5 minutes in, on the high point of the incline …I am about to die

So the hubs I and joined a gym last week. He wants to get stronger for rock climbing (all I can think about is James Franco in 127 Hours, but the husband says he never climbs alone so I have nothing to worry about), and I need exercise to be happy and healthy, and it really is a great way to relive stress. I’m excited for Spring and Summer so I can start doing things outside. Prospect Park is beautiful (it's like Brooklyn's own Central Park). Anyways,  the gym is near his office on the Lower East Side and they offer an employee discount. It’s a great price and great location. Plus they have Zumba classes! #winning

I finally went on Monday. I haven’t worked out in a gym in a few months and although I’ve walked A LOT since moving here, I haven’t had a good /drenched-in-sweat-at the-end-of-it workout in a while. So off I went, settling on an elliptical machine because all the treadmills were occupado.

I decided on an interval-timed workout. 45 minutes and a 6 (on a scale of 1-20) intensity factor.  5 minutes in, on the high point of the incline …I am about to die. I’m out of breath, have a side stitch, and am breathing so hard I bet the guy next to me thought I was having contractions. It was not pretty.

  I slowed down a little bit and grabbed a sip of water while still trying to maintain my balance and look like I knew what I was doing. 

Just when I was about to quit, I decided to lower the intensity to level 4 and work my way back up. A few minutes later I caught my breath and I moved back up to the 6th level and back to my intervals. After I got back into it and during the rest of my workout, something interesting happened.

My body remembered. My legs had an epiphany about what I was doing to them and suddenly they helped me go faster instead of turning to mush. My lungs breathed in a pattern just like I had trained them to do when I was running.

 Now the rest of my workout was no piece of cake. It was difficult, but NOTHING like the first 5 minutes. Mentally, physically, emotionally I was getting stronger and was able to get used to being out of my comfort zone and not just survive this workout but to thrive until it was over!

This experience reminds me of how I feel sometimes since moving here. Anyone who has ever gone through a transition knows that it’s difficult coming to terms with being in a new place and finding those new normals like I mentioned in my last post. Just like it did in my workout, it takes time to get acclimated to new situations. It can make you feel defeated and can make you want to quit and give up. DON’T. It will get easier. Your body and mind and spirit will become accustomed to this new great life that God has planned for you.

I left the gym that day happy with endorphins but also happy because I realized that although there may be setbacks and days where I have to “go back to Level 4” and work my way back up to getting accustomed to living here, each day is one where I get to spend time in this beautiful city, with my wonderful husband, giving praise to the One who brought the two of us together.

This is one of my favorite songs from the band Superchick, it’s one of my go to songs when I’m stuck in my five minutes of defeat.

This is my brand new day in the light

Troubles rising up on the left and the right

I keep my eyes fixed on where I want to go

The rest will follow

And this is my prayer without ceasing the negative releasing

And as I rise above my burden is easing