What? New beginnings? Is it January already? Nope. For many of us, there are two “beginnings” per calendar year. January is the obvious one. But, September is another month for beginnings: back to school, new routines or activities, and maybe lifestyle changes.
As September lurks around the corner, maybe you’ve started to think about taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill, or even getting in shape. I know that feeling. I’ve been there. It was 10 years ago this month that I had a big wake up call when I fell off my bike. I was on a very easy ride with friends who were 10 years older than me. Cycling had always been easy for me. Yet on that day, I could not keep up. Being the stubborn woman that I am, I pedalled on. I pedalled until my body basically quit and I toppled over. Well, that was embarrassing! It was also a big “what the hell” moment!
Started small
Falling off the bike woke me up. I decided right then and there that something needed to change. I didn’t want to commit to a signing up for a gym membership and then not go. I’d already done that. I didn’t want to fail at this. I started by taking walks after dinner. So, three times per week, I headed out. The first few times, my shins hurt, I had stitches in my sides, and I was out of breath. But, I kept on walking. Within a few days, I started to sleep better; my moods improved; my legs felt good. The effects weren’t just physical. It made me happy to be outdoors. I loved watching the seasons change. Since I started walking in September, I enjoyed the changing of the colours, followed by the inevitable cold gusts of November, and the first snow of the year. I loved all of it. I certainly didn’t expect to like walking as much as I did.
The power of walking
Over the next 16 months, my fitness improved and I was walking longer distances. As a bonus, I lost some weight. I felt lighter on my feet. Aches and pains disappeared. I was walking about 30 kms a week. Regardless of the weather, I went out. I wore lots of layers and equipped myself with crampons (I didn’t want to risk a fall). At one point I realized that my body was craving more. I needed more than walking. Maybe I needed to revisit the option of joining a gym.
Stepping it up
On January 6, 2009 I walked into a local gym. The girl at reception asked if I wanted a personal trainer. I’d never had a trainer and wasn’t sure. But, on an impulse I said yes. I figured that I’d see the trainer once every couple of months to change up my program. At first that’s what I did. As luck would have it, I got an awesome trainer, Mathieu. I’d meet with him, go over my objectives and progress. Then, he’d give me a program. As the year progressed, I became fitter. Muscles started to appear on my arms. That was very cool. I was having fun and I wasn’t skipping the gym. Over the years, I’ve met some awesome folks at the gym and formed new friendships. I’m so grateful for these new friendships. They are my kindred spirits. Regardless of our ages or backgrounds, we all love being active.
Small changes, big improvements
What changed from the other times when I’d join a gym and then not go? One thing I did differently was blocking off gym times in my calendar. They were no different from other commitments. They were appointments I had with myself. The workouts became regular appointments and non-negotiable. I learned to say “no” whenever something came up on a gym day. Just adding my workouts to my calendar made a huge difference for me. I also decided to go to the gym directly from work. I knew that if I went home, I wouldn’t leave. So, instead I headed straight to the gym. I did this three times per week. On the weekends, I’d head out for long walks, hikes or for a bike ride.
September resolutions
When someone asks me for advice on getting in shape, I strongly urge they do 3 things:
- Start simple: a post dinner walk is a terrific way to start. It costs you nothing. There’s no pressure. As an added bonus, you get to spend time in the great outdoors which gives you a ton of benefits. As you get fitter, you might decide that you want to try a gym. Or maybe not. Either way, the most important thing is to keep moving. How? Well, by
- Do something you like. You won’t go to a gym if you hate the gym. But, do you like to dance? How about a zumba class? Intrigued by boxing? There are boxing classes to try. Are you a bit of a daredevil? There are activities for you too.
- Find a someone to be accountable to, besides yourself. This could be a trainer, friend, family member. It’s a lot harder to skip a walk or workout if someone else is counting on you.
Go ahead. Give yourself the gift of wellness. You deserve it. If I can do it, anyone can.
