My New Thing

Years ago (too many!) during my last semester of college, I took a P.E. class in "Beginning Golf." To make a long story short, I needed a .5 credit class to fill a gap and it was the only thing I could get into at the last minute. I certainly never would have taken it otherwise.

I had never played golf in my life so I didn't know what to expect. Actually, I really enjoyed it. The teacher was funny and interesting, and I found that I wasn't half bad at it. It was an easy "A." I learned the rules and how to swing, watched/evaluated a few hours of the "Masters," and played a couple of rounds of golf at a local course. That was about it.

Then toward the end of the semester, the teacher announced that there would a written exam. How annoying. BUT, he said we could opt out of the exam and get an "A" on it by participating in a study for his doctoral dissertation.... he was a graduate student in exercise physiology. (Yes, people actually study it!)

I don't remember exactly what he was studying, though I have wondered a few times what his conclusions were, since, yes, I participated in the study. (I have always hated multiple choice exams.)

It was pretty straight forward; I went to the exercise lab (yes, lab....weird, I know) during my appointed time, where he hooked me up to a bunch of wires and tubes, and made me do stuff, like run on a tread mill and ride a stationery bike, and did a full-fledged EKG, etc.

I was curious. When he was done, I asked a lot of questions, and he showed me a chart of physical fitness levels, from poor to superior. He told me I scored very well. I was pleased and figured I did alright because of all the aerobics classes I went to that my roommate taught, and all the walking I did around campus, and well, everywhere, since I didn't have a car.

Still, I wasn't happy with my body because I wasn't as "skinny" as I thought I should be.

Anyway, pointing to the chart he said, "'Superior' is the professional athlete range. The range just below it is 'Excellent'." Then he surprised me by saying, "You are at the top of the 'Excellent' range, right on the border to 'Superior'." I was speechless. And so proud of myself. And kind of confused. It was the best shape I have ever been in in my life, and yet I wasn't skinny?

That was when I decided that you don't have to be "skinny" to be physically fit.

Then the years went by..... I got married and gave birth to 3 kids, gaining weight with each one. In between I broken a lot of bones in a serious car accident and spent about 6 months in a wheel chair doing physical therapy and learning to walk again. Exercise was no longer part of my life. I have exercised since then for periods of time, but nothing serious.

That's changing.

I'm making exercise part of my life again. (Maybe because I'm rapidly approaching 40? Yikes!) I have started working out with a personal trainer who is working my tail off. I'm more sore than I have ever been in my life.... more sore than I thought was possible. But I'm determined to get back to "Excellent" physical fitness.

Even if I don't get "skinny." (But I'm still hoping.)

Just thought you should know.