Getting Back Into Shape Sucks

Getting back in shape sucks. Big time. Trust me. I know.

Now.

Two years ago though, I had no idea. I taught 7-9 classes per week, worked out 5-6 days a week on top of that, took my dogs on mile long walks, kayaked with my husband on the weekend and never really thought twice before jumping into anything physical. I loved working out. I loved pushing my body. Wasn’t that how everyone felt about fitness??

Okay fine - I knew that not everyone totally loved fitness, but I was that obnoxiously perky girl at the front desk who would reassure everyone that it was totally okay to take the plunge into getting back into shape. After all, barre makes fitness fun right? You just have to get into a routine, find something you enjoy doing, be patient with yourself, and before you know it you’ll be on the right track! Ha ha… if only it was that easy for everyone…. as I was soon to find out…

As we all discover at some point, life has its own curveballs and here is where I was smacked with mine. A few aches & pains started to become unbearable and before I knew it, I was forced to not only stop working out but also to stop teaching. My life became filled with doctor after doctor, MRI after MRI, and then surgery after surgery. I was diagnosed with a rare spinal disease and phrases such as “no cure” and “lifestyle change” were consistently haunting me. I spent a little shy of a year trying to process and understand my new reality as well as heal my body. While I am stoked to finally say I’m finally COMING BACK after having neurosurgery in the fall, I also have a new perspective that getting back into shape SUCKS!

Today when people ask me about getting back in shape, my answer can be summed up in 4 words (okay or 5 grammar people): it’s going to suck. It’s going to suck big time. If you’re proud of yourself for dragging your butt off the couch to class, savor this moment, because you’re about to be obliterated.

You’re going to find out exactly how out of shape you are. You’re going to wonder why the eff am I doing this to myself 20+ times during class. And if you aren’t questioning what motivated you to go down this crazy rabbit hole in the first place, you’re going to be praying that you don’t die with each new move the instructor cues. Class is going to end and you won’t even know whether to be happy it’s over, or terrified of the soreness that is about to take over your body.

Oh, and did I mention sore has a new meaning in this scenario? Yup, you are going to wake up and call-into-work-sick sore the next day.

And THEN (yuup the saga continues) you’re going to drag your extremely sore rear end back to class…mostly because you already bought a package (or in my case because this is still your job) and do it all over again. Except this time your head is past the initial “yup I’m actually in a fitness class” shock and you’re going to start to compare yourself. To your neighbor, to others in the class, to the “old” you, to perhaps crazier scenarios that can only be thought up when dying in a fitness class staring your out-of-shape self down in the mirror.

See, didn’t I tell you it’s going to suck?

But the other thing I have to tell you is that it’s totally okay to feel like it sucks. It’s okay to feel unsure of your body, unsure of what realistic goals even are. It’s okay to curse your instructor under your breath and question what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. It’s okay to be frustrated, sad, angry, or even shed a few tears.

This process isn’t just physical. It’s mental. And it’s emotional. And it’s hard, but so worth it. Because once you get past EVERYTHING above, you’re going to realize that despite everything, you’ve done this thing. You’ve braved taking the first step, you’ve gotten into a routine, and you’ve started to make progress. And while you may not be where you want to be yet, you are a hell of a lot closer working towards your goals than running from them.

AND THEN you’re going to start to realize that you are getting stronger. You have more energy and you’re dreading working out a bit less. You’re actually able to surprise yourself in class by doing things you swore were impossible a few weeks ago. You might even get brave enough to try the “harder” options. You are going to realize that you are strong, you are powerful, and you are amazing. And that you CAN do this fitness thing.

And here is where my post of fitness sucking comes to an end because at this point fitness starts to become not only a routine in your life, but dare I say, something to look forward to!