As the new year starts and many people make resolutions to
get in better shape, I wonder if I should resolve to not work out. You see, I am addicted to exercise. I am in very good shape and a highly capable
athlete, though my station in life nor job requires me to be. Besides the fact that I love being such a
physically capable person, the biggest (and most consistent) high I get out of
life is from my workouts. I have never
used drugs of any sort to get high, so I cannot adequately speak to that, but the
natural high I get from working out has served me so well that I see no reason
to ever use drugs. Plus, I get other
benefits from my workouts besides the high.
Because of my staunch regime of workouts, I considered
giving it up. The regime has been OCD
in nature, as I have worked out nearly every day of my life since I was about
12 years old. When I say every day, I
mean every day, save the days I was hospitalized or recovering from surgery. This was through college and grad school and
working full-time. These are good
workouts, lasting at least an hour and sometimes lasting nearly two or
three. How has my body not worn
out? Because I vary the workouts. Cardio/running at least 3 times a week,
between 5-15 miles a time. Weight training
at least twice a week, varying the weights I use and switching between
developing muscular strength and endurance.
And finally sprinkling in low impact workouts like hiking/walking and
yoga. It has become such a part of my
life that I think it would be harder to give it up, than for a person who hates
exercise to start working out. I think
it qualifies as an addiction.
Feeding this is the literature and evidence that exercise
improves your health and makes you look better.
While those are benefits I enjoy, the thing I love most is how I feel
great during and afterwards. I feel so
confident and capable. I am less
irritable and it has been shown that exercise acts as an acute buffer against
stress during the day (which is one reason that I favor morning workouts). The social aspect is and can be nice for
many people, but I have always been a lone wolf when it comes to workouts, even
when I was playing team sports (ice hockey and cheerleading).
Maybe I shouldn’t give up exercise entirely, but just tone
it down. Or perhaps be more forgiving
if I miss a workout. The problem is,
missing it is not only just not doing the workout. It is like walking by an old friend that you
want to give a hug to, or passing up an
interview for your dream job. It is
MISSING it. It seems I have a good
deal of energy and passion that might be redirected. I am applying for a program in grad
school. If I get in, maybe my faculties
would be better served to excel in that area.
I could utilize the discipline from my workouts to succeed in my new
field. I will have to think about that
on my run tomorrow. Runs are so helpful
because they help me clear my mind and organize my thoughts.
On second thought, I will continue to work out. When part or all of my body gives out, that
will be time to stop J
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