Oh, I so love it when the workout is DONE!
 

Done. Check. On with the rest of the day. Know the feeling?

I've been a regular exerciser for decades. Used to be a runner, now I'm a walker. I have a workout space at home, equipped for weight training (as heavy as healthy for home alone workouts). I've done yoga off and on--currently back on. I've done step aerobics, mini-tramp, spinning, ballet.

But not a day goes by that I don't hear my inner little girl whining, "Mom! Do I HAVE TO???" That would be in reference to practicing the piano, washing the dishes, cleaning my room, homework or any other vaguely burdensome requirement.

Now, at age 70, I've been my own "mom" for a long, long time. "She" still gives me the look that means, "Why are you even asking. Just do it." Usually this works.

So if you think someday this exercise thing is going to be as natural as breathing, dream on. As most exercise gurus will tell you, getting started is the hardest part. And for me, it never, never seems to get easier.

But when it's over and done? I feel like a million bucks. Exercise isn't the answer to weight management. That would be diet. But at 70, I can tell you that exercise may be the answer to reaching 80 or 90 or 100 and still being able to take care of myself. So shut up, kid, and get your butt down to the workout mat.

Oh, sorry. I didn't mean YOU. I meant me.

Have a great day. :wave:

LOL, Barb. Captured that feeling perfectly!

It goes double when you KNOW you'll be sore, afterward. I cleaned up two gardens in the front over the w/e. And my butt and lower back are NOT thanking me for it.

But the plants, and my sense of pride in my yard are.

You just described me. Initiating any activity is the hardest part. I ask myself why can't I just go and wash the dishes rather than spending at least a few minutes (or more) debating it. Same goes for vacuuming and other cleaning chores. I try to not listen to that voice that says "no, I don't want to. I want to read a book, watch a video, surf the web". My mother, on the other hand, couldn't not take care of things. I don't think she ever left a dirty dish in the sink even for an hour or left her bed unmade or her suitcase unpacked even if she returned home at midnight. I wish I could stop rebelling against her standards and simply get things done rather then continuing to fight the urge to leave it until later. But I'm only 67. Maybe by age 70 I will have conquered it :) .

Jean

Yes!

Whenever I get the "but I don't WANNA"'s, I remember THAT feeling. Like I'm a size 2 and I can run around the world 3 times and feel the best ever.
And I make myself do it. EVERY. TIME.

I never regret it.

I know this is striking a familiar chord. ;)

Thinking more about this, I came up with this encouragement for Moms and Dads who are exhausted with the millions of times they have to prod, push, wheedle, and scream to get their kids to do stuff.

Think of it as installing the "Mean Mom" or "Mean Dad" software! It's tough to install, but it will serve your offspring for life.

The thing we all know is, good habits go away on their own if not mindfully practiced. Bad habits entrench themselves if not mindfully eradicated. So, we're in the business of establishing mindfulness. Self-discipline, delayed gratification, all that stuff that makes life a little easier as time goes by.

Thanks, Mom. And Dad. (But I'm pretty sure it was mostly Mom!)

:lol: Barb, my dad's greatest contribution was being frugal with the little things.

He'd go downstairs to do something, see the lights were on, and call whoever was last down there (usually me or my closest in age brother) to come down and turn the lights off.

Drove us NUTS, because he'd then turn them right back on. But I did the same thing to my kids.

As did Husband, their stepdad. :lol: :agree: