After one week of doing 25 to 50 push-ups every single day I’m beginning to notice that I can do more push-ups at one time and it feels a lot easier. I’ve been trying to get back in shape since I tried to put on a size 8 pair of jeans the other day and they were a wee bit snug. I’ve decided not to let myself go even the slightest bit, so I’ve started out easy, trying to make it a habit of wanting to exercise while watching TV. My brother the psychology major told me a while ago that we develop habits quickly in relation to watching television. I noticed this at age 8 when I unknowingly made a habit of sitting down every afternoon with a roll of Sweetart candies to watch Animaniacs and Batman. It was only just recently that I’ve noticed I don’t get the munchies when I watch TV anymore. If I can make the munchies a habit, I can make exercising a habit. Now I’m all fidgety when I watch TV – I have to be doing something. I don’t think that’s entirely too bad, though. It’s certainly healthier than just sitting there. And, I’m beginning to feel the difference. After one hundred leg lifts on each side, my legs didn’t burn at all when I ran up two flights of stairs to get from the basement to my room. After all those push-ups, I was able to go through 15 straight push-ups without feeling strained, and it was nice and even movement all the way through.
I’ve never really been too keen on constant exercise. You know, where people get fanatical about it, where they’re literally addicted to double-checking their size in the mirror, shaking if they haven’t gone on their daily jog before noon. That sort of thing. I think that sacrifices a lot and leads to narcissistic behavior. I’m not into that. I knew a lady once who was obviously so proud of her body and her workout regime; she couldn’t go five minutes without rubbing her stomach or outlining her waist, to prove just how tiny she was. That’s just sick. I’m just seriously tired of feeling crappy, and if exercise will help then dang it, I’m going to be more dedicated about it. I’m tired of it being so hard for nurses to draw blood from my arms – they said if I build up more muscle mass on my arms it might make it easier. So I’m going for it, hence the push-ups. And my legs, they ache a lot, I don’t think they’re getting enough exercise. I tried walking every day, but the heat and the bright light of the sun gets to me too much. My eyes don’t react well to really bright sunlight, but my sun glasses always make my head hurt. But, that doesn’t mean I have to quit. Leg lifts while watching a movie, for now, is a good substitute. Pretty soon I may graduate to jumping jacks, if my four-toed foot can handle it.
Good news on the cooking front; I actually remembered to make dinner tonight. I was planning on creating shishkabobs and rice, so I cut up an onion, prepared a marinade, thawed strip steak, and had everything all ready to go. Then I realized saut