If you know me, then you know that the gym and I have never really seen eye to eye. When I go to the gym, I’m usually out of breath after five minutes on the treadmill and intimidated by the “gym experts” who don’t even break a sweat. I know first-hand how hard it is to stay motivated, but I also recognize how important it is to exercise your body. Exercise has a profound impact on your physical and mental health. That’s why I decided that I was going to find a way to make myself exercise every day for one week straight.
Photo courtesy of Marti Bennett
- Day One
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For the first day, I decided to start out easy. I snacked on an energy bar and then made my way to the gym on the second floor of my dorm. Once I got there, it was go time. I situated myself on a stationary bike and soon found myself in a race against others. I knew it wasn’t a competition, but my competitive side ran rampant. I was GOING to win the bike race. Unfortunately, I ended up in second to last place, but that’s okay. I was only beginning my gym journey.
- Day Two
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On the second day, my roommate accompanied me to the gym. We did cardio for ten minutes on the elliptical and then moved on to pilates. I felt particularly brave going into day two. We did many different exercises and after I fell down during most of them, my roommate decided that we were going to step it up a notch and work on my balance. I never realized how off my field of gravity was until I had to test it with pilates. Overall, it was a challenging but good experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
- Day Three
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After my second day, my body was starting to rebel. My muscles were aching, and I found it nearly impossible to get out of bed. But when you’re sore, you’re stretching your muscles and that usually means you’re doing something right. Anyway, I couldn’t quit my gym journey just yet. I had a mission and had to be resilient. I recruited a friend to drag me out of my bed and into the gym. We ran on the treadmill for two miles, and the challenge to beat her encouraged me to run as fast as I could. After we finished, we cooled down by walking on the treadmill for ten minutes. It was hard, but totally worth it.
- Day Four
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I noticed that my endurance was getting better. Not by a lot, but every little bit counts. I ran faster and longer on the treadmill and ended my workout with a few ab exercises. The incremental improvements were definitely there. Along with my improved endurance, I realized that working out regularly had encouraged me to eat better. I started making healthier choices during the day. I swapped sandwiches for salads and settled on two cookies at the cafeteria instead of five. Being healthy isn’t just about working out, but also what you put into your body. I know, shocking!
- Day Five
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I needed a break from cardio, so my roommate and I did yoga. I borrowed mats from a friend and we went down to the gym. My roommate led the workout, and my body felt so much better after stretching. The best part was the five minutes after our exercise where we laid down on the mats, feeling super relaxed. Getting up afterwards was no easy task. I wanted to do even more yoga and signed up for group classes at Marino to keep myself motivated. Marino only allows each person a certain amount of “no shows,” so I thought that it would keep me accountable.
- Day Six
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I had a jam-packed day, so I was able to only workout for twenty minutes, during which I ran on the elliptical. I started to get a bit bored by the repeated motions and decided to listen to my “hype” playlist on my phone. When I got back to my dorm, I made a workout playlist for the next time I went to the gym. Music is a great addition to workouts. It not only keeps you motivated but also entertained during a workout.
- Day Seven
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It was my last day and I wanted to end my week the same way I started it: with a bike race. I sat on the bike, adjusted the height of the seat, and strapped in. I was ready. I gave it my all throughout the whole ride, determined to live up to my goals on the first day. Although I didn’t end up winning, my determination and newfound endurance led me to reach fourth place out of ten. I was so happy and hoped to do even better next time.
Throughout my week at the gym, I learned that no matter how fit or experienced you are at working out, exercise is possible for everyone (as long as your health permits it). I was nervous to fail in front of others but quickly realized that no one cares if you fail, as long as you pick yourself back up. I look forward to my group classes in the future, and hope that you all join me!