No gain without…. a bit of projectile vomiting!

Monday, March 26, 2012 Permalink

On Tuesday last week I tweeted this:

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/Schmiet/status/182015296025010176″]

And then on Friday I tweeted this:

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/Schmiet/status/183046473783582720″]

And yet, tomorrow I’m going back for more. Which is strange, because once upon a time if something was TOO hard I’d dread it and avoid it like the plague.

I’d like to think I’m challenging myself because I’m getting fitter and aspiring to greater things, but in fact I can’t help but wonder if it’s just because I’m getting older. Frankly I now realise I can tell the trainer to ‘shove it’ if I have to (not that I would, though I have been known to *ahem* whinge and complain quite a bit!); or I can drop back and work at my own pace. I am – after all – an adult. I am in control of my own body and (mostly) my own life.

Gone are the days a basketball coach would be yelling at me to complete suicide runs (windsprints / shuttle runs) within certain timeframes and I would spend my days in dread of the post-school training ahead of me (not to mention ‘skipping’ school to go and practise my suicide runs obsessively each day).

It seems that sometime in the last six to nine months I’ve worked out that (unless you are training for the Olympics) exercise is supposed to be fun. Mostly. It’s not necessarily supposed to be easy; I know this. But it’s not supposed to be dreaded. At least not if you want to keep it up – which is something I’m aiming to do.

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I’ve written about this before – my own exercise ‘A-ha!’ moment. So it’s unlikely I’ll go to a bootcamp anytime soon. It’s unlikely I’ll restart a ‘learn to run’ program. But, I’ll keep up my Zumba and dance classes (which is what I have on today) and I’ll keep up the challenging cardio and circuit classes I do at the gym.

The latter push me JUST outside of my comfort zone (as evidenced in my tweets above), but not so far that I dread it and don’t want to go back. Also, for some incredibly bizarre reason I’m way more comfy with exercising ‘inside’. Now I have no idea why that is (and wasn’t aware of the fact until I was writing this!) and if I was more enthusiastic I could Google it to see if some PhD student with nothing better to do has perhaps done a thesis on the issue. Or something.

Although… either way, I have to remind myself that I have nothing to fear. I cannot be ‘forced’ into an outside bootcamp, or running a marathon, or bloody suicide runs up and down a basketball court.

However, even I can push myself beyond my limit for a few minutes. Circuit type classes, or dancing etcetera involve spurts of effort with a bit of recovery. I can do that. In fact, I try to push myself hard, because I know a break with be forthcoming. I know the end is nigh.

Years ago I did boxing circuits at a nearby gym which required us to work individually at stations, one of which involved shuttle runs across the room. I hated running even then… but I almost ALWAYS chose that station at the end of the session when we were asked to pick an exercise to repeat. Because I knew it challenged me, and because I knew it would soon be over. (Interestingly I quit that same class because the instructor had us do shuttle runs in the room as a group which was obviously too far outside of my comfort zone! Plus, well… the competitiveness of it probably brought back a lot of old memories!)

I also get VERY red-faced when I exercise but don’t mind. In fact, I LOVE leaving the room with a face like a tomato and I don’t mind when – even an hour or so later – someone comments on my still-evident colour. And I don’t mind dripping with sweat when I work out. After all, that’s the point of it all. The effort. The exertion.

And… as I’m writing this I realise that I also love that I’m learning a bit more about my exercising behaviour – not to mention my thoughts and attitude.

14 Comments
  • Carol Hess
    March 26, 2012

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but when I read this post, I’m reading about a woman who loves to exercise. Am I right? I am in awe of your attitude about it all but hoping I might get there someday. There was a time a few short months ago when the very word “exercise” pissed me off and got me all defensive. (Just ask my coach.) Nowadays, while I don’t jump for glee the days I’m going to work out, at least I go. And of course I always feel better afterward — both physically and emotionally. But I’ve got a ways to go before I will push myself to the point of (almost) projectile vomiting! Something to aspire to. (The pushing, not the vomiting!)

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Carol… I wouldn’t think of myself as someone who loves to exercise, but I guess I love certain types of exercise!

