The Exercise High…

For those of you that currently exercise, I’m sure you know what I am talking about when I say, “the exercise high”. For those of you who don’t, you really need to experience this high. I remember a year ago when I casually decided I was going to start losing weight. The goal for the first year was to work on developing good habits; working out 3 times a week for 30 minutes, eating healthier and choosing more physical social activities. Realistically, I knew that change wasn’t going to happen overnight, so I gave myself the one year buffer to acclimate myself to these changes. During this past year I’ve noticed some physical and mental changes, which I will expand on as I continue this journey and blog. For me exercise encompasses both of these aspects. Back when I started, I very vividly remember thinking to myself that 30 minutes 3 times a week is all the time I had and all that I really wanted to do. All of a sudden back in January hints of the exercise high started to surface.

In January, I got a bodybugg which really made me conscious of the calories I burned throughout the day. The bodybugg has been especially helpful in tracking calories burned during certain activities, such as exercising. I noticed that I was burning on average 300 calories during a 30 minute workout. Throughout the month these calories increased to 400 calories in 35 minutes. My new goal that I set for myself has been 400 calories burned per exercise session, no matter how long it takes me to get there. However, last night I hit some sort of crazy exercise high and just couldn’t stop exercising. I ended up burning 600 calories in one session, which is twice as much of a workout than I would have done last year at this time. During the workout and well after I finished, I felt absolutely amazing. I was in the exercise zone. I am seriously sitting here writhing this, the very next day, still feeling a bit of a high from the workout the previous night and am looking forward to hitting the gym today at 5:00. I know it sounds crazy, but it is true. I WANT to go to the gym. In all honesty the only reason I didn’t end up burning 1000 calories last night is because I needed to pick up the kid from volleyball and the gym was closing for the night. I think I can finally say that exercising is part of my regular routine and it is officially a habit now.

My challenge to each of you is to get up and get moving. No matter what size you are and whether or not you need to lose weight the exercise high is so worth it. Plus healthy activity is good for every BODY!!!