Feel the Burn... Love the Burn!

: )

Yes, yes... I know it's a little crazy, but I truly enjoy that painful, sore, achey feeling you get after exercising. I more than enjoy it, I THRIVE on it.

And I kind of forgot how much I loved and needed it. The last couple months I haven't done quite as good at exercising as I previously had. I blame the holidays. Then I blame the bad habit that came from not exercising over the holidays that carried over throughout January. After a couple months it was hard to get back into the swing of things.

I had high intentions of starting strong for February... but Mother Nature paid me a visit and wore me down for about 5 days. BUT... this week... oh, yes... this week:

The burn is back!!! And I LOVE it!!!

I forgot how GOOD it feels to ache and feel sore and stiff. MMM! I'm tellin' ya, I LOVE this kind of pain. : ) It's the kind of pain that reminds me how GOOD I'm doing and even when I look in the mirror and it's not really what I'm hoping to see... I feel my sore muscles all over and have that physical reminder that I'm making progress! Along with those sore muscles comes sweet heavenly blessings called endorphins. Do you realize what you can DO with endorphins?!?!?! It's insane!!! I can exercise.... clean my house... do endless loads of laundry... organize a closet... play with my babies... and be juuust tired enough by the end of the day that I sink into my wonderful bed and doze off easily. For those of you who know me you know that I do NOT EVER sleep easily.... but when I exercise regulary this almost completely corrects itself.

Here's what happens when I DON'T exercise. I want to sleep in. I'm not truly hungry... but I'm munchy, so I eat horribly. I don't have enough energy to play with my kiddos, let alone get all the housework done that needs to be done. I don't have motivation to do all those extra little things that need to be done. And I sleep TERRIBLE. It's terrible. Plus.... I don't get that mega boost of confidence and satisfaction that comes from knowing I am taking control over something that has been a long time enemy of mine... my body.

Tonight, as I'm lying in bed, I feel the urge to chuckle evil-ly... (MWAH HA HA HA HAAAAA....) because I know the secret that will help me totally beat all my foes (housework, homework, projects, self-esteem, weight, eating habits, sleeping habits...)... it's all about the burn, baby. It's all about the burn.

: )