5.06.2012

The Starting Line

Before you start any new workout plan, it's important to know your body: what it can do, what it can't, and what you want it to do. I hate trying to follow along with a DVD or pictures of moves performed by insanely fit and flexible people. It doesn't inspire me; it discourages me. Why? I will never be able to bend my body in half like this. So here's what I know about my body:

1. I am inflexible. Sit-and-reach was my worst nightmare during gym class fitness tests. One of my main fitness goals is to increase my flexibility. Baby steps here. I'll be trying out yoga and pilates-inspired moves little by little, but not enough to burn me out.

2. I have weak arms. After playing soccer for 18 or so years, I got pretty beastly legs. Downside, my arms were mostly ignored for that time. I won't be focusing all of my moves just on toning my arms; I'll be doing total body workouts. But I'll be looking for lots of ways to tone up my arms specifically.

3. Although I'm pretty out of shape right now, I'm an athlete. My body has the capacity to do amazing things when I push it to the limit. So whenever I feel overwhelmed, like I can't do it, I have to think about what I can do. Things I've done before. Two-a-days in the blazing heat. 80 minute games with no subs. A million different kinds of sprints. Grueling stadium laps after a timed mile and a half. My body is capable. I just need to get my mind on that level.

Tomorrow is the big day. The beginning of the 5k training and cooking healthy recipes. I've taken my starting measurements and weight. I've never been a believer in the scale, because I don't feel like it's a very good gauge of my progress. I'm looking forward to seeing if my measurements change even if the scale doesn't budge.

Anyone else at the starting line with me?


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