Coming Clean: Tales of a Disordered Eater

This is what my dear husband told me last night when, after my biking plans with a friend were thwarted half-way through our ride due to trail construction, I was still desperate to get in my workout.

I just wanted to go to the gym and “get it over with” … torch 400 calories or so and move on (which I realize sounds obsessive) … but he wanted us to take a nice walk together to prep for his business school interview today.

At first I was plagued with anxiety… I need to exercise every day, don’t I? Then I realized quality time with my husband–especially the night before such a big interview–definitely trumps a cardio session. And it’s not like I won’t hit the gym the very next day.

We had a lovely walk and then came back, and since it was still light out, we mowed the lawn. So in the end I got in a good workout, changed up my routine, and got to spend time with the one I love.

I guess it’s been drilled into my head over the past four years that unless I am running outside or sweating at the gym, I’m not meeting my exercise quota of the day. But the truth is, for many Americans, a brisk 15-20 min. walk is their daily exercise, and if I am working out hard the other 6 days of the week, why not have a designated “different” day?

And I’d like to note, “No Choice” worked well for me last night. I didn’t have a midnight incident, and also didn’t eat anything I didn’t need. I consider that a tremendous victory!

Maybe it was because, after an internal battle, I simply allowed myself to just “be”?? Hmmm…

How about you? What is your usual exercise routine? If your plan changes due to outside factors, do you feel guilty … or do you welcome the impromptu change?