May I suggest - find a gym. Book an appointment with a personal trainer. Go twice a week at the same times every week. Pick them right up front. Commit to three months - time to make it a habit and you won't have to make a decision on this for three months! You will feel and look better and the human contact would be good for you. Sorry if I sound bossy - but this is the number one best thing I did for myself the past year. Beats every single antidepressant I've tried. I'm now down to once/week with the trainer, but since he is a marathoner, he got me running again. No small feat at age 49 with two kids. Running shoes are a lot cheaper than a second session.

No I don't take it as bossy. I totally agree. If you can do it at 49 w/ 2 kids then I can do it at 33 without. I need to find a gym ASAP. I've been thinking about boxing.

1. it is family tradition, golden gloves boxing and underground street fighting matches. It's in my blood. Boxing would be a way to contain the darker aspects such as the draw to underground/criminal activity.

2. There is a self defense aspect in overcoming learned helplessness. I need to have the prospect of someone literally kicking my ass to get me motivated.

I'm not sure how you picked up on the need for human contact but good call. This has been a problem for me lately. I plan to start running again, not sure if marathon is in my future but I'll start w/ 5K and go from there. Boxing is all of the types of sports together - endurance, power, and plyometrics. So I'd probably have to be at least a decent 10K runner to box effectively.

No I don't take it as bossy. I totally agree. If you can do it at 49 w/ 2 kids then I can do it at 33 without. I need to find a gym ASAP. I've been thinking about boxing.

1. it is family tradition' date=' golden gloves boxing and underground street fighting matches. It's in my blood. Boxing would be a way to contain the darker aspects such as the draw to underground/criminal activity.

[/quote']. I think boxing would be great. I'd love to be able to do kick boxing or some kind of extreme martial arts. But this old body is just too beaten up to contemplate it. I think it would be a great outlet for my rage.

2. There is a self defense aspect in overcoming learned helplessness. I need to have the prospect of someone literally kicking my ass to get me motivated.

. Then consider your ass kicked. I'll be watching you.

I'm not sure how you picked up on the need for human contact but good call. This has been a problem for me lately.

Maybe something I recalled from your prior blogs. Or' date=' maybe the "sex with a stranger" comment.

I plan to start running again, not sure if marathon is in my future but I'll start w/ 5K and go from there. Boxing is all of the types of sports together - endurance, power, and plyometrics. So I'd probably have to be at least a decent 10K runner to box effectively.

START with 5k? You're already way ahead of me. Having said that, i've just come back from my 3 mile run. I challenge you to do a 5k today! Action. Action.

FWIW a 5K is only 3.1 miles, so you're probably closer than I am Athena.

I went for a good 2 miles yesterday but came back with a side stitch that still hasn't quit. I think my form was bad and I shook my internal organs up enough to sort of bruise connective tissue or whatever causes that kind of pain. Oh well, live and learn.

Never heard of that. Although, I keep telling my marathoner trainer I feel like my insides are falling out when he pushes me too hard. His sustainable pace is above my 100% level. Anyway, take it easy and work up to it. I have a nasty hip problem caused by interval training (sprint/walk cycles), which is apparently the most efficient form of exercise you can possibly do (unless you injure yourself). But I can't give up the running as it helps my back pain, circulation, energy and mood - just too much to give up. So I just try to take it easier now and have a visit scheduled with the pain Dr.