My Fitness Journey: Beginning the reasonable routine

I’m not necessarily the “outdoorsy” type, however, an invigorating walk around Meshanticut Lake in Cranston felt refreshing and healthy! /PHOTO | ADRIEN MERCURE

In taking this fitness journey, I thought it best to keep a diary at the end of each day. This, and subsequent articles, will utilize that format to chronicle my daily activities, experiences, thoughts, conclusions and evaluations. I hope you enjoy reading my summaries and commentaries as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Day 1

Today I met with my personal trainer Eddie Fleury. He weighed me, took some measurements and we mapped out a manageable fitness program. My criteria were that it had to be gentle and not condemning, fun and not frustrating. By the same token, I wanted to learn something new and push beyond my comfort zone. I did not want to know my weight or measurements because I don’t want any set of numbers to quantify my self-worth, determine my level of emotional wellness or gauge my sense of success on the journey. To me it simply has to be more than the numbers. (Maybe in a few weeks I’ll change my mind. But as of today, I am content in not knowing.)

For the past 18 months, at least three days a week, I have enjoyed the moderate pace and measured rhythm of walking on the treadmill. It has become a comfortable routine for me – a time to pray, collect my thoughts, read, watch the news or chat with other fitness members.

Together Eddie and I determined that I would continue getting on the treadmill each morning, as was my custom, and he encouraged me to add some “core” training. I’m sure you’ve previously heard this jargon, but do you fully understand what it is? Your core is your center. Suffice it to say, it’s that part of your body that encompasses the abdominal wall, pelvis, lower back and diaphragm. It’s your mid-section – the area that is often prone to love handles and beer bellies.

Strengthening the muscles in your core helps maintain and improve balance and stability, which help in our everyday, tasks. The muscles in our core are used in bending, reaching and twisting. Just think about how you hoist your pocketbook over your shoulder, pick up a toy from the floor, stoop to put on your sock or fasten your seat belt. The best part is many core exercises don’t require specialized equipment. I can do most of the exercises on my own at home as well as at the Fitness Center.

Day 3

I didn’t feel like working out this morning. It’s the weekend, for goodness sake! I procrastinated by surfing the Web. Ironically, I found myself at the BodySoul website. Under “About Us,” Lisa claims, “My mission is to help you awaken what is already within you!”

I thought: Okay, but there is a three-toed sloth somewhere inside me, and she wants to go back to sleep!

Day 6

Feeling excited about moving my body, I started stretching as soon as I got out of bed, and then I heard something creak. Luckily for me, it was only a loose floorboard and not my knees!

Day 7

I got on the treadmill for 20 minutes this morning before doing my core training. One of my favorite exercises is the Standing Side Stretch because the gentle bend opens the side of the body, especially the ribs, and it feels soooo good. These muscles can get short and tight during the day, especially when I spend most of my working hours hunched over a computer keyboard. The best part of this exercise is that I can do it right at my desk. I’ve gotten in the habit of also doing this stretch just before I break for lunch. I learned that side bends stretch the abdominal muscles and gastrointestinal organs, which aids and regulates digestion, elimination and metabolism.

Day 8

One of the exercises Eddie suggested feels uncomfortable. When I do a plank (an exercise that is held in a push-up-like position, with the body’s weight on forearms and toes), I feel a lot of pressure on my back and abdomen. I will talk to Eddie about this when I next meet with him because I don’t think it should hurt, and I’m sure he can modify it for me.

Day 12

The Dwares JCC was closed due to a winter storm, thus I could not work out at the Fitness Center today. The all-or-nothing voice in my head was quick to tell me that my journey, thus far, has been a bust – that if I can’t work out exactly as Eddie has prescribed, it isn’t any good. That I have failed.

The truth is, any exercise is good exercise, so I came up with Plan B. At 7 a.m., the snow had not begun to fall, so I convinced my husband to join me in a jaunt around Meshanticut Lake. The brisk 2.5-mile walk was a fun and suitable form of exercise. I got the benefits of walking, enjoyed quality time with my better half and celebrated the snow day with an unexpected activity. Not to mention, later in the day, I had a generous amount of snow to shovel!

Whether or not I lose inches off my waist, I feel that this exercise journey will reprogram the negative thoughts I have about measuring up. Who knows…maybe I’ll gain personal acceptance and lose weight.

KARA MARZIALI is the director of communications for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.