Regrets. “I never regret when I do it. I always regret when I don’t.” My sister said this to me quite a few years ago when I was still in high school. I was sixteen and content with eating like crap and only working out during sports’ season. So, needless to say I had put on a few pounds. I wasn’t fat by any means, but I would be lying if I said I had a flat stomach and didn’t struggle buttoning my jeans. My sister noticed this and really was just trying to help me get in better shape, by encouraging me to run. I had gone with her a few times and after about a week I got discouraged because I didn’t feel like I was getting any better. All I knew was that it was hard and tiring. So I complained and complained and told her I didn’t want to run every time she invited me.  And then she looked at me and said that she struggled with wanting to work out too, which I was shocked by because she always seemed to enjoy it so much. She laughed and said that there were so many days that she had to find the motivation to get up and run. “I never regret when I do it. I always regret when I don’t.” And it was like a light turned on in my head and I was stunned for a moment. “You’re right,” I told her. I had never thought about it that way. I knew I SHOULD workout, but I always struggled with forcing myself to just do it. It was like I was in the movies and I had a little devil on one shoulder and an angel on my other. The angel was saying, “Go workout! It will be so great for you!” while the devil was lounging on a couch, eating pizza saying, “Don’t do it! Wouldn’t you rather just relax and eat whatever you want? Come on…working out sucks. You’ll hate it; trust me.” And yet as soon as she said it, something clicked. The devil shut up, and I could hear the angel saying, “She’s right. When have you EVER regretted working out?” I thought about it and you know what my answer was? Never. Never have I ever regretted lacing up my running shoes, or hitting play on that workout video, or heading over to my Muay Thai gym. Every time I finish a workout I’m always so unbelievably happy and proud of myself. Even on the days I am slow and sluggish and tired I am always glad I did it. So I ask you, have YOU ever regretted a workout? Or have you often found yourself feeling guilty and dejected for skipping out on it? I’ve been there myself far too many times and I can tell you it’s not worth it. Being slightly miserable and exhausted for thirty minutes to an hour a day offers so many more rewards. So the next time you think about not going for that run or not heading to the gym, ask yourself, “Am I going to regret this workout?” I promise you that you won’t.