A year and a half ago, I put my gym membership on hold. The spring weather was so beautiful in Minnesota, I thought why be inside, when I much rather be outdoors?

Since then I have been faithful to walking, almost everyday, with my dog on the wooded trails near our home. I always thought I was going at a nifty pace until….

I was in a hotel a month ago and not wanting to walk outside in the dark, I hit the fitness center. I get on a treadmill and enter in the pace that I think I’ve been walking for the past 18 months. Low and behold…not even close! Yikes! I was moving about four-tenths of a mile slower than I thought. Then, to add fuel to the fire, I am next to a guy on a treadmill who is running his heart out, with his incline super high!

Not wanting to be outdone, I pushed my “up” arrow on the speed and incline and had one of the best workouts I’d had in a long time. Being next to someone at the fitness club who is exercising at a higher rate than you does wonders for motivation.

Since then I have rejoined the gym and am back in classes and exercising next to people who inspire me to “kick it up a notch.” How’s it going for you? Have you been walking at the same pace on the treadmill for months? Have you adjusted the incline at all? Check out the Mayo Clinic’s article on exercise intensity and why it matters. I have no doubt that the few pounds that snuck on this past year are going to eventually come off, since I’m exercising smarter and better. Fuel up and have a super week!