Don’t Give Up On A Friend – Starting To Workout Is Hard

In some of my posts, I mention I’ve had a friend join me on my walks to the park for workouts before my boys get out of school.  After mentioning her so many times, I thought I’d better introduce you.

Channol and I enjoying our weekday walk and workout ritual.

The first time I met Channol, my boys and I were walking home from school. She was driving back from the day care next door to our apartment complex.  We met up in the parking lot.  Our kids recognized each other.  Channol has a daughter in my 6 year-old’s class.  She told me that she pays the day care to bring her daughter back and then picks her up there.  She liked the convenience, said it didn’t cost much, and suggested I do the same.  I smiled and said I might, but I actually really enjoy the walk.

We started texting, chatting whenever we’d see each other, and talking about different things.  I continued walking to the park and working out before the boys got out from school, and then walking back with them.  She started telling me she wanted to lose some weight and get in shape.

Channol has two beautiful daughters, and she told me the baby weight came right off after her first, and not so much after her second.  She’d been in a car wreck and injured her kidney.  The injury sometimes caused back pain during exercises, so she really didn’t know what to do, and hadn’t tried much since

Though she mentioned wanting to come along for the walks and workouts, initially, things would come up for her.  She’d find excuses not to come.  I always made sure she knew she was invited.  One day, at the end of the week Channol told me that the next week she was coming for sure.  I said, ok, but I really wasn’t sure how serious she was.

Would you believe it, she was outside and ready to go!  We walked to the park, but I didn’t think she’d be up for a workout.  I sat down thinking that’s what she’d want to do.  She started asking me about workouts!  She wanted to know what she could do at home and what she should buy.  I had a resistance band in the undercarriage of my stroller.  I pulled it out and began showing her a few exercises.  I told her at home, I like my dumbbells, too.  That same day, she went to the store and bought a resistance band and a set of dumbbells!

We always bring our bands, sometimes we add dumbbells, and towels to lay on (there’s no grass at the park). We make quite the mess!

The next day, she text me shortly before it was time to leave and asked what she’d need for the workout.  Day after day, she pushes through every single workout.  When the workouts get hard, she laughs.  The harder they get, the louder she laughs.  It’s so much fun!

In between exercises and while we walk, we talk about healthy food.  She has a lot of questions.  She’s just learning about all of this “healthy living,” and I love talking about it.  We talk about other things, too.  We’ve become really good friends.

Channol’s baby started crying, but that didn’t stop her. She picked her up and knocked out the rest of her squats.

The other day, I had an appointment, and was unable to walk.  That did not stop her.  She put her baby in the stroller, grabbed her headphones, and started walking.  I was so proud!

It’s harder to start working out alone when you’re used to having a friend, but you need to be able to get out there on your own because a friend wont always be available.

If a friend tells you they want to start working out with you, but they just can’t ever seem to make it, don’t give up on them.  Starting is the hardest part.  Keep the invitation open.  Let them know they’re always welcome.  I never pushed Channol to get started.  When she decided she was ready she committed herself completely.  She pushes hard through every workout.  She works out because she wants to.