So I went to a new gym this morning. My sister had a pass I could use so I decided, "what the heck". You really shouldn't try a new gym if it's more expensive and much nicer than the one you go to. It makes you dissatisfied with yours. Kind of like when you talk yourself into getting an economy car and you are ok with it, but then you take a ride in a luxury car - "just for fun". Big mistake!
But anyway, back to the gym. Oh man, this gym was nice! It has way more equipment than mine does and quite frankly, it was full of beautiful people and beautiful bodies. It has raquetball courts too. It even has pilates classes (with the tables!). My experience there also blew my theory about ratty people going to the gym early in the morning. There were even older people there with matching outfits and nice hair (possibly makeup-but I wasn't looking that close). There were even a couple of younger guys there doing some serious exercise. Hum, who would have guessed.
We did some weights and then ran/walked for 20 minutes. I tried this new "cushy" treadmill and I really liked it. The weird thing was, it kept shutting off on me. Weird. I took it as a sign that my body was giving off signals that I had exercised enough - so I stopped. A treadmill knows these things. We figured we worked so hard, we should go out to breakfast after - so we did.
Now I'm scheming how I can get a membership there. Oh man, gym cheating...what a mistake.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
A New Commitment
Well I did it. I went to the gym this morning to start a regular routine. I was really proud of myself because it's hard to get started again when you have had weeks off (well, a sporadic visit here and there). I actually woke up even before the alarm went off. I must be excited, right?
So I decided to start with this 4 week program that I have done before. It involves weights, cardio and an ability to time yourself. You do squats, then some weights, some core work (you know, abs and stuff). I did pretty good. Then I decided to do the elliptical. I did manage to last 45 minutes on that. Hey, not bad for just starting up again.
I must admit I was surprised there weren't more new people there at the gym. Most of them were the regulars (including me, of course - because I AM A REGULAR). I did spot a newbie with a trainer. She was warming up on the elliptical before being tortured by weights. Those trainers have a sadistic streak, I swear!
One thing you need to know about gyms if you go early in the morning. It's for regular people who are really there to exercise. We go with mismatched outfits, half-done hair, absolutely no make-up etc. We are really there to exercise. Now, contrast that with the, oh, say, 5 pm crowd. Now if you are looking for a mate or possibly someone to flirt with, that's when you go. None of this 4:30 in morning business. You see people there that have no intention of getting sweat on that outfit! The females have make-up on, hair pulled up nicely and as aforementioned, nice coordinating outfits (they will now be referred to as "spa bunnies"). The guys, well, they are strutting around the weights and checking themselves out in the mirror (oh yea, for correct form). There is also the occasional midlife crisis guy too. They are a hoot to watch. So, if you are looking for someone to flirt with, go then. Occasionally a spa bunny will happen by early in the morning. You can spot her in a second. Nobody looks that good, that early. You're thinking to yourself, "what time did she have to get up to look that good?" I estimate that it's around 20-30 minutes earlier. Imagine her disappointment when she gets there and there are REGULAR, Joe Average (as opposed to Joe six pack) exercisers there. Well, she definitely looks better than all of us but what's the reward? Sweaty people in cotton T-shirts? (yea, no moisture wicking fabric wearers in the bunch!) She soon learns she needs to come later to score. There is one exception to this rule: the aerobics instructor. They usually look pretty good and make darn sure they can out-step, out-spin and out-crosstrain anyone who happens to wander in their class. They would be shamed if they didn't. It's a rule - just accept it.
I will discuss weight room etiquette in a later entry. Really, ya gotta know this stuff.
So I decided to start with this 4 week program that I have done before. It involves weights, cardio and an ability to time yourself. You do squats, then some weights, some core work (you know, abs and stuff). I did pretty good. Then I decided to do the elliptical. I did manage to last 45 minutes on that. Hey, not bad for just starting up again.
I must admit I was surprised there weren't more new people there at the gym. Most of them were the regulars (including me, of course - because I AM A REGULAR). I did spot a newbie with a trainer. She was warming up on the elliptical before being tortured by weights. Those trainers have a sadistic streak, I swear!
