I've crossed a few hurdles recently...started school, started running and ran 2 5k's now, and today I walked into the a gym for the first time in about 12 years. Let me give you some basic background when it comes to me and gyms. It's been 12 years for a reason...I'm a huge klutz!!
Back in business school a friend and I decided to join the local gym with big plans of going everyday after school to try and lose some weight. I had never been to a gym before, but figured with the support of a friend all would be ok. First day we enter the cardio area and my friend suggests doing the elliptical machines. I had never been on an elliptical machine in my life, but I didn't want to say no....so "sure". We of course were too proud to ask anyone about how they worked and so we just hopped on and hoped for the best. All was going well...I figured it out pretty quickly and was going at a good pace. The gym was packed that day and I couldn't help but notice there seemed to be a lot more brawns than brains....the girls on the cardio machines were more worried about their hair than breaking a sweat. I kept at a decent pace and was gaining confidence with every minute. Before long it seemed that the elliptical started to speed up....and up...and up..and UP OMG!! I CAN'T STOP....I CAN'T KEEP UP...seriously, I thought I was going to end in a mangled pile on the floor. The force of gravity can only go so far when something is spinning out of control underneath you....all of a sudden my foot kicked out and hit the plastic on the front of the machine. CRACK! oh crap!!! stop, stop, stop...where the HECK is the darn stop button? At this point I can feel the glares of the brawns and barbies staring me down....this over-weight, klutz that has no right being in a gym because she obviously has no idea what the heck she's doing. Who does she think she is, coming in here looking all confident, only to break a machine? I quietly removed myself from the elliptical...my friend kept going....no support from her..on the fact that I just made a total ass of myself in front of all these "cool" people. I tried to cover it up and act like nothing happened and made my way over to a recumbent bike. I finished out the day and decided that I would give it another try the next day.
The next day we hit the cardio area again and I stay as far away from the elliptical as possible. I again take my place comfortably on a recumbent bike and get to work, hoping that no one notices me from the previous day. Finished the work-out and go to locker room to change. I gained back some confidence I had lost the day before. I grab my bags....by bags I mean school bag, purse, and huge duffle bag..and head out of the gym. You need to walk down a long hallway that passes right by the basketball courts and has huuuge windows that look in to the gym. WELL...Miss Graceful here had her cool chunky heeled black boots on that day and wouldn't you know THAT'S when they decided to catch on the carpet. It felt like it was happening in slow motion...my arms flailing about, my bags going in every which direction and then OH YEAH my face aiming right for the floor....face plant..right in front of everyone. I paid $55 for a student membership to go to the gym for 2 days. I never went back!! I wasn't about to wait and see what would happen next.
SO training for the Spartan race and now training for next road race goal, a 10k, my hubby knew that I had mentioned joining a gym. If it wasn't for him I probably would not of had the courage to even step foot in the place to join. Back in the middle of October, for our anniversary he got me a membership to Planet Fitness...it's literally 2 minutes away from my house..and open 24 hrs. I've been him hawing around with getting my butt in there coming up with every excuse possible not to go. Today I finally decided that I needed to just suck it up and go!! I walked in and was up front and honest with the girl showing me around and even told her my escapades from the previous gym. Her first comment when I told her the name of the gym BEFORE I even got to my story was "Oh I'm so sorry." LOL and then she began to tell me that she used to have a fear of gyms and had a moment where she got to the doorway of a yoga class..turned around and walked back out to never go back again AND was not refunded her money. She showed me the basics, then got into some more details on some of the equipment. I decided to go for...surprise, surprise...the recumbent bike..but did get a nice work-out in. Spent about 25 minutes there, did 5 miles and had my heart rate in target zone most of the time...and worked up a good sweat. I have to say...it definitely felt good to do something different than run. I set a time up with the personal trainer for next Monday to get into more details about equipment and a weight routine.
I've jumped many hurdles recently and I'm still standing.....for now :-)
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