This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Lift. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

Over the course of the summer I have struggled with some serious allergy complications. I’ve seen several doctors, been prescribed countless medications, and even limited my exposure to the outdoors. I’m not 100% yet, but I’m much better than I was in May. It was during this season of my life, however, that I took the opportunity to try something new.

I’ve always been a runner. My exercise of choice has always involved lacing up a pair of running shoes and taking to the streets. This spring I even ran a Quarter Marathon (my first race since giving birth in 2012.) The trouble with running and allergies is that they don’t go well together. As my allergies were worsening this summer I went on a few runs where I had to stop because I couldn’t breath. It had become difficult to take deep breaths which is something imperative for distance running.

With the coercing of one of my doctors I decided to step away from running for a bit. I wasn’t banned from all exercise, but running was one of the worst things to participate in while nursing a chest infection and being prescribed daily albuterol.

At the time, I was in pretty decent shape. I could have just said, “Forget exercise,” and slipped back into one of my funks where I stop taking care of myself physically, but instead I decided to try a new method of exercise. My friend and I started using the app, SworkIt. This app helped me to build some strength in my arms, legs, and core without using any type of equipment. I highly recommend it because I saw results very quickly after using this daily.

In the beginning of the summer I was in England. While there I took part in a weekly Hoola Hoop Fitness class with my mother-in-law. Being a part of a fitness class for the first time inspired me to find a class when I returned to the states. I loved the positivity of working out with other people. As a runner I was a lone wolf. Something about being able to look across the room and share a look of agony with someone else helped to get me through each workout. There were other people in the room keeping me accountable and feeling the same pain as me.

My Aunt Andrea is an exercise enthusiast. She has been that way as long as I can remember. When I was growing up I used to go to her Jazzercise classes and babysit the children whose mothers were working out. She has since quit the Jazzercise scene, but has opened her own fitness group in my hometown. She is the co-owner of the group. They rent an old church basement and each day one of the three teachers hosts an evening class.

About a month ago I decided to give her class a try. My first class was a cardio class. It was so much fun. Andrea pushed me in new ways that I’ve never been pushed before. Sure, I can go out an run ten miles, but some of her cardio routines seemed harder than a long distance run.

Next, I tried a strength class. And I lifted handheld weights for the FIRST TIME! Someone should have told me that lifting is addicting. I never understood the Crossfit Movement until I felt the ache of having lifted. Now I want that every day!

I’m excited that I’ve found a new way to exercise and tone my body. Each day my allergies are getting better and I’m able to do more and more. I do plan to reintroduce running into my routine, however, I am excited to be able to switch between multiple workouts.

For those of you who are local readers and may want some information on Andrea’s class send me a comment or email and I will gladly pass it on!