Re-channeled/A Fat Kid Endorsement.

     As I've been shuffling along toward a healthier me, I've been trying to figure out when exactly I should begin exercising again.
     I was having a conversation with someone today, someone I'm close with, and we were chatting about the blog and life in general. It was a nice conversation, until the end. This person made a comment, an attempt at humor, that turned out to be quite hurtful. It stung a great deal to be honest with you.It ruined whatever good mood I was in today and I wasn't quiet sure how to deal with it. Should I call them back and yell at them? Should I write them an angry e-mail? Should I smoke a bowl and try to forget it. Should I smoke a bowl, go to Shake Shack and try to forget it? No, not today.  Today, let's try something else.
    Weeks ago I downloaded an app for my iPhone called, 5K Runner. The app is designed to take someone who hasn't worked out in quite some time, and lead them little by little over the course of eight weeks to being able to run a full 5K. I was walking around my apartment upset from the earlier conversation, trying to figure out exactly what to do, and I noticed my phone sitting in front of me. I grabbed it, my Nike's, my ear buds, and headed for the park.
    On my way to the park and turned on some Eminem and opened the 5K app. I hit the day one workout button and a voice came on over my music and said, "Walk briskly for five minutes." I did. After the five minutes were up the voice came on again and said, "Begin running." After a minute the voice came on again. "Slow down and walk." It repeated this pattern over and over. I began to forget about why I was so upset earlier. I remembered that no one in this life gets to define who you are, except for you. I stopped thinking about that bullshit comment from earlier, and started thinking about my breathing. I kept reminding myself to keep my core tight. Pretty soon the voice said, "You've reached the halfway point." When my legs would ache I just reminded myself that pain is weakness leaving the body. Then before I knew it I heard, "Congratulations! Your workout is finished. See you in a couple days." If you have any desire to begin running, I highly recommend this app.
   Once I finished I was standing in front of the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument, the tallest spot in Fort Greene Park. I was covered in sweat. The sun was beating down on me and a breeze blew across my face. I let the warm August air fill my lungs. I looked over the trees, past the city skyline, and out at the Carolina Blue sky. I felt better than I have in months. The pain from earlier was gone, my workout was finished, I felt accomplished for the first time in weeks, and the only thought in my head was, "Let's see how many push-ups I can do."