Gym Girl

I started a part two post for Christmas decorations and when I returned it was gone - no draft. Ugh. But in the meantime, I've slowly been taking down the decorations in the new year. I held onto the two little trees an extra week and brought them to my town public works Saturday. They had their chipper out and people were dropping off their trees. It felt a little like going to the farm and seeing where they process the animals. Felt bad they were getting chopped up. 

The big news is that I joined a gym, for the first time ever as an adult. I always argued I only liked exercise as a biproduct from stuff like hiking or biking. And definitely, I was not a gym person. But, as I've been making my way through the healthy improvement stuff, I found that I still had periods of low energy.  And the more I read the more there was one thing everything was writing about that I hadn't really gotten into - exercise. I know it's obvious, but I was hoping I could just eat right and do a few other things and be good. 

I started walking in the fall and that was pretty good, even when my neighbors dog didn't like the longer walks. But then it got cold and rainy and it just wasn't happening. I dabbled with the idea of swimming but after talking with folks realize it might not be the best fit for me due to the boredom.  You can't read or listen to podcasts. 

So that left gyms.  I finally decided on the one that was closest to me, only four blocks away. I kept meaning to pop in and join in December.  Mainly because I didn't want to be that person that joined a gym at the beginning of the new year. 

Ok and this is where it gets fun. My gym is not your typical gym you see on tv.  My first visit I went at 8 am and the guy behind the desk was my dads age I think, but seemed older. And he mumbled. And was not a sales person. I told him I was interested in joining and I wanted to learn more. He handed me a one page flier and upon a little nudging from me he went on to explain the membership options. Which, after explaining it to me twice, still sounded like the same. 

After putting my stuff away I was ready to go and asked him if he could show me what to do or a tour. He mumbles what I'm interested in, like what piece of equipment.  He then proceeds to punch the start button and says I'm all set. I spent the next 45 minutes on a semi-recumbent bike and familirazing myself with the gym and watching the people.  I initially I was disappointed the guy wasn't that helpful but then I warmed up to it.  I rather him than a hovering guy. I learned about the gym etiquette of wiping down the equipment after use. And I loved seeing all the socializing. I was by far the youngest person. I was facing the nautilus weights and the ellipiticals. There would be a lady, maybe in her 70s or older working on the weights and another lady of similar age would come in the back door all bundled up and they would chat for awhile. Two middle age people caught up while on the ellipiticals. A little later on there were two older gentleman working on the weights. I was so surprised seeing so many older people at the gym. Talk about blowing my preconceived conceptions. 

Afterwards, I decided to stay for a 9 am cardio class. At first I thought I'd get my own personal class, but turns out everyone was just late. Full of mostly soccer moms. There was a step included in the workout, and omg, I was horribly uncoordinated. I had a hard enough time getting my arms and legs going in the right away let alone managing the step. It was a great workout but man did I feel like odd man out. Clearly my brain is not yet wired like that. It will take some practice clearly. 

When I got home that first day, nick was visiting and I filled him in.  He got as much of a kick as I did from this atypical gym. More later, but to cut to the end, I started going at 6 am and found Larry, who owns the gym I think, and gave me the whole intro, tour and what feels like my own personal training. Just what I was looking for that first day. His approach is to ramp up slowly to encourage wins versus frustrations. Just my style. After the second early morning workout, I'm finding my energy and mood so much better. I was trying to go in every morning.  Friday I slept in and told myself I'd go in in the afternoon. That never happened. Saturday they didn't open until 8 am and by then I was into other things and never went in even though I thought I'd try to go later in the day. Finally Sunday I was finding my energy level waning and by midmorning I made myself go in and felt so much better after. It's Monday now, and I went in at 6 am. I think I learned that I need to go first thing in the morning otherwise I fall back into old routines. I'm on week two now.  Fingers crossed this works out. It helps telling people.