Roxy the Fitness Dog, yearning to go outside
When it’s cold and rainy, I’m out there. When I have a 17-hour workday, I wake up extra early and I’m out there (in the dark). When I’ve got the sniffles, I’m out there. When I was in the puffy last stage of pregnancy and couldn’t see my toes, I was out there. I may seem disciplined, but I’m average in the discipline department. Day in, day out, Roxy the dog makes me do it.
Sometimes it’s just a 5minute walk around the block, but mostly it’s a 45-minute hike in the park near my house. On the weekends, it’s often an even longer jaunt deep in the forest. Whatever it is, I’m moving. Which makes me think that Roxy may be more than just a pet.
Consider the job of a personal trainer: Yes, they teach you about body mass index, core strength. They assess your strengths and weaknesses. But at some point the sole purpose of a personal trainer is to get you to move, right? They're your workout date, your reason to be there.
For me, that’s Roxy—my four-legged personal trainer. He gets me out there, regardless of weather or mood. He motivates me (he's hard to ignore) and he keeps me company. However, don't run out the door to adopt a dog for just that reason...in fact, a personal trainer is a lot less work on your part! And if you have a dog, well, you've already got your built-in workout partner!
But I digress. The point is this: Do something every day.
I’ve come to understand a big truth when it comes to fitness and results: the difference between size 12 and size 2 is not duration, not intensity, and not personal trainers. It’s CONSISTENCY.
I’m a broken record….“Do something every day,” I tell my clients again and again. That “something” doesn’t have to be big or serious. You don’t even have to wear exercise apparel. You just have to move daily. Over time, you’ll see how energy begets energy and you move more and more and more until one day, you wake up authentically fit and harmoniously healthy.
Ellen Barrett is a mind/body fitness expert and regular contributor to Whole Living. For information about her exercise DVDs, books, and classes, please visit EllenBarrett.com