One thing you need to know about gyms if you go early in the morning. It's for regular people who are really there to exercise. We go with mismatched outfits, half-done hair, absolutely no make-up etc. We are really there to exercise. Now, contrast that with the, oh, say, 5 pm crowd. Now if you are looking for a mate or possibly someone to flirt with, that's when you go. None of this 4:30 in morning business. You see people there that have no intention of getting sweat on that outfit! The females have make-up on, hair pulled up nicely and as aforementioned, nice coordinating outfits (they will now be referred to as "spa bunnies"). The guys, well, they are strutting around the weights and checking themselves out in the mirror (oh yea, for correct form). There is also the occasional midlife crisis guy too. They are a hoot to watch. So, if you are looking for someone to flirt with, go then. Occasionally a spa bunny will happen by early in the morning. You can spot her in a second. Nobody looks that good, that early. You're thinking to yourself, "what time did she have to get up to look that good?" I estimate that it's around 20-30 minutes earlier. Imagine her disappointment when she gets there and there are REGULAR, Joe Average (as opposed to Joe six pack) exercisers there. Well, she definitely looks better than all of us but what's the reward? Sweaty people in cotton T-shirts? (yea, no moisture wicking fabric wearers in the bunch!) She soon learns she needs to come later to score. There is one exception to this rule: the aerobics instructor. They usually look pretty good and make darn sure they can out-step, out-spin and out-crosstrain anyone who happens to wander in their class. They would be shamed if they didn't. It's a rule - just accept it.
I will discuss weight room etiquette in a later entry. Really, ya gotta know this stuff.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Getting ready to run
I think I may have jeopardized my standing at the gym. I have not been since December 29th. I could very well be lumped in with the new years resolution exercisers.
I've decided the only way I can overcome this possible label is to make sure to talk to every regular-thus giving the appearance that I have at least been to the gym enough times that I know all these people. "Of course she's a regular", all the new exercisers will say. Yep, that's gonna have to be my strategy.
So, I have at least made a commitment to exercise, I signed up for the Salt Lake Marathon. Now I have to start establishing a regular routine. If I don't, I will be one sorry runner when the marathon happens in April.
I did have one marathon when I did not prepare. It was last September, the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. I had decided I was not going to run this marathon but my sister decided she was going to. I wished her luck and tried to cheer her on when she did her long runs. No, I didn't run them with her, why would I, I'm not running the marathon!
Well, it turns out that her daughter wanted to run a marathon and my sister was going to run it with her. Then, as usual, she got bitten by the speed bug. This is a condition where serious marathoners start concentrating on how fast they can run the chosen marathon. I have to hand it to them, they train hard, glancing at their watch all the time to see how fast they are running. I seem to have an immunity from this bug. I really don't care (well, as long as I'm not the LAST runner in the marathon).
Anyway, my niece became scared that she would have to run this alone, since my sister had admitted to her that she was going to run it fast (remember, she was suffering from that aforementioned illness). My niece kept asking me to run it with her. Quite frankly, I was feeling sad that she would be alone in her first marathon. I ran my first with my sister at my side. So, I signed up, ran it (not prepared, mind you) and suffered physically for about 2 weeks after. No injuries, just REALLY tired.
That won't happen again.
I've decided the only way I can overcome this possible label is to make sure to talk to every regular-thus giving the appearance that I have at least been to the gym enough times that I know all these people. "Of course she's a regular", all the new exercisers will say. Yep, that's gonna have to be my strategy.
So, I have at least made a commitment to exercise, I signed up for the Salt Lake Marathon. Now I have to start establishing a regular routine. If I don't, I will be one sorry runner when the marathon happens in April.
I did have one marathon when I did not prepare. It was last September, the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. I had decided I was not going to run this marathon but my sister decided she was going to. I wished her luck and tried to cheer her on when she did her long runs. No, I didn't run them with her, why would I, I'm not running the marathon!
Well, it turns out that her daughter wanted to run a marathon and my sister was going to run it with her. Then, as usual, she got bitten by the speed bug. This is a condition where serious marathoners start concentrating on how fast they can run the chosen marathon. I have to hand it to them, they train hard, glancing at their watch all the time to see how fast they are running. I seem to have an immunity from this bug. I really don't care (well, as long as I'm not the LAST runner in the marathon).
Anyway, my niece became scared that she would have to run this alone, since my sister had admitted to her that she was going to run it fast (remember, she was suffering from that aforementioned illness). My niece kept asking me to run it with her. Quite frankly, I was feeling sad that she would be alone in her first marathon. I ran my first with my sister at my side. So, I signed up, ran it (not prepared, mind you) and suffered physically for about 2 weeks after. No injuries, just REALLY tired.
That won't happen again.
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