Of Exercise Routines

Before December 2010 I was in a good routine at the gym I’d joined. I was exercising 3-4 times each week and definitely seeing the benefits.  I’d also been eating well, so was starting to firm up a bit in all the right places.Then a few things happened that have somewhat disrupted my routine.I had a crash at a Go-Kart track and damaged my ribs. Of course, it was totally worth it because Extreme Indoor Karts is such fun, but it meant that I wasn’t able to move, sneeze or sleep without a lot of pain. It also led to my putting out a shoulder muscle which has taken some time to heal.But I also fell into a happy place. Yes. A place of contentment and happy.I completely lost the required balance between knowing you need to exercise, actually needing to exercise, and wanting to exercise.I have learned that for me anyway I either need to be unsettled and unhappy to motivate myself to exercise OR make an absolute must-stick-to-it scheduled routine which is immovable.Looking back over the last few years, I exercised a lot when trying to avoid conflict. I exercised with friends who were determined to get me out of my house and into the fresh air. I exercised when there was no inter-personal contact going on.Then I got happy.And my routine suffered.So.. seeing as I really really like being happy, I need to ensure my routine is diarised and immovable. It is too easy for me to ‘flag it, can’t be bothered today, it’s too hot’.I should note that one fun thing that has happened is that my boss has joined the same gym as me, and has the same personal trainer. We have a lot of entertaining conversations about the pain she inflicts and the joy she seems to derive from it.I do recommend you check out Jetts as well. It is a good set up with great staff.So, if you can be bothered, please hold me accountable. Check in with me from time to time to make sure I’m still exercising. And do let me know what your exercise routines consist of. How do you manage to maintain them?- Simon