Week 46 for Jess

Sunday: nothing
Monday: 30 Day Shred, Level 3
Tuesday: 30 Day Shred, Level 1
Wednesday: nothing
Thursday: 30 Day Shred, Level 2
Friday: 30 Day Shred, Level 1
Saturday: 30 Day Shred, Level 3

This is the first time in a long time that I've exercised five times in one week.

And I feel so good. Funny thing is, the work-outs have NOT been fun. I've really been pushing myself - going at a faster pace, using heavier weights, doing  harder versions of the movies, etc. (except push-ups - I'm still doing real ones only about half the time!) - but pushing hard has meant the work-outs have hurt a lot while I'm doing them.

But afterwards? Seriously, I feel so good. I feel like I've got my body back - I feel connected to it again, and like it's on my side and not working against me. I've been eating well too . . . I just need to do this all the time. It feels so good, and I'm so much happier. I swear doing this changes my brain chemistry. It makes it so much easier to be happy, and that's such a grace and gift in ordinary life.

ETA: going back to the Shred, and just doing that over and over, through all the levels, is part of what feels so right. I like having variety sometimes, but right now I just want my very familiar work-out. I know this work-out so well that I feel very comfortable pushing myself during it, I know what's coming, I know I can get through the whole thing, so it's easy to tell myself, "It's not that long, just do it. You'll feel better at the end. It's not fun, but there aren't going to be any surprises. Just do it." And I'm always glad that I do.

Not being long is another thing. It really is under half an hour. That makes such a difference.

-Jess