"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
...
Melinda Shore wrote:
I think it's pretty rare, myself, but that's not what I was
talking about. I mean that after awhile you start to feel
healthier - stronger, more balanced, more energetic, etc.
But it takes work to get there.


Have you (or anyone following along) found this to be the case? I
understand that there's a difference between feeling good during or
immediately after a workout and feeling good in general because one works
out. I don't think I've ever felt either. I take it on faith that
exercise is good for me. It doesn't seem to make any difference. Maybe
I've never been that sick/ unhealthy/ out of shape to begin with. Maybe
I've never worked hard enough to get there.


Well, since you said anyone following along, yes, I feel great after a
work-out. Especially years ago when I went to the spa everyday and did the
early morning aerobics class. The spa I went to opened at 9:00 am., so I'd
drop my daughter off at school and head straight there. The first class of
the day was a normal, all out, aerobics class as opposed to a lighter one
that was scheduled next, following the first class, I mean. It was a full
hour-long work-out. I remember when I first started it was rough to stick
it out. But after a few months I realized 'hey, I'm doing it all and I feel
great, still lots of energy, I could do a second work-out if I wanted.' I
did feel great. After the class, I did the various weight stations. The
only reason I stopped going was the damn Spa went out of business after a
few years. It was the only *Spa Lady* in our area, women only. I liked
that aspect of it. Didn't feel like joining a co-ed spa. So we bought
weight equipment and set up an exercise room at our home instead.

I still feel great after a work-out. I love using weight machines. Yeah, I
can't do as much as I used to, but I'm older, have some arthritis and more
back problems then I used to, part of the aging process.

As I'm thinking about your question here, I'm remembering *part* of the fun
of going was the work-out clothes. ;-) I loved the matching leotards,
leg warmers, satin shorts, etc. And the music. That's why here at home I
burn my own CD's to work out to. I am able to put easy music to get me
started warming up, then switch to really fast, upbeat songs to the more
strenuous part, and work back down to slower music for my stretching cool
downs.

I don't know, maybe it's attitude? If you change a few things, find things
that give you pleasure, things that add fun to your work-out experience?
Even though I can't do what I used to, I still have fun doing what I can.
I'm not so much interested in body building per se, meaning I get to certain
weights and then rev up my reps. I'm not, nor was I ever, interested in
lifting or pushing heavier and heavier weights. You reach a weight that you
know is right for you, your purpose and then increase the number of reps you
do at that weight. A couple things, I admit, I did like to see how much I
could do. Stuff like a bench press. But for something like butterflies,
I'm interested in using a weight that is heavy enough to be a challenge, and
once I'm there, then I build up the reps done.

Is there some part of the whole experience that is the most *fun* for you?
Find what that is, and build on it.

Glad to hear your ribs are doing better. I was a bit worried at your first
description of your pain. If there is someone who is teaching that *ball*
class, before I took it again I think I'd mention how you felt, where you
hurt, etc., and ask for advice from the instructor. I'm thinking maybe you
were using the wrong muscles for certain parts of it. Sometimes it's hard
to zero in on the proper muscles your are supposed to be using for a
particular exercise, and so you use the wrong muscles thereby injuring
yourself in the process. Especially something like certain types of
sit-ups. Rather than using say your lower stomach muscles, you could have
been using more of your chest to lift you?

best,

td


Anyway, the pain in my ribs is still there but diminishing. I slept
better last night. I still have to turn sideways in bed to sit up from a
flat postion, but it's getting better.


--Lia