I woke up this morning feeling tired, a little groggy, grumpy and came downstairs to my 18 year old cat having an accident way outside of her litter box.  Not a pleasant start to the day at all.  I cleaned it up, fed the cat, made my first cup of tea and sat down to contemplate each and every one of my aches and pains.  This was getting me nowhere.  It was a day when I needed to be on the elliptical at the gym by 7:30am and then worked with my trainer for an hour from 8 to 9.  I get up at 5 so I had plenty of time to work on my attitude.  I sipped tea, read my book and continued to look at the world through “grumpy cat” eyes.  This wouldn’t do.  I wasn’t liking myself.

I made my coffee, grabbed my phone and started scrolling through pictures.  I came upon one of my before pictures and stared at it for a few minutes.  Then I sipped my coffee and stared at it a little longer as I contemplated texting my trainer and blowing off the gym.  Then I stared at my before picture again and realized that if I didn’t get my rear in gear and get dressed and get to the gym I ran the risk of falling into old, lazy, sit around and sulk habits which lead directly to the refrigerator and cupboards searching out crap to stuff in my face.  NEVER AGAIN!!!  I was no longer that 424 pound woman, I was fit and active and feeling a little grumpy in the morning was not going to hold me back…  okay so that sudden little burst of energy and positivity got me upstairs, changed for the gym and out the door.

I arrived at the gym all ready to complain about it being unbearable hot in there and to have my favorite elliptical occupied by someone else.  Not only was my elliptical available but it was pleasantly cool in the gym.  I slowly stepped up and began moving, ever so slowly.  I kept moving, trying to increase my pace a little with each song in my play list, telling myself 5 more minutes, just five more minutes several times until it was 7:55 am and I had moved for 30 minutes and was sure I was going to die and not be able to do much with my trainer.  I expected to have to modify just about everything.

Hmm, that didn’t happen.  I made it through an hour of lifting, working my back, shoulders and arms and doing some balance work without falling down, having a heart attack or crying.  I was actually feeling pretty good.  I got out to the car and headed home thinking to myself this is WHY I had surgery - to be fit, healthy, flexible and mobile and this is WHY I continue getting myself to the gym.

By the time I left my mood was no longer “grouchy cat”, I could smile and move with no pain.  Fitness is my drug of choice!