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| Feet |
When I get home at night, the first thing I do is take my shoes off. It's been a long, hard day and letting my feet breath feels great.
Much like my newborn son, I enjoy not wearing shoes. It keeps me cool and relaxed throughout the night. Granted I don't like to chew on my feet like he does, but hey, to each their own.
Each morning prior to going to work the last thing I do is slip on my most comfortable pair of shoes on and walk out the door. And my question is, why? If I enjoy not wearing shoes and feel more relaxed without them, then why do I wear shoes? I suppose the logical answer is health and safety. I don't want my feet to get cut or dirty, nor do I wish to run the chance of a cut or other problem turning into something more serious like an infection. So, while I do not like wearing shoes, unfortunately it’s a must.
I know you are thinking, what's the point? This is all common sense, and you are correct, but stay with me for a minute. I want to make the exaggerated leap from shoes and correlate this to exercise. Yes, you read that right, exercise. I know many people who hate exercising. Many of these people are close friends or family. They often say, "Why should I exercise? I am happy the way I am. I hate running on treadmills and gyms intimidate me. I am too old to exercise." Yadda, yadda, yadda. Same old story, same old excuses.
The way I look at it is this, exercise is like wearing shoes. You may not want too, but for your own health and safety you need too. It's just a matter of finding the right pair to fit your feet, or in this case the right exercise to enable you to be happy while doing it. I think a common mistake people make when they want to get their physical fitness in is that they automatically think of a gymnasium. A large sweaty group of guys, throwing weights around and grunting like fools as they scream and lift 300 lbs weights. For most people this is not how they want to spend 7 hours a week of their life – but there are alternative ways to exercise.
Excuses don’t work anymore
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| The author, not taking excuses |
I didn't find my cardio fulfillment until I was 24 years old and got involved in Tae Kwon Do. It's a fun and exciting way to burn off the extra calories and get my heart pumping. I have friends that rock climb, fence, mall walk, play badminton, swim, weight lift, marathon run, practice Brazilian Jiu-Jit-Su, ride bicycles, etc. Point being, there is no perfect pill for exercise. Everyone is different, but just like wearing shoes; it's something that we all have to do. Every day. We can't make excuses; we need to just do it. You don't have to force your routine into a cookie cutter mold of what you "think" exercise should be. You need to find what is right for you and do it! If you get a good sweat and get your heart pumping while dancing, then dance! Cleaning, then clean! If walking your dog backwards does it for you, then I say go for it. The point is, using the excuse that there is nothing that fits my needs out there, doesn't work anymore. If you want to live a nice long life, if you want to be happy and healthy, then you have to find a way to exercise and get your heart pumping!
As On Track Daily closes the March Toward Fitness (although the march itself is never really over), we implore you to find your right “fit” when it comes to exercise. Try on a few different styles of exercise and find one that is right for you. And if you find one, let us know what it is!
-B.M.
