An Exercise Nut By Any Other Name

Linda Bilodeau’s novels include: The Olive Branch A Tale of Resistance, Stepping through Seagrass and The Wine Seekers. Her new novel, The Reluctant CEO is nearly finished. She is an MFA student at Spalding University and has won awards for some of her short stories.

                                    An Exercise Nut by Any Other Name

I’m an exercise nut, there’s not question about it. I’ve been faithful to a daily gym workout for the seven years we’ve lived in Florida. I started my daily workouts because I wanted to lose weight. But then, as I pushed myself harder and faster, was able to climb treadmill hills, was able to run about 5 miles an hour, I found myself looking forward to going to the gym, hooked, as they say, on the rush of endorphins a good fast pace gives you.

Not too long ago, I saw my son who lives in another state. “You look good Mom,” he said. (Always nice to get a compliment from one’s son.) “Still exercising?”

“Of course,” I replied. “Wouldn’t give it up for the world.”

“Still practicing the ‘get up and do it before you’re conscious’ routine?”

My child knows me well. I do get out of bed at six every morning (5 days a week) and head to the gym before eating or drinking anything and before my conscious mind wakes too much. I know on the mornings that I forget to set my alarm or on the mornings I sleep in, (Not many of those) I find myself procrastinating and (yikes) sometimes skipping the workout all together.

But as with many things in life, one must work hard and stay consistent in order to achieve a goal. I set the goal of exercising daily, and I stick to it if only on autopilot and the reward is; lower blood pressure, a healthy heart, firm muscles and more energy. Not to mention how well my clothes fit me. The pain is worth it.

What really keeps me going are the others who work out early too. The acquaintances who have turned into friends. We exchange hellos, pats on the back, a point about a newscast. And everyone leaves with a smile and maybe a limp or a complaint about a sore knee or painful muscle cramp, but know we’ve achieved our goal for just one more day.

Best to you,

Linda Bilodeau

www.lindabilodeau.com