Today I ran with my pal Pam. Pam is amazing and I'd love to share her story some day. She has lost 118 lbs and has 4 boys under the age of 17. I was on vacation last week so my schedule this week is so busy just catching up. Pam and I have been trying to run together on Tuesdays all winter and have only done so two or three times. So when she asked me to run today I told her I couldn't because of my schedule. This morning as I crawled out of bed on my vacation hangover to head to the gym I knew I had to find a way to say yes to Pam. Maybe she was needing a run with me as much I as I needed one with her!?
After careful calculations in my schedule I texted her and she said YES! The run was so great on many levels. We talked-the whole way. I don't do that. Ask the hubs. I listen to my music and talk sporadically. Sometime I even yell at HIM for making me talk. But, with Pam today our pace was manageable and the talking was breathy but doable. It was releasing to run, it was releasing to talk and hear an adult woman's perspective on life. I don't do that much.
Our talkative run quickly went from 4 miles as planned to 4.44 miles because I didn't hear Lola (AKA Runkeeper) tell me it was time to turn around. When I got home I breezed through a few chores, showered, and was at work by 10:30. With a smile on my face I took this picture for my hubs at work.
It is difficult to ascertain whether the benefits of group exercise are derived from the activity or the social interaction, but experts agree that the support, variety and motivation a group provides can help improve physical and mental health and create lasting exercise routines.
"It is known that women tend to exercise more when they perceive high levels of social support in their lives," says Cherilyn Hultquist, assistant professor in the department of health, physical education and sport science at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. "Seeing familiar faces each class makes it more than a stale exercise environment. It becomes a community with common goals."
Social interaction in group exercise settings can be a vehicle of encouragement and motivation for many, says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that promotes physical fitness and creates certification programs for fitness professionals. Group classes also create an atmosphere of accountability.
"Individuals are more inclined to come to the session because of social interaction, but also to put forth better effort because of the group dynamic that occurs with others -- a positive competition, in a sense," Bryant says.
So was it how amazing Pam is? Is it runner's high? Probably both I think. Do you have someone that supports you in being healthy? I am blessed enough to have an army! Each one from my mom, my sisters, my husband, my weight watchers group, the people at the gym, lady on the treadmill who I race but she doesn't even know it to PAM provide me with accountability and support and I am grateful and blessed and hope that I do the same.
I checked on Pintrest for a catchy saying about Friends working out together and found this. The Friends Workout. Ha Ha
Get it-from Friends the show. Gotta have been a 20 something in the 90's!
And then this hilarious pic that has nothing to do with anything but I did FOR REAL laugh out loud.
Oh man I digress..
To wind things up... I felt happy at all I had accomplished, positive because I got to talk with a trusted friend, and healthy for having run and lifted weights this morning. In turn, I made healthy eating choices and tracked all of my food. My chocolate cravings only went as far as lick the residue of the Reeses Peanut butter egg off the cardboard holder instead of beg my 10 year old for a bite.
Baby steps people-baby steps.
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