Taking That “First Step”

A commercial for the anti-inflammatory drug, Celebrix, that’s currently running on TV uses the phrase “a body at rest stays at rest but a body in motion stays in motion.” While mainly considered a principal of physics, this also applies to exercise. 

The key to having more “get up and go” is to get up off the couch and go for a walk or some other kind of physical activity. I have learned that over the last 2 ½ years since my surgery. I feel better physically and can handle things better mentally when I make walking, bike riding or, some other kind of exercise part of my weekly routine.

But over the last 6 months I have for all intents and purposes cut exercise out of my life. Not really enjoying walking with my dogs in the dark and being unable to ride my bike in the cold winter weather are two of the main reasons. I have a stationary bike in the house but I haven’t used it in nearly 9 months.

But as of today the time for staying “at rest” has come to an end. I have lofty physical goals for myself this year. I want to take a long bike trip (20 miles or more) come spring time. One of my goals for this year is to run a 5K. I plan on playing Ping Pong on a regular basis once our new church family life center gym is opened. Also (don’t tell my wife this) I’m still haunted by the idea of trying to roller skate again.

Now I know these goals are not things I’m going to be doing just as soon as the warm weather returns the end of February or early March. It’s going to take me a while to build up to them. But today, much to my dogs’ delight, I took my first mile walk of 2012.

Knowing that I am going to have to start sooner or later I chose to try a little bit of running (or what passes for running for me right now) during the walk. It wasn’t very far maybe 20 yards at the most; and it was more of a slow jog rather than a run. It wasn’t even enough to even get winded.

The “sprint” of the test was to see if I could actually go faster than a walk without dragging and tripping over my left foot. The first test proved “successful” I will try again for a longer distance in a few days.

So there’s my first step. I’m on my way to achieving my goals: Losing the rest of the weight I want to lose and succeeding in the physical challenges set before me.

Have you taken your first step? If so what was it? If not what could it be? When are you going to take it?

Now that I’ve started my exercise journey again I’m not going to stop until I cross my personal finish line.