One jump at a time…
March 18, 2010
I’m proud of myself (and at the same time disgusted), today I finally used my jump rope for the first time since my dad mailed it to me last summer.
Besides not sleeping well (almost undoubtedly not helped by the fact that I haven’t been getting much of any sort of exercise), I’ve accumulated what I might call a bit of winter pudge. Not good. All these American goodies that people mailed me over the holidays (quite appreciated!) and my own new addiction to bread with olive oil (THE Moroccan thing to munch on)… But, the summer is fast approaching. If I can finally start exercising I know that my newfound movement and the summer heat’s devastating effects on my appetite and ability to consume solid food should help me get into better shape. One jump at a time! And maybe a push-up, or two. Probably not three, certainly not in a row. Starting small here…
Excuses are worthless. That being said, I will anyway explain my hesitation (that sounds better than procrastination) when it comes to actually jumping some rope and doing other kinds of exercise.
First, I can’t get a shower whenever I want. I can get a bucket bath, sure, but those are not nearly as quick and easy, not to mention the question of being satisfying. I have had a satisfying bucket bath or two, but they are few and far between.
Second, I can’t just toss my workout clothes into the washer as I move on to reading the morning paper’s comics. I have to clean all my clothes by hand. The more I sweat (by, say, exercising), the more laundry I have to do. Not so fun all the time. Sometimes, but not all the time.
Third, the temperature can be difficult. During the Tiznit summer the heat can be a bit much come 7:00am. From 9:00pm all the way to 7:00am it doesn’t really cool off much, but at least the sun is out of the picture. During this winter it hasn’t gotten too too cold where I live, alhamdulillah. But I don’t even like being chilly. So, another convenient excuse: the lack of a desire to either a) move at all or b) remove any articles of clothing.
Alright, I’ll stop there. I will have you know that back before I stopped my life in the States to get ready for this gig, I was going to a gym a few times a week and walking 5.6 miles in 1.5 hours several days a week. I have a history (albeit a skimpy one) of exercising… Just gotta get back on track and beat the excuse attitude. I’ll feel better, that’s for sure!
