Happy April everyone!  A few weeks ago, we talked about the benefits of exercise.  There were 43 on my list and I know there are many more than that.

After reviewing it and taking a hard look at my own life, I realized that I am very good at letting you know what is good for you but I have neglected my own fitness for almost 5 months. (gasp!  Dr. Peggy hasn’t been exercising?)

I did talk to you in a previous post about how taking an occasional break from sport and exercise can be a good thing to give your body a rest and to give you an emotional psychological break as well. 

This break, for a short period of time, will give your body time to heal and will give you some perspective on the reasons why you do your sport and what it means to you.

I have really enjoyed my break but I’ll admit that I have indulged in my break this time perhaps more than I should have.

So…..

On Friday, I took an invitation from a good friend to work out with her and her trainer.  The workout was amazing.  It consisted of really great cutting edge functional strength training which mirrors my philosophies on maintaining balance in the body and moving your muscles, bones and joints in the way they were designed.

And it was fun!

On Saturday and Sunday, I had trouble moving, breathing, sneezing, walking, and sitting up as every muscle in my body had been reminded of what was supposed to be doing over the past 5 months while instead they were in hibernation.

That good pain that shows up after a great workout reminded me that almost everything that is worth it in this life takes a few bumps and a bit of pain or discomfort to get to.

All the parents that I know would agree with this statement.  (perhaps the moms more so after pushing a watermelon out of their bodies :))  The pain of birth and parenting is worth the outcome in their kids and family.

Every student preparing for exams and getting through their courses would agree that the discomfort of studying and pulling all-nighters and slugging out the years it takes to get their education is worth the knowledge they have at the end of it.

Every business owner I know, who suffered the intensity and hard work of building a business would agree that seeing a business working successfully is worth that discomfort.

In the same way, I am willing to suffer this short-term pain because I know that the outcome to my fitness and my health is totally worth it.

Already after only 4 days and 2 workouts here are some things that I have noticed:

-My skin looks and feels better

-My hair looks better

-I have slept amazing

-I feel more in tune with my body

-Food tastes so good and I’m craving healthier foods.

– It is well documented that regular exercise will help to increase your performance in all other areas of your life.  For me the routine of getting back into exercise has inspired me to create more order at home and at work by being more organized.

I will be working with my friend and her trainer for the next 4 weeks to start 2X/week to get back on track.  I will also be heading to yoga 2X/week. 

It takes 21 days to create a habit and so I know that if I can suffer the temporary discomfort of the new routine and the delayed onset muscle soreness (that was very evident in my muscles this past weekend) for the next 3 weeks, then I will be well on my way to creating a routine that will be much easier for me to maintain.

I’m telling you here because hopefully it will inspire you to get your body moving and also because it will increase my accountability to my fitness….so please feel free to ask me about it and to hold me to it.

If you need help to get moving, to get more fit, to eat better, to get healthier…..I am here to help.

In the next few weeks, I am going to be offering you a challenge.  A challenge to take control of your health, to work toward whatever health and wellness goals that you have been thinking about in the back of your mind but haven’t quite made a commitment to.

This challenge won’t cost you anything except your commitment to making a positive change in your health. 

So stay tuned and in the meantime, start thinking about what areas of your health and wellness you would like to change or improve.

There are such good things in your future in 2011 and beyond. 🙂

Peggy

Dr. Peggy Malone is a Chiropractor and an Athlete who helps other athletes to overcome injury and get back to their sport. She also inspires patients from all walks of life to take control of their health to be as happy and as healthy as they can be.

A former varsity Basketball and Rugby player, she has since entered the world of endurance athletics where she has completed 2 Ironman Triathlons, 3 Marathons, several Half Marathons and many other Triathlons, Road Races and Off-Road Adventure races of varying distances.

Her own athletic endeavors and injuries have given her valuable insight into working with athletes in her practice for both the care of injuries as well as for the improvement of athletic performance.