Joining things

The hardest thing about working out is starting. Before last year, I've never really enjoyed working out. Sure, I've had dance classes I loved, and I've done weight lifting physical education in school that was fun, and I even had one semester in college that I was REALLY dilligant about wroking out, but I never really liked working out for working outs sake. What happened? Why do I now really enjoy it?

I think it part of it comes down to it being time for me, only about me, that's actually productive. Time spent with kids is so focused on their needs, their desires, and it's so hard to get any ME time. Sometiems I need to veg (yesterday, for example, when I FINALLY got both kids asleep for ~30 minutes, I spent the first 20 doing some paperwork stuff that needed doing, so I spent the last 10 minutes eating ice cream). But being able to steal time to improve my self esteem (because that's what working out does, it improves my body, thus improving my self esteem) is rad.

But I remember the first time I went to work out in a group class last summer. I was so nervous. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up. It was a class where you use dumbells and I brought along 2lb weights because I was scared. The instructor laughed at me, gave me 5 lb weights and I've never looked back. When you're in a group dynamic, it seems like you need to keep up, be the one that isn't dragging everyone back. But that's not how it really is. You need to work on you, and let everyone else work on themselves. That first day in that class, no one else was slowed down by my presence.

It's funny to think that about 5 years ago I was debating joining weight watchers, but I didn't want to join and be "too skinny" and have everyone else feel bad about the skinny girl joining their group. I now know that anyone else in my group wouldn't have viewed me as "too thin" to be in it, they would have been happy if I was just an active memeber. That's what it's all about, attitude. If you are excited and ready to be a part of whatever it is that you are joining, everyone else will be excited for you to be there too.

I now workout with the people from that first workout class last year 2-3 times a week. They're all excited to have me there, even if I'm the weakest link. I go, I work my butt off, and I get better. They help me do it! I keep them motivated by improving week to week and they keep me motivated because they're doing it right along with me!

Moral of the story... do you have something you're contemplating joining that you're kind of unsure about? Join it! Be it a nutrition group, a workout group, a walking group, a book club... whatever it is, if you go into it excited to be a part, everyone will be happy you joined!