I am not a very religious person. Actually I am not religious at all. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. And I am not planning on going any time soon. But I can say that I am a spiritual person. I pray every night as I lay down to go to sleep. I thank God for all he has given me and for keeping my family safe for another day. When I can’t sleep at night, I will pray the rosary. I usually fall asleep after the first few Hail Marys. Never getting to the Our Father.
I have found when I am working out at Gold’s Gym saying a Hail Mary is mentally easier than counting to 10, 15 or 20 reps. That is what my trainer is there for. She counts. I pray. When I am in the zone, I let my mind escape by reciting the Hail Mary. It takes me 13 seconds to comfortably recite the prayer. I can say a lot of prayers during my work out. It is mentally very soothing.
I have been working out with my trainer since September. I absolutely love her. Chantille is so kind but relentless. What I love about her is that she sees my weaknesses and will work on them. Currently my shoulder movement is very limited. I broke my shoulder years ago and my arms just don’t want to go back. So every training session we do a set of shoulder presses to strengthen my shoulders. Slowly my flexibility is returning.
Another weakness of mine is step ups. I know you all know what I am talking about. If you have been to a basketball game or football game one needs to step up onto risers to get to their seat. I did not want to be that person that has to watch a basketball game sitting on the first riser because I could not step up any higher. So Chantille has me hold a kettle bell in each hand and has me step up on the step up stool for at least a whole rosary. Actually it is 20 reps – 3 times – but it seems to take forever. So one day I thought if I go a little faster I would get over this awful exercise quicker. It did not work. My foot caught on the edge of the stool and down I went – kettle bells and all. I have learned that fast prayers do not work – just like fast work outs do not work. Slow and steady is the best means to the end.
There is something to the adage The Power of Prayer. I truly believe in it. I pray hard during my workouts. I pray to pass the time and I pray that I won’t die during my workout. So far my prayers have been answered. I am getting stronger. And I am still alive. I actually have muscle tone in my arms. My body is being reshaped. Keep in mind that I do have saggy baggy elephant skin from the weight loss but underneath those flaps of skin is muscle. I love it!
So I will continue with my prayers and my workouts. I don’t want these last months to be that Hail Mary pass – like a touchdown pass in a football game. I want to continue strong and steady. I will never be a power lifter or a body muscle model but I know for sure that I will be able to climb up the risers comfortably to be able to watch my grandsons play football and basketball. I will be able to lift my camera bag without my back not going out on me. I will be able to walk/run at a decent clip and not be totally winded. I will be able to get down on the ground during a photo shoot and be able to get back up. I am just looking for simple strength.
Now I wonder what I would be able to accomplish if I started to pray the Our Father.
So glad you are back and Happy New Year with wishes (prayers?) for a healthy 2015.
She’s back. Life is so much better now. I love your perspective(s) on life, etc. Please don’t wait so long between posts.