The Daily Debate

It's dark. It's 10 degrees outside.

When the alarm goes off at 5AM, my brain kicks into gear explaining to the rest of my body all the reasons why we should stay in bed and forget about the perfect 35 consecutive day streak I have getting up every morning and going to the gym.

Before I know it though, the covers are tossed back, legs are kicked over the side, and feet are on the floor.

Guys, my brain implores, think about how warm and cozy this bed is. Look at these soft, flannel sheets, feel the warmth of the heated mattress pad. The rest of my body is moving slowly but not listening to the pleadings of my brain.

Yesterday, I had yet another horrible sinus attack. I was in bed by 7 and my head is still killing me. But now, I seem to have reached for my workout clothes.

Guys, come on, give me a break. Just one day. It will be fine, maybe we'll go later when the Advil kicks in.

Now shoes are on. Pills are popped. Coffee cup is full. I'm ready to go. My brain takes one more shot at it.

Look guys, missing one day isn't going to kill us. Back, listen to me, your twinging. You know that's not a good sign. You could herniate a disk again. Calf and Shins, come on, I know you are with me, remember how much pain you have about 15 minutes into the walk. Let's give you poor guys a rest. Feet, listen, just stop and listen. You're hurting, I know you are. Let's just stop this silliness and go back to our nice, warm, bed. No one will ever know. No one will be the wiser. We can keep telling people you've had an unbroken attendance record, who the hell is going to know the difference?

And then I look up and I see that we are in the Y parking lot. It's 5:30am, the doors have just opened.

Oh, fine, might as well just get this over with. And so starts day number 36.

Everyone Needs a Cheering Section

Today, it was just me and a few other crazy people who trudged to the Y in the sleet and freezing rain at 5:30AM. It was really nice when I got the two thumbs up from Wally, my trainer, when I broke 50 crunches for the first time today. (When I first started at the Y, I could barely get to 10). But then as I was leaving, a very fit, very trim, elderly man, stepped out of the wellness center as I was grabbing for my coat coming off the track. I had seen him a few times when I was in the wellness room doing my resistance training but had never spoken to him.
"Leaving so soon?" he slyly smiled.
"Hey, I've been here since 5:30, where've you been?" I sarcastically retorted.
"In bed sleeping!"
"Probably a better use of your time on a day like today," I answered.
"Well," he said, "you're doing great!"
I was shocked, did he mean today? or in general? Had he taken notice of me before?
"Thanks," I said, "I'm not seeing any physical evidence of it, but I'll take your word for it."
Then he told me how there were those a lot worse off than I, which I had agreed and noted that I had seen them at the Walmart, which he found quite amusing. Then he repeated, with a smile as he walked toward the door, "You're doing just fine, I'll let you know if I think it's going otherwise."
"Thanks!" I yelled after him. It's nice to know someone's watching my back(side). Literally.