"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't."
Ah, the motivational words of Elle Woods. I'm sure there were many important lessons to be gleaned from the film classic Legally Blonde, but this is the one that continues to stick with me.
It amazes me how a good workout never fails to clear my mind and turn my day around. Today I was at a breaking point, ready and willing to use food to comfort me and solve my problems. Instead, I called a friend to talk me off my food-ledge and then put Bons on a leash and went for a long walk. Before I was even out of the neighborhood, I was feeling better.
This was not my first such experience. I may have even blogged about it before. Time after time I am amazed by the way a workout can change my attitude completely. That's part of the reason I love my lunchtime workouts so much. It benefits both mental health and my work to get out of the office and clear my head. It changes my perspective of whatever I'm thinking about or working on.
It makes me think I should go back and watch Legally Blonde again to see what other life lessons I could ascertain. Maybe I should try the bend and snap?
Showing posts with label choices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choices. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
Make a Good Choice
Another edition of Memory Mondays....
First, some background. Moe's, my favorite restaurant, is on the other side of town, about 20 minutes from my house. That distance helps keep me from going there more than I should. One of my typical meals at Moe's, while not completely unhealthy, averages 300-400 calories more than what I make for a meal at home.
One day last fall, I left work and had to run by the library to pick up some books I had on hold. It was a weekday, like a Tuesday. I had a delicious and nutritious meal waiting for me at home, but I was tired and missing my Moe's fix. When the idea that going to the library would take me halfway to Moe's crossed my mind, it never left. So from campus to the library, while I waited at the library, and as I began to drive away, I argued with myself about whether or not I should drive the rest of the way to Moe's or go home to the meal I had waiting for me in the fridge. Literally, I had an actual conversation with myself about it.
As I approached the point where I had to turn to go to Moe's or continue straight to go home, I reached exasperation-level with myself and said out loud, "Just make a good choice, Jill." Then I continued straight.
I went home feeling really good about the decision I made. Really empowered, I guess, like I actually had control over this crazy journey. I have the power to decide which way to go, which path to take. Food does not control me unless I let it. It's something I try to remember, but can be easy to forget. Even now, whenever I get into one of these arguments with myself over food, I remember that night and try to make the good choice.
First, some background. Moe's, my favorite restaurant, is on the other side of town, about 20 minutes from my house. That distance helps keep me from going there more than I should. One of my typical meals at Moe's, while not completely unhealthy, averages 300-400 calories more than what I make for a meal at home.
One day last fall, I left work and had to run by the library to pick up some books I had on hold. It was a weekday, like a Tuesday. I had a delicious and nutritious meal waiting for me at home, but I was tired and missing my Moe's fix. When the idea that going to the library would take me halfway to Moe's crossed my mind, it never left. So from campus to the library, while I waited at the library, and as I began to drive away, I argued with myself about whether or not I should drive the rest of the way to Moe's or go home to the meal I had waiting for me in the fridge. Literally, I had an actual conversation with myself about it.
As I approached the point where I had to turn to go to Moe's or continue straight to go home, I reached exasperation-level with myself and said out loud, "Just make a good choice, Jill." Then I continued straight.
I went home feeling really good about the decision I made. Really empowered, I guess, like I actually had control over this crazy journey. I have the power to decide which way to go, which path to take. Food does not control me unless I let it. It's something I try to remember, but can be easy to forget. Even now, whenever I get into one of these arguments with myself over food, I remember that night and try to make the good choice.
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