Range of (e)Motion

Image from Unsplash

One of the topics in John Holton’s Writer’s Workshop this week is a new obsession, which oddly enough for me is exercise. Throughout the day I imagine which Leslie Sansone video routine I will choose that night and go over the different ones in my mind. (Sometimes on weekends I exercise earlier in the day if I have plans in the evening.) In the past, I obsessed over all kinds of unhealthy things, and I never would have guessed that in my 60s I would come to love aerobics. It’s not just the routines though ~ I think about Leslie herself a lot and her jokey banter with the other exercisers in the vids. I catch myself using her terminology at random times too.

I’ve mentioned this previously, but in the context of trying to be healthier. I don’t know if I’m healthier now that I’ve been working out consistently since June 1, but you would think so, right? While my cholesterol is the same (too high), my blood pressure is always in the “green zone” lately. My weight is unchanged, and I don’t look any fitter. Back in the old days, the fact that I didn’t appear to have lost any flab would have caused me to lose motivation to continue to work out, but that hasn’t happened. It’s the opposite actually: if I think that I might not have time to exercise on a particular day, I get anxious about it. Plus, I never say to myself that I’m too tired to do it or use any other excuse.

So weird!

I have discovered a few subtle changes (improvements) in myself since June 1. While my neck and back are as achy as they’ve been for decades, I find I can move more easily, from getting out of bed to turning my head in the car. I used to get tired after 20 minutes of light exercise, but now I can do 30 minutes to an hour with no problem. Even though it’s the bad migraine time of year, and I’m still getting some, they aren’t as frequent. I may have said this already, sorry. I can’t be bothered looking it up because I’m writing this on my phone while rewatching The Sopranos (for probably the fourth time). 

What’s interesting to me (and possibly to you if you’re still reading) is that while my range of motion seems to be larger, my range of emotion has slightly narrowed. This is a good thing! I attribute it to the daily workouts mellowing me out. When I’m exercising, my mind is focused on what I’m doing and not going off into the weeds of work stress or whatever other thing. It’s kind of like the chilled out feeling I experience while doing a puzzle or playing an intense board game, except that the workout endorphins or whatever last all day now. Or somewhat anyway. Generally, I exercise at night, and the relaxedness lasts through the next 24 hours, which is also why I try not to skip a day. It’s so great!

Hey, I’m not going to pretend that my mood stays all sweetness and delight 100% of the time. Of course not. I’m still me. But my reactions to normal bumps in the road of life aren’t so extreme and upsetting lately. It’s a small difference, but I’ll take it.

 

I only wish I had started exercising regularly sooner.