It's 5:00 in the morning when the alarm   rings in my ears. I roll out of bed and walk blindly through the dark into the bathroom. I turn on the light and put on my glasses. The house is still as I walk downstairs while my husband and three kids sleep peacefully. Usually I go for a long run, but today I choose my favorite exercise DVD, Insanity. Sweat pours down my face and into my eyes. My heart races as I face my body to finish each movement. As I near the end of the exercise ,I feel extremely tired, but a smile is of my face. It's a smile because the DVD is over , but a smile of success from pushing my body to its extreme limit. Some people enjoy shopping, smoking , food, work, or even chocolate. But I need exercise to get through each day. Some shake heads when they see me run through the town. Others get hurt when I refuse to try just one bite of their grandmother's chocolate cake. They raise their eyebrows, surprised by my "no thank you," or by my choice to have a salad. Over the years , I have learned it's okay to just say "no." I shouldn't feel sorry for refusing food that I don't want to eat. So what drives me to roll out of bed at 5:00 a.m.? What gives me the reason to just say no to ice cream? _ t. A commitment to change my life with a way that reduces daily anxiety, increases self -confidence and energy, extends life and above all improves my body shape. This is the point where a smile appears on my face as I look at myself in the mirror or try on my favorite pair of jeans that now fit just right. It's through commitment and sweat that I can make a difference within myself inside and out. Why is there a smile on the author's face in the morning?
Because she sees her family sleeping peacefully. Because she finishes her favorite exercise Because she enjoys the interesting DVD Because she feels a sense of achievement