Today was a landmark day at the gym for me because it marks a milestone in my renewed interest in working out. My workout this afternoon marked six days in a row that I’ve gone to the gym. Sure, it’s no big thing and there are many people reading this who go to the gym religiously everyday and that’s awesome. However, I went back through my Google Calendar and it seems that the last time that I worked out for even five days in a row was May 2007 (and only two of those days were actually spent at a gym). Today I beat my May 2007 numbers.
Sure, it’s not worldwide news and yeah, it’s only six days, but I was surprised at a few things over the last few days. First, I was surprised that it has been two years since I worked out for five days in a row. That’s crazy and it’s really amazing how, once you stop working out regularly, you don’t realize that so much times goes by without a sustained workout program. By the way, I distinctly remember those five days in May 2007 because I walked around Deal, NJ for the first three of those days (which were 3 – 4 mile walks in the evening each time) and I spent the next two days at the now-closed Ocean Fitness Center on Route 35 in Ocean Township, NJ.
Second, I was surprised at how quick the past six days went by. Since I started working full-time in August 2006 I’ve stated over and over again that the 40 hour work week and the 10 hours of commuting each week have been disastrous to my working out. Anyone who tries to get a good workout in when they spend at least 50 hours a week away from home will agree to that statement. Yet, now that I’m a member of a gym that is located a mile and a half (or so) from where I live, there is almost no time spent getting to and from the gym and it’s easier to fit a good hour’s worth of working out into my already strained schedule.
Finally, I was surprised at myself for waking up at unGodly hours during the work week and arriving at the gym between 5:45am and 6:15am each day. That’s crazy. I hate getting up early – hate it! No, I don’t mean that I hate getting up at 6:30am to get ready for work – that’s normal. But getting up between 4:30am and 5:00am is just aggravating. I’ve also been going to bed a little bit earlier around 10:30pm or 11:00pm. That’s a big change from the normal time that I was going to bed, which was around midnight.
I don’t think that I’ll keep this streak going much longer (who knows), but I am pleased to know that when I start teaching at nights again this summer (hopefully), in the fall, and next spring that I’ll be able to keep my workouts going by just going to workout early in the morning!
‘Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise’
I hear ya, Dave. I’ve got the early to bed and early to rise part down as well as being somewhat intelligent – now if I can just get the healthy and wealthy parts down I’d be set!