One-Word Answer

I was on the elliptical the other day, flipping through an old issue of InStyle, when I came across an interesting article...well, it was more like a quarter-page blurb: "Instant Analysis: My fitness routine in one word." It proceeded to quote a series of random celebrities, all of which had given their one-word answer to the topic at hand. Here are a few examples from the magazine:

In case you might be wondering, Ashley Greene is best known for her portrayal of Alice Cullen in the "Twilight" series. (I had to look her up myself, so don't feel bad.) The other two, pretty sure you've heard of them as they've been around for quite some time. While most of us can relate to Christina's "obsessive" fitness routine, I can only imagine how intense Serena's must be given that she is Miss Queen of All Things Tennis.

Contemplating these words, I started thinking about what my own would be—I had a very hard time coming up with just one! As a writer, I tend to geek out on all things word so I went a little crazy. Behold, my top three:

1) CONSTANT: As a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, I am constantly in the gym. Therefore, I am constantly working out. I snag about five workouts a week, two of which are my Circuit Sculpt classes. The other three, they're my own personal workouts that I squeeze in before my morning shifts start. But it doesn't stop there. Because I'm working with people, because I'm leading group fitness classes, I really don't ever stop (though I do control the extent to which I exert energy, which prevents me from overloading). And on the other hand, I hate missing a workout so I'm constantly on the ball with my fitness schedule.

2) FUN: You already know that I geek out over words, but I also geek out over new and exciting exercises. As you can imagine, trying out said new and exciting exercises makes for a really fun fitness routine. On top of that, I genuinely just enjoy working out. Maybe I can attribute that to all the people I've come to know at the gym. They make it fun to spend time there, which makes the workouts go by quickly.

3) VARYING: "Switch it, change it...rearrange it!" When I went to cheerleading camp years ago, we'd chant that as we moved from station to station. Today, I'm chanting it (not literally) every time I plan a workout or fitness class. I hate getting bored, and I keep myself from getting bored by constantly updating my fitness routine. Sure, I have my favorite exercises, but I never do them in the same order.

And so, there you have it. My top three words. But, alas—I can only have one. So I pick CONSTANT. Because I'm constantly in the gym. And when I miss a workout, I get all discombobulated (totally geeking out over that word, too).

Know what else is constant in my life right now? Cookies. 'Tis the time of year to bake up a storm and I have certainly been doing just that.


And as I type, I've got Mint Oreo Cupcakes cooling on my kitchen counter. Ironic, no? Me...a certified personal trainer and health nut in the kitchen creating that which is the epitome of "not good for you." SIGH. You win some, you lose some. Thankfully, I am exercising serious restraint. A nibble here, a bite there won't kill me. But if I over nibble or overbite, well...that's when I get in trouble. And that's what I keep telling myself. (Tell yourself that, too. Just for me. And just because it's that time of year when we all tend do over-eat just a bit here and there.)

Question: What single word describes your fitness routine

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