Walking a New Path

I've been finding it harder and harder in the last few weeks to get motivated at the gym. Instead of fighting through it and being miserable, I'm trying to find another outlet I can try to be fit and active... so I started hiking again!

The gym is still going to be a part of my life because I do love lifting weights, but I'm looking forward to trying some new things to stay in shape. It's really all about balance. Working out 6 days a week in the gym has left me a little burnt out. I've had a few injuries this year that have set me back (tore my medial gastrocnemius, mid-foot sprain) and it's frustrated to go to the gym day after day and not be able to perform at the level I used to do, even a few months ago.

I want to make sure that I don't give up on staying in shape, but I think I just need a bit of a change in routine. Not only hiking more, but I'm trying to get back into swimming. I have some serious body image issues in a bikini so getting into a public pool is always difficult for me. Every time I'm out in a swim suit I find myself critiquing every part of my body. That has to stop. The only times I've really felt good about how I've looked are when I've been able to DO things with my body: boxing, tennis, weight lifting, hiking... I want to be fit and in shape to look good, but also to feel good.