Here we are, it’s Monday again. I’m pretty sure weekends are just too short. Although... they may be the perfect length considering my caloric intake is exponentially higher on Saturdays and Sundays.

After a wonderful weekend with the family together to celebrate our Aunt’s birthday, I am back to work and recovering from a couple days of far-too-delicious food. Family weekends, while incredibly fun, are always a little bit hard when it comes to portion control and health-conscious decisions. We’ve gotten a lot better, as we know everyone is working towards their own fitness goals, but I always end up eating and drinking just a little bit more than I might on a normal weekend.

Knowing that I was going to be indulging in some really tasty treats, I made sure that I got out for a run first thing Saturday morning, before traveling. Getting up and out to run before 6am on a Saturday may sound like a nightmare, but it was actually really great. The birds were singing, the sun was gentle, there were few cars or other runners out, and I got to wake up my whole body. I ran my longest run to date, 3.5 miles, and I was pretty happy with my time, as well. The run felt amazing, and even better for the rest of the day, when I was faced with delicious dishes that I didn’t even feel like I had to resist.

Prioritizing work outs is definitely something new for me. Normally, on a weekend like this, I would just convince myself it’s not a bad idea to skip just one run. And, maybe, yes, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. But the plain truth is, if you don’t make your health and fitness a big deal and an important part of your life, you may not achieve the goals you set for yourself. I know that I am working towards getting in shape while I’m still young to set myself up for a healthier life. And if I don’t prioritize it now, I may not get to enjoy as much of it. The time is now; don’t keep putting off things that are important to you, just because its hard work or you’re afraid to try!