Joan E. Wilder Author On My Trending Stories

I am a professional who works hard, like most professionals. And like most professionals, I kept thinking that I would find the time later to exercise. I began to believe that getting up to get a cup of coffee counted as physical activity - it does - right? Walking to the elevator for lunch counted too - right?

Ok, ok, I wasn't fooling anyone, most of all myself. I thought I could go on this way for years, after all, I was still pretty young - I had plenty of time.

But something began to happen. My hip had a dull ache, I couldn't keep my balance long enough to put my socks on without sitting down and my arm hurt from using my mouse and typing so much. And worse, while these pains weren't severe, they were annoying and they hurt. And I was gaining weight. I kept thinking that I was too young for this to happen. What was going to happen to me when I got older?

Then an even more annoying thing happened. My husband signed me up for a gym membership and training sessions. I worked 10 hour days, plus my commute, I worked when I got home from the office and a few hours on weekends. I sometimes traveled for work and worked in airports and the plane, I was always working. When I wasn't working I was thinking of work and I was way too tired to think about much else.

What was he thinking? When was I going to have time to go to a gym? Plus - there was nothing about a personal trainer that interested me, at all. And I'd like to think it's not because I'm cheap, but I sure was going to get my money's worth out of that gym and trainer, and I wanted to get it over with.

Now here's the funny part. After a few weeks my hip stopped hurting, I could put my socks on standing up without leaning on anything, my arm pain is gone and best of all, I didn't wake up at night with that hip pain. Eureka! That is something I wanted to share!

Now that didn't happen overnight. It took a few months, but hey, I was inactive for years so it was a small price to pay for feeling better. I know I should have done this a LONG time but I'm not going to beat myself up over that. My weight hasn't gone down much, but now I don't feel as guilty when I have a cookie or two and honestly, I feel happier.

I do go to the gym several times a week and have a special exercise I have to do for my hip and if I don't do it at least every 3 days the pain starts again - so I know for sure that's what I need to do.

One more thing happened. I began to look forward to going to the gym as my down time and the more I went the less I had to 'think' about going. It became a habit for me.

And now I want to share fitness information with you. And yes, it's that important!