Bad News, Good News, and a Little Revelation

Let's get the bad news out of the way first:

I've gained 3 lbs since coming home. It sucks, but I'm trying to keep in mind the 3 weddings and readjustment to suburban life and all the pleasures that come from coming home. It's no big deal, but it's a little bit of a bummer.

Now for some good news:

Thanks to my summer job, I have a free membership to the JCC for the summer. The J has just reopened after a massive remodeling job, and is completely new and high-tech, with amazing machines and the latest and greatest in fitness technology. It also offers all of the classes for free (a change from last summer, where a yoga class was $15.)

I got my membership card last Thursday, and have been back almost every day since. I'm trying to reshape my routine so that I don't fall into the same plateau that I fell into last summer--I've since learned that doing the same thing everyday doesn't really help much with weight loss. I'm trying to mix things up, doing intense cardio some days, classes some days (Zumba is my new favorite thing--who knew exercise could be fun???) and, as of today, a new routine on the weight machines. I also took yesterday off from the gym and took a long, fast walk with a friend around Forest Park. I want to try to move in some way every day and not get into any patterns so my body doesn't get too adjusted to an exercise routine.

And the revelation:

One thing that hit me during my walk yesterday (between huffs and puffs) was the simple joy that comes from moving my body. The abilities to walk and dance and run and lift and push and breathe and MOVE are ones that I now realize I need to thank God for. The body--my body--is a beautiful, amazing thing that works in incredible ways. It amazes me that I can now do all of these things to protect it and improve the wonders that already exist within it. To move is to LIVE, and I finally feel like I'm living the life I deserve to live, the life my body deserves to live.

Judaism teaches that every human being is created B'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. Is there any better way to show love to God than to take care of the person created in God's likeness?

God's pretty good at this God thing, huh?