start moving, after the initial couple of days of shame, soreness, and defeat, you start to feel pretty good.  Things that used to anger you melt away after a half-hour of sweating on the track.  After awhile, you’ll start to feel better not only because you look better, but because your whole outlook on life will seem better.  You will sleep better and have more energy to do more things.  Yes, I know it’s hard to get started (I’m there!) but it is worth it!!
5. Try low-impact activities like Wii Sports.  If you start off with Wii Fitness games, eventually you will feel confident that you can hold that Swan Pose and will want to move on to more challenging tasks.
6. Get involved in team activities, like neighborhood Frisbee or volleyball. So what if you suck at it? You’ll be moving, you’ll be outdoors, and you’ll be amidst a real-life social climate.

It’s tough getting back on the wagon, especially if you’ve grown accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle.  But getting back in the game will help you live a longer, happier, and more fulfilled life.

What do you do to get moving? Share your tips here!

Other Gems from Jeb

• Diagnose Me: Part One (3)
• Coming of Age in Gray Hair Only (0)
• Regarding Baseball and Such (1)
• Chocolate Therapy (0)
• A Testament to Character (0)