No Day But TODAY

Those who know me well know that RENT is my absolute FAVORITE Broadway show. I have seen it twice in NY and hear that it is closing this summer and hope to see it again before it leaves NYC. I think its popularity has decreased since the release of the movie.. which is great, but cannot compete with the Broadway show... no way no how. It's a story of people.... living... with many odds against them...one of the main characters, Angel, lives with the philosophy of "No Day But TODAY." Angel inspires all of the people who surround her... there is something that touches me so deeply in that show... in the music from that show. I listen to the soundtrack so often, and may have mentioned I even work out to it at the gym.

Which brings me to the part of the No day but today philosophy that got me off my BFA (Big...Fat...A...) and got me to the gym. I sat around today being lazy... and enjoying it. I had a list of things I needed to do today and by 2:30 or so had accomplished none of it. I had made plans to meet Sue at the gym at 4:00... and as the time approached and I was still not dressed, I started talking myself out of going. But... around 3:00 I had had enough of myself... and got ready to go. I called Sue at 3:30 as I was leaving my house and told her I was going to be there earlier than anticipated because if I didn't go then... I wasn't going to go. AS it worked out she didn't make it to the gym... which means I could have not gone and not let someone else down... but I had promised myself that I would... and I am glad that I did.

My workout today was awesome... not because of the amount of things I did, but because it felt different. I started out with the elliptical machine...did my half mile, in 7 minutes...which is faster than last time... did some leg exercises including calf raises... I am determined to get the definition back in my calf muscles that has been gone for a long time. then I did 25 minutes on the bike... which yielded 6.5 miles... the furthest I have gone in that amount of time... and I did it at a higher resistance than usual. While I was on the elliptical machine I broke out in a sweat... and realized that while my other workouts have caused me to feel a little sweaty.. I had not, in a long time, sweat like you do when you are really pushing yourself in a workout. Going to the gym since surgery has been a work out... but has been more of an activity hour... and it has been good for me. And after I have done it, I feel good and proud of myself... even though my body is often tired and achy afterwards. My body may get sore and stiff tonight, but following my workout I felt physically stronger than I have in a long time. I felt like I can stand up taller because my back is stronger...and I noticed I was walking around the gym without being as cautious to make sure I calculate every step... reminds me of when I first came home from the hospital... doing ANYTHING took so much mental energy as well as physical energy because nothing was automatic. Since that time all of my moves are done with caution... Today, I realized when I was on the elliptical... I was singing to my music... not thinking about each stride. Yay!

At the end of my biking, a woman started using the bike next to me. She was short, slender, with a yoga-ish look about her. She asked me if I could help her figure out how to change the levels on the bike. I showed her and she thanked me... saying that she didn't want to be wimpy and start out on level 1... then she looked at my screen and was surprised I was at level 11...and said she hopes to get to that level soon.. .she said she had not worked out in a long time, 4 years or so... and she was embarrassed because she used to be a kickboxing instructor and should have not let go of her level of fitness and routine. I told her that I was in a similar boat... had not been able to work out for some time... and that getting to the gym was the hardest part. I told her that she was doing well...

It's a good reminder... that each of us are where we are... whether it be fitness... or in other areas of our lives. And if we do our best... then we are doing well.

I also once again... went shopping... for good food... and will once again begin Dr. Phil's eating program tomorrow. Tomorrow will also mark the beginning of another class towards my master's degree. Mondays will be long days and I will not work out tomorrow.

I want to keep feeling stronger... walking taller....no pun intended...and enjoy today.... No Day but TODAY!!!

Oh yeah... on a disappointing note.... there was no eye candy at the gym tonight... and none of my crushes anywhere...