Have an affair for your body

Kristin Tabor, a rebel running without a cause

Did you read the title correctly?  It sounds provocative but that all depends on how you interpret an affair.   One can have an affair to remember, but it might not be with a human being or chocolate.  It might be an affair with your body.   In the words of Dan Akroyd and Eddy Murphy from the movie “Trading Places,” I’m searching for the secret formula for “looking good, feeling good.”

Up until now, affairs in my mind meant something scandalous, naughty and secretive.  There have been countless times I’ve fantasized about being left alone in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.   I fulfilled part of that fantasy while working in the R&D department of Dreyer’s Ice Cream.  And, of course there was Halloween as a kid.  Who can forget the contest to see who had the most and best candy bars at the end of the evening?  Who can forget the careful, secret plan to hide the loot for private and naughty eating?

Aside from the guilt of hiding chocolate wrappers over the years, I wish I had that same type of Willy Wonka enthusiasm for my body.  One part of my brain tells me, “awe, yes, the body is a temple.”  The other part of my brain holds a grudge against the “know it all right thing to do” thinking.   Is this a war within me?

There isn’t a person reading this story today who doesn’t understand the concept of leading a longer healthier life through exercise, proper diet, regular doctor visits and listening to our bodies.  Yet, the human side of us may opt out of the healthy execution of mind, body and soul percolating correctly together.  In the movie, “Terms of Endearment,” Shirley MacLaine’s character says “blah, blah, blah, blah, and blah” to Jack Nicholson’s character when he comes up with a lame excuse to back out of a relationship.   Sometimes, I hear Shirley saying those “blah, blah” words when I run from leading a healthy life.

Even when I’ve been at my most fit, reaping the physical and mental benefits of terms of feeling alert, I think I lacked the love of my body.  Countless times, I ran mindlessly to stay fit (even at 3:00 AM in the morning) and I would fail to eat until dinner…often just a plate of rabbit food.

It’s no surprise, I became Forest Gump and decided to just sit and eat a box of chocolates.  I was becoming a “runner rebel without a cause.”  Hollywood gave us Forest Gump who we all love, but it also gave us role models who are underweight at any cost…including their lives.  To add to the glamour myth, Runner’s World and Sports Illustrated have provided countless stories of athletes who have struggled with eating disorders, depression, drugs and alcoholism.  Much like candy bars, what’s on the outside wrapper may not match what’s on the inside.

So, imagine me sitting with a kind and caring man named Eric Hall, of Avatar Training Studio, who looks into my eyes and says, “I want to make you fall in love with your body.”  For some, it could mean the courting of a love affair between two people.  In this case, for the two of us, it became the start of a relationship with Avatar Training Studio to regain the happiness, which comes from a personal love affair of the body.

Three weeks ago, I begin my training program.  My one-on-one trainer, Andrea Johnson, Lifestyles Coach (attorney too), greeted me at door of the studio.  Just driving there created an overwhelming fear thinking of the one hundred last suppers and a possible heart attack.  Something peaceful came over me the moment I arrived.  Nestled in the warehouse district with shouting distance of the new Twin’s stadium, I couldn’t help but think of myself as officially cool.

Andrea’s lean and petite body was the size of one of my legs, but I quickly learned that this former professional skater’s strength could take me down in a second.  She could be on the cover of Sports Illustrated or Runner’s World with no air brushing.   A bottle of water, a towel, and directions to a “no lock” locker room where people don’t steal from one another started me off on the point of “good return.”

With instructions to warm up for 5-10 minutes aerobically, I chose the treadmill (somewhat hidden from Andrea) while she was stretching one of her clients.  Truthfully, I was a little embarrassed to be seen and wanted my rear end up against a wall.  The treadmill fit the bill.  I hoped nobody would discover I was doing a 20-minute mile.

After about 7 minutes, Andrea came over and explained to me that she had reviewed my case with Eric.  “I’m a case?” I thought.  The Avatar plan for the first week was to focus on technique and start out slowly with my aerobic activity.  Apparently, I had left an impression of obsessive-compulsive disorder with Eric.  So, out the gate, I was not to run like a Kentucky Derby horse.
Now, my goal was to not fail by walking more than 30 minutes? I was also supposed to be tracking my bad diet for two weeks?  What about all those television commercials where people boast about losing 5-10 pounds in two weeks?  And, now I’m still eating lousy and barely moving?  The challenge was to not do my best?

Next week, I’ll share my experiences with the “taking it slow” methodology of diet and exercise.   As a preview, it’s been three weeks since I started and I can honestly say I am getting the method of un-madness.  Along the way, I’ve become stronger mentally, physically and in the soul.

Get more information about Avatar Training Studio at Avatartrainingstudio.com/