“Eat good, feel good.” “Healthy mind, healthy life.” “Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it.”
We have all heard the dozens of mantras and inspirational quotes for healthy living. It’s a billion-dollar industry saturated with books, DVDs, equipment, specialized trainers, clothing and food.
Working out. It’s what all the cool kids are doing. While almost everyone can agree that we need to eat clean and exercise if we want to feel our best and live a long life, society has turned exercise into a cringe-worthy, depressing act of movement. Some people need to be pushed to lose a few pounds, others see it as a waste of time and money. Then, there are the people like me, who will finally buckle down when they have a goal to reach (for me it’s my impending wedding—I told myself once the ring goes on, the extra chunk comes off).
As a ballerina and dancer for more than 17 years, I was and still am, quite flexible. Does that mean I’m in shape? Not at all. Do I have a few dozen pounds to lose? No, but that doesn’t mean I still won’t get laughed at when a first-time workout leaves me unable to walk up the stairs.
We punish ourselves for missing a gym day. We feel guilty if we cheat on our diets or have two cookies instead of one.
Feed your body the nutrition it needs, but reward it with some treats every now and then. As the warmer weather approaches, push yourself away from the computer and take your body for a walk, moving it the way it’s supposed to be moved. The rest will come when you’re ready.
Let’s be real, though, anyone who says they love to exercise is either a liar or psychotic.
—Jennifer Fauci
