Exercise and me

Most people hate to hear me say that I'm getting in shape or that I have to lose weight, because I'm a good size already. By comparison to most, I'm pretty small. I'm not going to go on and on about how much I want to lose or anything else. Because we all know what will happen, I will hear you don't need to lose any weight, you're not fat, what I would give to have your body etc.... But I'm not where I want to be.. That is that. I have set goals that I want to achieve, and am working my way to them.

My main goal right now is toning. To tone you actually have to burn excess fat and turn it into muscle. Burning fat is the hard part. To burn fat you have to take in less calories than you use on a daily basis.  I have had 3 children, not to mention they were big babies by most peoples standards. This stretches the skin making it easier for most of us women to just say I'll never look as good as I once did so why try. Well I don't think like that.

So what does that mean for me. I have been exercising almost every day for about two weeks now. I walk/ run anywhere from 2 to 4 miles, plus I use the bike at the gym, for a couple more miles and spend some time on the machines sculpting. I have cut my calorie intake way down, by watching portions, by eating much smarter and counting those calories.

I love the way I feel when I exercise, I always have. Not only the endorphins that my body releases, but I love the physical exertion. As I start a rep the feeling of my muscles contracting and relaxing, the burn that can only be felt as your muscles tear in order to let new cells form. I love the feeling when walking, of forcing myself to just keep going faster, and feel the muscles in my legs burn until you reach that plateau where it is easy again for a while. It is something that no one can describe to you, you just have to feel it yourself, it takes me to my happy place....I know strange, but I love it!

Yes, I have exercised off and on pretty much most of my adult life, whether lifting weights, power walking or classes. I'm glad that I have because I feel good about myself. I may not be the sexiest person out there, but I'm comfortable in my own skin. Does that mean I like to put on a swim suit and strut around for everyone to see, no it doesn't. But I at least put it on.

On the other side of exercising. I have 3 older sisters Judy, Marcia, and Helen. Helen is 3 years older than I am, she had her first heart attack at 25, yes I said 25, she had a triple bypass. A few years ago she had a pacemaker put in, today she is on the heart transplant list. Marcia had her first heart attack about 4 years ago, she is I think 4 years older than me, she might be 5 years. Judy well we wont go into all of Judy's conditions, they are far to many to name.

After Marcia had her heart attack, I was talking to my doctor Dick Swartz. He used to be a very well known heart surgeon before an accident that left him unable to operate, so he became a family doctor. He is also a very dear friend of mine. He contacted a friend who was a heart surgeon and sent me in for some test, echocardiogram, stress test and who knows what else, I was there for hours. I wont go into how gorgeous this doctor was, but he was fine ladies. Before I left he told me that I had the heart of a 25 year old and to keep doing whatever it was that I was doing. Quite the pickup line I thought!

So if for no other reason, we should exercise for our health....Even if you don't want to put on a swimsuit.