Day 190 - I'm not dead yet.

This morning, I had a dream that I had slept through my alarm and missed the first three hours of work. In my dream, I woke in a panic, scrambled to get showered and dressed, and ran to work offering profuse apologies.

I was sorely disappointed when I learned that no one had noticed I wasn't there.

That's sort of how this blog is, I think. I've been feeling incredibly guilty about my lack of attention to writing, but I suspect no one really noticed I had disappeared from the blogosphere (is that what I'm supposed to call it?).

Anyway, here I am, and I'm not dead yet.

Since I last wrote, I've run a marathon, lost ten or fifteen pounds, developed seasonal allergies for the first time, and moved all physical activity indoors until such a time as looking at a tree doesn't make me sneeze.

Better yet, I still haven't missed a day of physical activity. 

There have been a couple of really difficult days - like when I was on 24h labour and delivery call, and I had to resort to body weight work and stretching in my call room instead of sleeping. There have also been a few days when my intent to work out didn't go to plan for a number of reasons - like when I showed up for yoga with Katelyn last week and discovered that the class we had planned to attend was cancelled due to a special event, or when we tried to get to a yoga class a couple of days later and it started pouring just as the class was supposed to start. Nevertheless, I've stayed motivated and resourceful.

The benefits are starting to become obvious.

I've noticed a major change in my body composition, though the weight loss has not necessarily been commensurate with the level of change I've noticed. There's still plenty I'd like to change about my body, but I'm now comfortable in shorts and getting complimented regularly on how much better I'm looking. I'm not sure all the "better" is about weight loss or even changes in habitus - I think a lot of it is about how much better I'm feeling, and how that's become obvious in the way I carry myself. I feel a lot less like hiding in a corner these days, and that's a good thing. I also have a lot of new clothes (even if some of them are just old clothes I can wear again), and there's nothing like new clothes that fit well and feel great when it comes to building confidence.

I've also noticed that making time to work out is getting easier. Admittedly, part of the reason it's easier is that I'm not on surgery or obstetrics, but even in those settings, I was able to motivate myself to get to the gym, go for a walk, or do some basic exercises at home even after a long day. Previously, the exhaustion I'd feel at the end of a tough day would be enough to convince me to stay at home. It's getting easier every day to fight those feelings and just get to the gym. Often, staying home isn't something I even consider.

A lot of the benefits are also social. I have found that my friendships are enriched by heading to the gym, yoga studio, or pool together, and I love that aspect of this challenge. It helps that many of my friends know that I'm doing the challenge and are happy to be part of it.

Sadly, I am the only original participant still working through the challenge, but I know the other girls are still working hard at improving their fitness and well-being through physical activity.

And now it's gym time!