Obstacles

During my first (and so far only) meeting with a trainer at the Y, I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork in order to participate in the Personal Fitness Program.

One form asked me to list my fitness goals and then, underneath, the obstacles that could prevent me from reaching those goals.

I don't remember exactly what I enumerated as my goals, but I have no doubt that they were the same tired chestnuts that everyone trots out: feel better, live longer, be healthier, tone those areas that might still be tone-able, etc.

Under obstacles, I listed limited time, unpredictable schedule, and cold weather. (It was really cold on that particular morning.)

The trainer laughed at that last one—I don't think he'd ever seen it before. But then he thought about it for a second and said that more people should probably include it on their list.

I didn't really think about my goals and obstacles again until last Thursday, when it was 18 degrees outside. (And by "outside" I mean on the "sunny" side of the street, when the wind got distracted for a second and momentarily stopped blowing at hurricane strength.)

And still, I dragged my not-yet-toned butt out of bed at an excruciating hour and hoofed it to the gym, where I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Somehow I think I got more of a cardio workout during the 40-minute round-trip commute, what with breathing in the arctic air and fighting the wind resistance every step of the way.