The Twelve Days of (exercising before) Christmas

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Jeff and I decided we need to re-evaluate our exercise plan. I had been trying to go to the gym after work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. However, often something comes up, or I get too tired, and I end up going just one day a week, or none at all. Jeff had been planning to do bike rides before work, but it was starting to get dark earlier and earlier, so it wasn't really safe to go that early.

We had made a plan to work out in the mornings once before, but it never got past the resolution-making stage. But now we decided morning was the only way. And we came up with a plan to workout in the morning without getting up much earlier than we already do. We had been getting up at 7:15, both getting ready, having a bit of coffee and talking, and then walking to work together around 8:30 or 8:45pm.

Now, we get up at 7am, put on gym clothes, and leave the house at 7:15pm. Jeff goes to the gym at his work, exercises and showers there, and gets to work at 8:30 or 8:45. I go to my gym near our apartment, come home and get ready, and am set to go by 8:45pm also. The only downside (and it's kind of a big one) is that we have to sacrifice our nice mornings together.

But it is pretty amazing to come home after work and not be debating whether I'm too tired or have too much work to be able to make it to the gym. As long as you wake up on time, there's really no excuse not to go in the morning.

The plan is to go every morning Monday through Thursday. Jeff and I figured out that if we actually keep that up, we'll go exactly 12 times before I head to Minnesota for Christmas. So far, I've made it three days!

One thing that motivates me to go to the gym and helps the time pass quickly is getting a good book to read while there. The book has to be really engrossing, and it doesn't hurt if it's just a fun, easy read. My first book? Twilight. I know, it's kind of embarrassing, reading about teenage vampires, but it does fit the criteria of being an easy read and being a page turner. Three days and I've already met Edward and Jacob (but I don't think I have enough information to pick a team)!