I don’t really like to exercise. It makes me feel like I’m trying too hard to be one of those “Real Housewives of Muscat” or something. I didn’t mind running as much when I was training for the half marathon, probably because I was running out of fear: “I better get my butt moving or I’m going to be hurting come November when I’m trying to get up that long hill in PG.” Plus, I used to run to Starbucks and get an iced latte to drink on the way home, so I was running for something.
But I’m not one of those people who feels SO MUCH BETTER after a workout. Usually I’m just extra hungry and tired and want to lie on the couch and do nothing for the next hour. Except eat chocolate and watch TV.
This morning I got up and put on my workout clothes since I have the kids all in school, Lucy to watch the baby and clean my house, and a paid-for gym membership. I really have no excuses left. Today I decided to live on the edge and go running outside at 8:30 in the morning. In a previous life I wouldn’t have thought my body capable of doing much more than rolling over an extra large pillow at that time of morning, but around here 8:30 is late. And hot. (95 and tropical)
I ended up running 2 miles around the neighborhood and only had one car honk and one group of workers call out a cadence, “one, two, three, four . . .” Not much different than America. I came home feeling like I ran 20 miles because I was DRIPPING with humidity — not sweat. (I hate feeling sweaty. “Humidity” sounds nicer). It looked like I decided to go swimming in a long sleeved t-shirt.
After my shower and breakfast I got really tired so I crawled in bed for a little bit and was about to fall asleep when Camille woke up from her nap. And then my headache kicked in. Now that I don’t have access to my awesome Monterey chiropractor, exercise usually leads to a headache which leads to me drinking a soda along with my Motrin. I don’t know if it’s the placebo effect or if the caffeine/sugar really does make the Motrin work better, but that’s what works for me. Then when I went to the grocery store to buy my Dr Pepper, I stumbled upon the dark chocolate Tim-Tams. After all that, I figure my net gain for the day is -2. I think I would have been better off sitting on the couch.
Exercise: the slippery slope to naps, sodas, and cookies.
***In case you’ve never had a Tim-Tam, you should try them at least once. They are these Australian chocolate sandwich cookies covered in dark chocolate. (They have others, but why bother with anything but dark chocolate?) You can get them at Target during the winter months. According to the website they’ll be available again starting in October. http://www.ilovetimtamcookies.com/
