Getting back into the groove of movin'

Posted by:
Maya Mohan, Department of Public Health

Maya is the Physical Activity Coordinator for DPH.  And needs your advice!

So, I have a question for you.  Have you ever been “good” about getting in your workouts regularly only to then have something throw you off your game?  And, then the worst part… to be off your game for so long that you don’t realize it’s been like, I don’t know, say a month, and now you’re wondering how to just get back into the game (never mind, trying to get back into the game at the level you were previously playing at)? 

I have a confession to make:  this is kind of where I am right now.  And, as a person who’s job title is physical activity coordinator, I feel guilty -- really, really guilty -- that I haven’t gotten to the gym in a month.  I try and take little lunchtime walks here and there so I’m getting in at least a teeny bit of activity, but truthfully, I’m just not feeling the workouts right now.

Have you experienced this before?  How have you overcome it?  I (personally) could use your advice - and hopefully, others out there will relate to my temporary state of inertia as well, and could use your tips too! 

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Comments

[Maya]

Hi Beth! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. I do feel better when I'm more active - and I think that doing things that are out of my usual workout routine may make it more enticing for me to get back into it. I love that you set the 1/2 marathon as your goal! I would love to run a half... Maybe I could set that as a goal for myself... Hmm... something to think about. Thanks again and good luck - rest up and heal your injury! You have a 1/2 marathon to run :-)

[Beth]

I feel you, Maya! I did the same last winter and finally chose the typical New Year as my "motivation". I say chose because when I thought about why I wanted to work out again I realized my motivation was really so I could feel happier, more relaxed and in control, and more confident again. I knew I could be fit...I'd been there once! :0) I also wanted to find peace with some other things that were going on in my life and often use jogging/gym time as my introspection time. I also realized that it was when I was being active before (not just "exercising" at the gym but outside running, playing soccer/softball/volleyball etc) that I was my happiest and most energetic.

So to hold myself accountable I set the goal of finishing a half marathon without stopping and told everyone I could, specifically friends who had completed a half or full since I knew they would be encouraging me to stay focused with my training. I started using Active.com again to log my runs and downloaded a training program from Runner's world which I wrote into my planner. That was my constant reminder that unless I followed the plan I wouldn't see my goal realized. I also joined another soccer team to give me some active socializing time.

By the way, I've broken my foot and can't do much for the next 5 weeks so -- including NOT being able to run the Marathon I had worked my way up to running! I guess that's my next goal! :o)