Sacrifice

I spoke with my father on the phone last night. I told him that I didn't feel like I was denying myself anything with my fitness lifestyle.  It wasn't until after we got off the phone, and I was scouring the nearest grocery store for s sugar free dessert that I realized that I was totally wrong.

I have sacrificed much over the last 7 weeks. I've given up the quick hunger fix, grease filled fast food I used to eat. I've given up sugar in total. Let me repeat that, I Have Given Up Sugar! I have denied myself every candy treat I still let the kiddo have. I've denied myself nights of relaxation. I don't just lay down on the couch when I get off of work these days. EVER! There is a run that happens first, or I lift weights when the t.v. gets turned on.

I denied myself some skateboarding for a while, but I'm done with that. After scouring my brain for MORE exercise I realized I just needed to skate more. So, I skated three times last week. It was perfect. I love skateboarding. I wonder how in the heck I could have skated so little over the previous month. Yesterday, I went skating. It was a fun session trying to keep up with guys that were born when I was in college. I can't say that I can keep up with them anymore, but I give it a shot. When that was done, I went running for a half an hour. Normally, I'd have gone home, showered and crashed out on the couch.  Adding a run on top of a big session? That was a blast!!!

So, yeah. I have denied myself a lot of things. I've sacrificed time. I've denied myself unhealthy behavior, and I've rid myself of a little more laziness. But I have gained so much. I like what I'm seeing in the mirror. And I like it because I've worked so hard for it, not because I 'look better.' I really like how I feel. I've not had this much energy and drive for life in a long time. What does this mean?

Sacrifice is good.