I never thought that one day I would write it down. I work out? With constancy and pleasure beyond? No, definitely not.
And yet. It’s been six months since I started exercising again.
I am a 22 year old woman. I’ve always been pretty active. In my childhood and adolescence, not a year passed without having joined a sports club.
Observe: The horoscopes are working. The post continues below.
Then I moved to Paris and quit. Mainly because everything was very expensive. I missed it. I realized that exercise was a way out and a way not to put on (too much) weight.
But every time I decided to do some exercise at home, sign up for the gym, or go for a run, I didn’t enjoy it. It was a limitation. Even a burden for my day. I would give up after a few weeks.
Last October I wanted to start over.
I think it was a conscious step for the first time, motivated by a search for me. I knew why I wanted to exercise. And I also knew what I had to do and what I didn’t, so I wouldn’t give up after a few sessions.
When I have to leave the house to train, it demotivates me. If it is too difficult, I give up. If someone doesn’t tell me what to do, I get bored.
Slowly but steadily
I decided to exercise 15 minutes on my mat in my tiny apartment two or three times a week in the late afternoon, following the instructions of an app (Nike Fitness & Fitify, for those interested). It met all of my criteria.
Surprisingly, it worked. I loved it and saw the motivation come as soon as I made music. I stuck to it until February.
At that point, I felt like I had improved a bit, but nothing out of the ordinary. I also felt better, more energetic and fit. I didn’t notice any really visible change in my body.
Then the quarantine began.
I was on the verge of hyperactivity. I was barely able to spend a day at home before the ban. I needed my daily dose of exercise and walking.
Suddenly I couldn’t. Sport was more than a simple solution to well-being; it became a need.
Then it got serious
“I already know what it feels like to give up. I want to see what happens if I don’t “- Neila Rey
I didn’t do anything in the first two days.
Gradually, however, I felt the negative energy rise in me. On the third day, I put on my sportswear, found a carpet in my parents’ house where I was locked, and started my app with loud music.
