Fun Run

Fit Day Friday

Working out tends to be the biggest challenge for those wanting to get in shape. The thought of physically exerting yourself just does not sound appealing, but once it becomes a part of your every day life, it is an easy part of your routine.

My Freshman year roommate in college was a runner and tried to get me to go with her every time she went. She made it fun for herself by running around campus one day, running at the gym another day, running around the stadium the next day, etc. She liked the change of scenery to keep her exercise exciting. Still, it did not sound exciting enough for me to ever want to go.

I have found running to be the best way, hands down, to lose weight and keep it off. It is an amazing cardio work-out, and being heart-healthy is really what will shed those pounds. Don't throw yourself into running, though, and expect your body to be able to tolerate a strong 30 minutes of complete running from the beginning. I started off with a brisk 30 minute walk around my neighborhood. To my surprise one morning, I felt the urge to run a little. I followed the same course every day that consisted of a big square. "When I turn the corner, I will try to run that next block the entire way," I thought to myself. The corner approached, and off I went! It only took about 30 seconds to finish that part of the square, and I was completely winded. It felt great! A few days later, I felt the urge to run a bit more. "OK, this time I will run one part of the square, walk the next, then run the 3rd part, and walk to the last," I thought with confidence that I could do it. To my disbelief, I was running just as much distance that I was walking. I was out of breath and sweating up a storm, but mentally I was as energetic as ever. Little by little, my body kept wanting to add more running to the work-out, and it almost felt like a game my mind was playing with my body. Before too long, I was running the entire 30 minutes. My roommate could not believe that I had turned into a runner, nor could I, and it was a complete shock to know that I was having so much fun with it.

Make it a game, make it fun, and do not push yourself too much. 6 months might seem like a long time to see change, but looking back, 6 months is insignificant when compared to the 5 years that I have kept this routine up. "Slow and steady wins the race." That tortoise from the fable was a smart guy...