After fanatically sticking to my exercising while away for Thanksgiving, and not gaining any weight at all, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Until, that is…last Monday. It was my last day visiting our son, Garrett, in Austin. I got up at my usual 4:40 am, quietly tip toed down stairs to the living room where my mat, weights and DVD’s had been set up. Everyone in the house was sleeping, like normal people do. I was all dressed in my workout clothes except for my running shoes. I sat down on my mat to put them on.
Then it happened. My back went out. Just like that. Doing absolutely nothing. Reaching to tie my shoes. Pathetic. After all the strenuous exercising and craziness of the last few months with boot camp and “Insanity,” I pull my back out tieing my shoes.
Backs are tricky and they can incapacitate you for a couple of days or a couple of months. My first reaction was to the pain. I could barely catch my breath. Then I suddenly became depressed. How long would I have to refrain from my exercise routine? All I could think of was… it took months to get my body into shape, but it would probably only take a few days or weeks before it turned to “mush.”
Here is what I know for sure. I must have finally crossed over the line from “hate exercising” to feeling guilty when I don’t do it. I miss the feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment I get when I am done. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t like getting out-of-breath, or feeling hot and sweaty, which is a new feeling for me. I do however, look and feel better when I exercise. I honestly believe staying fit through exercise and eating well are now life-long habits. I created them through perseverance and believing in myself.
So Monday morning, I plan on being down in my basement ready to begin again. Tuesday morning I will go to Body Pump and Wednesday, I will start my Hip Hop Abs. All very cautiously.
Diane 
