The Risk of Putting Exercise on Pause

Several months have rolled by since I wrote a post about my exercise routine. I’m happy to report that I’m still at it, although the setting and some of the equipment have changed. I am no longer in the same home, and consequently, the view I have from my exercise mat is different. Instead of a view of the Victoria harbour, I now look out at the Georgia Straight, several kilometers down the coast.

Last fall I initiated a major lifestyle change, and as sometimes happens with change, I lost my motivation to keep up my usual routine, opting instead for a short daily walk interspersed with sporadic efforts to lift weights.

Fortunately, walking is always accessible—the only requirement being your own two feet. And fortunately, when I moved, I packed my exercise ball and mat, although they remained in a box in a closet for several weeks.

Recently, I made a half-hearted effort to resume working out. My first session was short. I only managed three minutes of warming up, followed by a few sit-ups and some dumbbell curls. I left the weights and ball in a prominent place in my front room, with the hope that seeing them there would motivate me to try again. My strategy worked, and it was enough to prompt me to try again.

My body responds well to exercise. Even one or two sessions make me feel more vigorous and alive. So, I’m back in a daily routine, albeit, watered down, and not nearly as ambitious as before, but I seem to be on my way to regaining some of my previous dedication.

I am heartened by my ability to pick up and start again, proving to myself and perhaps others, that we should never let a lapse in a fitness routine become permanent. The good feeling you experience after exercising may be all you need to motivate you to get off the couch and work out for even a few minutes every day. There is always the hope that an exercise routine will become a habit you will never break!