That's Fit

I call them rules but my exercise requirements are not so hard and fast really. I'd like them to be but as life would have it, stuff gets in the way and I end up violating my workout rules more often than I'd like. In a perfect world, these would be the rules I'd follow faithfully. In reality, these are the rules I mostly comply with but sometimes find myself breaking.

1. Exercise in the morning, just after rolling out of bed, getting dressed, washing face, placing contact lenses in eyes, pulling hair into ponytail, putting on running shoes, and eating something small yet smart. There's nothing better for me than starting off my day with a workout. It's refreshing, invigorating, and erases all worry about when I'll fit in my fitness feat for the day.

2. Pump up the volume on MP3 player. It can be radio station tunes or MP3 downloads. Regardless, music inspires me to meet all sorts of exercise goals. Sometimes I run until I hear a commercial. Sometimes I run for the duration of five downloaded songs and then repeat them and keep on running. I change my pace according to the sounds that pipe into my ears. Upbeat songs keep me at a high performance level. Slower songs keep me slow and steady. The combination changes up my momentum and keeps me from burning out. Music is an essential rule that I rarely break. When I do, it's because my MP3 batteries have died. The result: I usually stop dead in my tracks. Silence just isn't a motivating force for me.

3. Exercise alone. I don't want a partner, don't need a class, and definitely don't prefer my kids in the background while I exercise. Now a family bike ride is fine, and I do sometimes walk the hills in my neighborhood with my mom but when it comes to a challenging workout -- my preference -- company just isn't necessary. My music, my thoughts, the sound of my own huffing and puffing is all I want and need.

4. Sweat. I simply must sweat to feel I've accomplished meaningful physical activity. I like to wipe drips from my forehead. I like to feel drops from my hair hit my neck. I like a soaked shirt, a red face, and a treadmill I have to wipe clean when my workout comes to a close.

5. Exercise every day. My day flows so much better with exercise in it.

And so these are my basics, my few requirements for the very thing I believe is keeping me healthy and happy. What are your rules for exercise?