Endorphins Anyone?

Yesterday Kirsten and I jumped into an outdoor pool at 6:30 a.m. in 43 degree weather. We might be completely insane. When we started swimming together in August we kind of laughed about how long we would or wouldn't last into the Winter--by October I was thinking we might have to break until the Spring. But, our association kept upping the pool's water temperature and we just kept plugging along. I think this past December & January have been some of my best workouts for these months since I was in college. Usually exercise falls to the wayside for me in December due to the holiday rush and just continues into a completely unmotivated January. Have I lost any significant amounts of weight? Not really. But here's what I have found: I love the rush of having accomplished something by 7:30 in the morning, I love looking up and seeing the beautiful colors of the rising sun, I love having some time to think or chat with Kirsten while we're using our kickboards, I love that my kids are so excited to see me when I get home (or better yet, are still asleep when I get home, allowing me to check my e-mail in peace!), I love the positive energy my day starts with, and I love that I've been able to maintain my weight without the misery of fad diets. I still don't understand the science behind needing to expend energy to gain energy, but I know it works. So, I will continue to stand at the edge of the pool, shivering in my Speedo, counting to three, and taking the plunge into the water--even in January.