This is my Weslo Cadence G-40 treadmill (got it from Wally World back in April 2011). Yup, it’s in my office, not four feet from the edge of my desk. Every time I look out the window (above it), I can’t help but look at it.
I decided to get a treadmill after I quit my day job to become a full time writer. This career isn’t much for the get-up-and-go. It’s more of a sit-down-and-stay. Knowing that, I figured a treadmill would help supplement the exercise I’m missing by no longer doing my day job.
But exercise is one of those have-to-do not want-to-do sort of things, so I found every excuse in the book not to use it. That’s all changed though. I use it regularly now so I can write.
For writing?
Yes, for writing. And no I don’t write while I’m using the treadmill. I tried that. It slowed down my typing speed which ticked me off. My fingers already go slower than my brain. Making that worse is just a recipe for bad. No, I play Phase10 and Uno on my Kindle while walking.
So why for writing?
In the words of Reese Witherspoon when she starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands. They just don’t.”
And it’s true. I haven’t shot my husband and the endorphins put me in a happy mood, which means my muse gives me lots of lovely material for the creation of my books. When I don’t walk, I’m sluggish and listless and don’t feel much like writing. After I walk, I’m having ideas a mile a minute.
When I made that connection, my treadmill usage skyrocketed. It became a have-to-do, need-to-do, want-to-do part of my life. I love my books. I want them all finished so people can enjoy them. If that means cranking up the treadmill and walking 3-4 miles everyday then so be it.
I’ve added a new motto to my list:
“I exercise for the endorphins. The weight loss is just a nice side effect.”