In shape, ?

What does being in shape mean?

At the start of our stay at home order, I was commuting a few days a week and decided to ride my bike instead to avoid people.  I chuckled in a conversation saying I would come out of this in shape.  This brought this question up again for me and I came back to this draft from June of 2018!  Today, I am admittedly somewhat down as I believe a myriad of emotions for the last few months are crashing down on me.  Instead of drowning myself in the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes I made out of boredom, I thought, now it as good of a time as ever to write a blog post.  I have abandoned this outlet for two years.

I don’t know when I was in shape last or if I am now.  I don’t know at what point exactly I was out of shape.  I know when I feel good and when I don’t feel so fantastic.  I know there are metrics for age, weight, etc and fitness level which sometimes feel unachievable.  Being a data and achievement driven personality it is easy to succumb to this and push yourself harder than you should.

Then comes comparisons.  This is a tough one and probably the hardest for me and and I am guessing for you as well.  I hear you, making me feel better, people have different chemistry, makeup, metabolism, blah, blah, blah.  I still do it and shake it for a while and then go back.   I compare myself to the person running in front of me, I compare myself to the person looking at clothing next to me in a store, and so and so on.  Naturally, I wonder if they are in shape or they think they are.

Rambling, thoughts on a post still don;t have an answer.  What I do know it that it is a constant journey one where you see success and push farther.  Maybe I will just stop questioning and enjoy the journey.  In this COVID distancing time, I have embraced more physical activity more for something to do which is having a positive impact gaining strength and being able to run and ride longer and faster.

Interested in your thoughts on being in shape- what it means to you and what you do to keep yourself in shape.

xo,

julie