Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

When was the last time you enjoyed exercise?

What about it did you enjoy?

The last time I REALLY enjoyed exercise was when I came home from my trip to SXSW. On the trip, I had been working out at the hotel gym, which is different than my weight bench and treadmill at home. I also had to share the equipment with other people, which I hate. I didn’t have to deal with any gross, sweaty people, but I’m kind of spoiled now. I don’t want to have to wait for equipment. I want to go from exercise to exercise quickly without having to ask the 98 pound girl for the 8 pound weights. I just want to go through my workout without seeing or talking to anyone. I didn’t realize I had gotten so set in my ways until I had to “play nice” at the hotel gym.

When I got home from my trip, I looked forward to working out at home. The next morning, I walked downstairs to my claustrophobic basement and enjoyed every minute of my weight training workout. I even upped my weights because I was in that good of a mood. I just moved from one exercise to another seamlessly. The weight training portion of the workout only took about 30 minutes and I was disappointed when it was over. I even considered doing another circuit, but I worried about overworking my muscles, so I kept it simple.

After the weight training, I went upstairs and rode the bike on my bike trainer. I have my bike placed right in front of the television in the living room, so I can watch whatever I want. I put in a DVD and pedaled away without even feeling it. I kept checking my heart rate monitor to make sure I was still in the high zone. I was easily above that mark and I just kept riding for longer than I needed to.

I think I liked this workout so much because I was able to just get in and get it done very easily without having to encounter any other people. I didn’t have to check in at a desk. I didn’t have to wait for the 8 pound weights. I didn’t have to try to learn new machinery. I didn’t have to spray down the bike after I was done. All I had to do was wake up, get dressed and work out.

I don’t remember working out at home being so easy before. I used to have a full weight system, treadmill, exercise bike and stair stepper at home when we lived in the huge house in the suburbs and I don’t ever remember enjoying a workout at home as much as I did the other day. I don’t know what’s different. Maybe it was the years of working out at the gym and dealing with other peoples’ sweat that has made me so grateful to just stay home. Maybe exercise is just more of a habit for me. I don’t know, but I’m sure glad that it feels this good.