      Although I had to admit, the thing that’s really helping at the moment is that I’m incorporating it into my working day (ie. go at lunch / straight from work so it’s automatic and I don’t have to think about it).

      Deb

  • Michele @ Within Reach
    March 26, 2012

    There’s something about a difficult exercise session that is wretched and exhilarating all at the same time. Sometimes, the hardest part is getting out the door to go.

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Michele, I was just saying to Carol that at the moment I’m going to classes at a gym near my workplace and I’ve worked out that I like group classes NOT doing my own thing (which would cause me motivational problems). So now… it’s like I just know that I have my 5pm pump class or 1pm circuit class etc.

      Deb

  • Marion
    March 26, 2012

    Hi Deb, I get red in the face too. In fact, so do my arms and legs, a little. On the bright side, I don’t sweat overly much. It sounds like you are working it out for the long haul.

    🙂 Marion

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Marion, sadly my face and head sweat a lot – even when I’m not exercising (also if I’m stressed) but the rest of me ONLY when I’m exercising heavily. And yes… I think I am slowly working out this ‘forever’ / sustainability thing!

  • michelle
    March 26, 2012

    Hi, I just wanted to say you are a success! (I followed you from another blog) Also, have you ever heard of or had REIKI, its a type of energy healing. We’re a total package, mind, body and spirit and when one of those is out of line so to speak it affects the other. I practice REIKI and I just love it and it seems to help me. Your body remembers everything, its good to release. Maybe it will help, it helped me with my blood pressure but its great for everything and everyone! I’m sending you hugs filled with everything you need! Michelle

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Hi Michelle and thanks for visiting. I have tried Reiki – on a couple of occasions actually. I also recall being at a health retreat and having a massage therapist trying to help me ‘open my heart’. I’m not sure it worked, but was surprised the therapist identified it as an issue.

      (And thanks for the hugs!)
      Deb

  • Kek
    March 26, 2012

    Yeah, Baby!

    I discovered early on that I can stand anything in short bursts. And thus began my love of interval training. Yes, those intense intervals might be hard; yes, they might push me way beyond my comfort zone, but I know that in 30, 60 or 90 seconds, I’ll get a recovery interval and that in a very short time it’ll all be over.

    Beats plodding along resentfully for 45 minutes at the same boring pace. I’d rather stick a fork in my eye.

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Kerryn, it’s also better for increasing fitness isn’t it?

  • loulou
    March 26, 2012

    Hi deb,

    Hats off to you – you are aspiring to heights you haven’t reached before and that seems to make one hungry for the next height and achievement.

    Well done and love it that you are ‘old enough’ to tell someone to ‘shove it’ 🙂

    have a great day

    Loulou

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Thanks Loulou! It did occur to me that most of the trainers at my gym are significantly younger than me and while I take their advice (as the professionals) and know that they have what’s best for me at heart… they’re also not 44 yr old overweight women! So… While I do push myself (it’s in my nature – I will ALWAYS push myself harder than anyone else can push me!) I guess I like knowing that I am ultimately in control (damn! Back to that old issue of control again!)

      Deb

  • KCLAnderson (Karen)
    March 26, 2012

    I don’t think I will ever understand the “attraction” to working out to the point of vomiting, but I do know a few who think of it as a badge of honor. That said, I admire your dedication to moving your body…mine has been dormant for many months now (blog post forthcoming). For sure, it’s like everything else: a messy hit-or-miss process, not a perfect, linear process.

    • Debbish
      March 26, 2012

      Hee hee Karen… don’t think the vomiting bit is ever the aim for me… just pushing myself to where I’m struggling is a good thing. But, in my circuit classes I’ve had to mix up the exercise and it’s often not until I get to a point in it (whatever it may be) that I realise I am at my limit and can’t do more. (Lest I be sick… sort of thing!) I have to admit, usually a short break does the trick in terms of me feeling better – although on Friday we did some challenging abdominal work and I still felt a bit unwell doing that (several exercises AFTER the running/cross-training/rowing thing was over!).

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