Get Fit: Activity

 In the last eight days, I have been active.  Like, super active, at least compared to my normal schedule.  I have done yoga five times and walked 15 miles.  My body feels...strange.  It's been a long time since I've forced my body to do this much work.  I can feel a soreness all over, but it isn't really a soreness.  I'm not sure how to describe it, but I can feel muscles that I normally can't.  Like my hamstrings.  Unless I do something to pull or aggravate them, I can't usually feel them.  Now, as I lie in bed typing this, I can feel them.  I can feel my biceps.  I can feel my latissimus dorsi.  (Are you impressed?  Yep - I know all the muscles in the upper body.  When I was a kid, my dad would tuck me in at night, pray with me, and then make me name all the muscles in my upper body.  If I got it wrong, he'd pinch that muscle.  My dad was a coach.  It's normal.)  I feel really really good.

I have LOVE LOVE LOVED yoga.  It's so nice, and I've been going at 6 AM, which is perfect because I can get home, showered, and in some cases, chores done before my family even wakes.  My favorite part of the work out is the cool-down, because I start to anticipate how good I'm going to feel walking out to my car, driving home, and starting my day with all this extra energy.  It's also very meditative (at least, when my mind is not fiercely concentrating on staying upright), and though they tell you to focus on yourself and block everything else from your mind, I use this time to pray and thank God for the blessings in my life.  It's great.

And I have enjoyed walking, too.  Part of it is because the weather has been SO nice.  Not sure I'll share this sentiment four weeks from now. :(

And lastly, I have given up the 30 Day Shred.  At first, I was being really hard on myself and forcing my body to do it, but my back hurts so badly when I do it and for hours and days afterward.  I am a rule-follower by nature, and since I set this goal, I view it as a rule and something to which I must adhere.  But I'm letting myself off the hook on this one.  I have another appointment with my back doctor tomorrow, but for now I am giving up the 30DS.  And I'm okay with that.