I tried something new as a warm up today. I played Basketball. Well, kinda. Let me explain why this is worth noting. I love watching basketball. My boyfriend and I have a favorite (but really unhealthy) past-time during basketball season of drinking beers, eating wings and watching the fun games at a dive bar. I love the Clippers and he's a Knicks and Golden State fan. However, I'm not a basketball nut and we really only indulge in our dive bar evenings on occasion- like once or twice a month. I've never actually played basketball in my life. I probably haven't picked up a basketball and tried to shoot it in like 10 years. SO. When my bf suggested we warm up by throwing some hoops before our strength session, I was very reluctant. But he was just SO excited, I decided to let him have his way, especially after I assured him I was terrible and didn't know what I was doing. I was actually kind of nervous. I thought I was going to make a fool of myself. But the strangest thing happened. The first shot I took, made it in the basket. And the second. And the third! I have no idea. I have no understanding for how I knew how to do it. I looked like a toddler dribbling the ball- but damn if I didn't make it in the hoop! That boosted my confidence and so we played around for like 20-30 minutes! My man spent a lot of time teaching me moves to steal the ball, and doing some drills and better shooting technique. It was so fun!! And we were running around so much I was completely out of breath by the end. It was a great start to the workout! My strength workout was a back, bicep, and abs one and kicked my ass too. I'm EXHAUSTED...But it feels SO good! And I won't hesitate to use basketball as a good warmup again. It's important to play around with fitness. Try new things! Have fun! It can't be all about just lifting weight out of obligation. Or to get to a certain number on the scale. It's good to remember WHY you're working out so hard. What that will do- besides just making you look hot. 😉 While I was playing ball, I kept thinking, 'oh, I should really work my quads so I can get lower and be lighter on my feet' and 'increasing my arm strength will give me more control' and 'oh boy, I need to up my cardio' Is there any sport or activity that can motivate you to work out? Maybe it's running a mile, playing tennis, hiking a certain mountain, biking a certain bridge, surfing, scuba dying, rock climbing or maybe just not dying during Zumba? Think about how your workout supports that and use it to motivate you! Maybe even tweak your workout to support that activity even more. Then, get out there and DO it! Because that's why we want to be in shape, isn't it? We want bodies that have no physical limits to what we can do! We can do anything we want with proper training. And you may find a talent in something you never knew you had! The important thing is to keep trying till you find what's fun for you. If I had let my nerves and feelings of inadequacy keep me from trying a new sport today, I would never have known how fun it is! I mean- I'm not GOOD at it (not yet)- I'm sure it would have been funny to watch me tumble, fall, miss shots and scream in frustration- but I felt SO ALIVE! No matter who you are or where you're starting from - YOU can do anything you want!