Change.

Something has happened to me. I've changed. I actually look forward to working out.

This is pretty big for me. I never have been one to enjoy exercising. In high school, I used to try to get out of gym class regularly, blaming menstrual cramps. In the late 90's, I paid for a Bally's gym membership for 2 years and only ever went two or three times. And once, I even tried to talk a friend out of working out on his way home from work.

It's kind of a funny story actually. We all worked in the same department. Around quitting time, He announced that he'd planned to work out that night, but that he really wasn't in the mood. One of our fellow co-workers urged him to go anyway, saying he'd feel better once he got there and started on a machine.

I, on the other hand, like the a little devil perched on his left shoulder said, "Nah, skip it tonight. And while you're at it, why don't you hit Dairy Queen on the way home. Yeah, ice cream on the couch. That's way better than going to the gym."

Of course I was kidding around, but still, it speaks to how I felt about exercising. It was a chore. An ugly, sweaty chore.

So imagine my surprise that I now actually really enjoy working out. I just never realized how much extra energy and confidence it'd give me through the day. I guess I just needed to find the right program.

Here's an example of my new views on working out: I've been sick this week. Rather than skip my workouts, I did them anyway. Admittedly, on my worst day, I just did yoga. But even so, I felt better after I'd gotten my blood pumping. The stretching helped my achy back and stiff neck.

I'd never call myself a gym rat and I don't plan to run any marathons, but I'm definitely embracing the new me -- the energetic me. The changed me.