It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve talked hardest-life-change-ever fitness with you guys.
Traveling, end of school festivities, work, and all manner of things have gotten in the way of it.
But, it’s not like I haven’t been working out.
I still hit the gym numerous times during the week. Zumba is so my jam.
I still do Revolt Fitness when I can’t get to the gym.
I am just returning from a trip to Toronto, Ontario where I didn’t get around to doing either one of those things.
I went up, Dude #3 and Mimi in tow, for a travel conference.
It was awesome for more reasons than I plan to bore you with, but in addition to the connections and learning I got while at the conference, I also had a couple of fitness epiphanies.
First, as much as I despise the act of walking for exercise, running really ain’t so bad. Especially when done in a foreign city. I took a 30 minute jog around the downtown Toronto area and, while exploring those almost 3 square miles around my hotel, I discovered so many things I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I jogged through Chinatown, around one of the artsy parts of the city, stopped to stare longingly at a burrito spot I was dying to try, and then went straight through the financial district. During rush hour.
Awkward as it was to be the only sweaty beast NOT wearing a business suit at 8 am on a Monday morning, it was still interesting to take in the sites in that way.
I’ve vowed to myself to make it a point to fit in jog on all of my future travels.
Secondly, getting in shape is one of my proudest accomplishments.
In addition to stuffing my face with a massive, ice cream topped, strawberry covered funnel cake, getting my build on at Legoland Discovery Centre during this excursion, and losing my voice on the 7th fastest roller coaster in the world (it’s the Leviathan at Wonderland)…
(Why yes. I am the most terrified roller coaster rider of all time. It’s been three days and my throat still hasn’t healed from all of the screaming.)
I also hiked through Albion Hills (a national park somewhere far, but close to Toronto), and completed a treetop ropes course/zip lining excursion at Treetop Eco Adventure Park in Oshwa, ON.
It was epic.
Painful, exhausting, and challenging, but epic too.
To think that just a year ago, had I been invited to have such experiences, there is no way my body would’ve allowed for it. It would’ve protested, loudly and fiercely against such activities.
I recall a time when even a brisk walk through the forest would’ve been asking a lot, and not just because of the mosquitos waiting to dine on me.
Climbing the ropes and the ladders, shimming across the platforms, and zipping over the canyons at the adventure park is something I will remember for always. It makes me sad to think of the me that wouldn’t have been willing or able to obtain those memories.
I made awesome friends on the excursion (some pictured below). I conquered fears (not of heights, silly, of not being able to pull my body up with my own arms). I beat stereotypes (I’m sure there’s one about black chicks not liking trees or climbing or nature or something). Heck, I even proved that you can look stylish while zip lining (these are before photos, don’t ask for after photos, it was a little bit scary)!
Completing the entire rope course is something that I will always be proud of myself for.
And it’s moments like these that make me use this space to encourage mamas to get healthy. Not just because, duh, being healthy is, um, healthy. Not just because I want you to look and feel your best. But because it opens doors that were previously closed.
And also, being a boss at zip lining and treetop rope courses is fun.
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