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

I love this motivational poster:

It reads:

With the new day comes new strength and thoughts.

• Eleanor Roosevelt

I have been doing yoga every day for months now and it has really helped my back. I wrote back in April 2014 about how my back had become weak:

• Starling Fitness – Fitness, diet, and health weblog » Better to Look Weak And Be Strong

I strained my back just walking yesterday. I didn’t pick up something too heavy or twist wrong. All I was doing was walking. THAT’S how weak I’ve become. But I don’t know how to get back to my weight-lifting regime without setting off my exercise bulimia.

The answer was, I didn’t. I haven’t gone back to weight-lifting. My exercise bulimia has been held back, and I’ve been able to strengthen my back with yoga instead of weight-lifting. The slow and patient movements of yoga don’t seem to set off my exercise bulimia and I am stronger.

Sometimes, I only do yoga for five minutes, but I get my body on the mat every day so I can keep the habit. Just like walking the dog every day, I have been able to incorporate it into my routine. Just like the poster says, with each new day, I have new strength and new thoughts. I am so grateful for my recovery and it comes from making sure I hit the mat every day for at least five minutes.