Exercise: love it, hate it, or ignore it as much as possible. We all know we should exercise. I’m told there are people out there who really love it. I’m not one of them.
Since the beginning of 2016 I’ve been making an effort drink more water (as opposed to the diet colas that are to me, what coffee is to others) and to move more. In the last month, I’ve increased those efforts, largely because I’m tired of hearing the doctor talk about various numbers being up and how diet and exercise can help lower them.
It hasn’t been easy, but I’m seeing results, and I find that gives me the impetus to continue. But loving to exercise? Not in this lifetime.
Exercise Love– I Just Don’t Understand It
She says she loves to exercise;
it’s almost an addiction.
I just don’t understand it.
It feels righteous to say
I have exercised,
to know that I have pushed myself
to do something I know I should do.
But loving? Addiction? No,
I just don’t understand it.
On a summer afternoon
when the sun is high and hot above,
dressed in black from head to foot,
I see her run down the road,
jogging in place as she waits for traffic.
I just don’t understand it.
Just watching this madness
leaves me feeling faint.
I drive home in my air conditioned car,
and head into my air conditioned house.
I grab a bottle of water from the fridge
before I pop in the DVD that will urge me
to walk three miles and burn up calories.
I listen to the beat and march along,
pushing myself through each mile,
telling myself to keep going,
it’s not much further now,
and I can do this.
I’m too much of a couch potato
to ever come to love exercise;
I just don’t understand that at all.
I love when it’s done.
I love when the effort shows results.
That I can understand.
~Elise Skidmore ©2016
Note: If you’re interested in which DVDs I’m talking about in this poem, I’d recommend you check out Leslie Sansone at Amazon. I’ve found them to be very doable, for all shapes, sizes and ages. My most recent acquisition includes a new mom and an 80 year old woman walking their way to fitness. You can’t do it wrong, as long as you’re moving.
Hey make it as fun as you can.. Love ya kiddo!
We do what we can. I keep trying, but like I said, it will never be an addiction for me. And I’m really starting to crave gooey chocolatey stuff. LOL.
Nice one, and funny.
Thanks, Alan!
I really did see some woman jogging down the road in near 90 degree temperatures, wearing all black, long pants and long sleeves. I couldn’t believe anyone would be stupid enough to do that. Looked like a recipe for heat stroke to me. I get hot enough just doing the 3 mile power walk in the house.
I hear you Elise. I used to like Zumba but I just can’t muster the energy for it. These days my exercise is taking care of grandchildren! That I don’t mind at all. Keep up the good work?
Thanks, Rosemary! We take the exercise where we can get it and however we can muster it up. I’m sure running after toddlers is an excellent workout!