Workout one

Today, I did workout one of week one of the 9 week training plan I'm going to follow, which will get me slightly over a third of the way toward meeting my ultimate goal. (Don't worry, I have plenty of time to get to the final goal...my plan is to be there by early 2012.)

I'll be honest about it: a few minutes into the workout (after the initial warmup period), I was thinking things like "I do NOT like this" and "exercise is terrible". I also probably looked ridiculous as I'm sure my form is awful. Luckily, I live in a small town and I was engaging in this exercise activity on a quiet side street, so I'm hopeful that very few people saw me. (And any who did are my neighbors and would most likely be supportive rather than judgemental if they saw me, anyway. I'm lucky to have wonderful neighbors.)

Anyway, just as I was feeling uncoordinated and hopelessly out of shape, and starting to think maybe I should just give up on this goal, my iPhone changed what it was playing, and I heard the first line of a song which spoke right to me: "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord." So I changed my focus to worshipping instead of whining, and it made all the difference. It was still hard on my body, but switching to more positive thinking got me through it.

I really got into it, even lifting my arms in praise (while continuing the workout) and singing along to the chorus.

You are the Everlasting God
The Everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

I was so excited and proud of myself when I finished the workout that I was grinning like a crazy person! I'm definitely planning to bring the worship music along for my workouts from now on, too.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)