Working Out...A Diary...Day 1

We'll I've decided to begin working out. The good old Dr. told me to lose a few. Ok, more than a few. Stop it. Maybe she told me to drop a whole lot. Fuzzy memory on that one.

Anyway, I decided to make a concerted effort to working out. During college (many moons ago) I did aerobics for a couple of years. After college, I did them for at least another 10+. Then the kids came and the aerobics slowed down to a couple of times a week, on/off, for the past five years...until...now it's barely at all. It just seems so easy to come up with an excuse not to do it. Walking the dog is good enough, a late afternoon bike ride with the kids, etc.

Clearly, that isn't enough. I do not need to end up looking like Tarzan but a slight improvement would be better than nothing wouldn't it? So on my way home...about a half-mile from the house, I see a small strip mall with a 'Anytime Fitness' operation that just opened. I went in to look around and the owners were very nice, easy going. Seems it's month-to-month, $30/mth., quit with 30 days notice, open 24/7 and close enough to the house so it's not too far out of the way.

I was given the complimentary free week of course for trial...just to see if it worked for my schedule. So last night, I put on the tennis shoes and headed over to begin my start on 'the new me'. I can only realistically fit in one hour maybe 3-4 times a week but we'll see.

I did one mile on the treadmill at a 1.5 incline at 3.0mph. I did one mile on the stationary bike. I lifted a few weights and then headed over to the torture machines. Yes, the abductor -- the curler -- the leg lifter -- the shoulder press -- the bench press -- and a host of others. Figured I would do about two sets of ten on each. Other than bones creaking and silent screams...I made it through most of them. Yes, a tad sore as well.

Since the establishment is new, there were only about five people in the place. I'm standing over in the free weights area and curling these ten pound dumb bells. One...two...three...four...counting the repetitions...five...six...and so on. Some dude walks over nearby and he's like huffing and puffing these 100 pound versions. I'm like WTF. Coming over to show me up? What the hell is that all about? Then he hits the floor mat doing one armed push-ups. Huff. Puff. More huff. More puff. Then he gets this thing that looks like half of a large ball...but flat on one side. Then he does more one armed push-ups on it showing his balance. WTF is that all about? I still want to kick his ass for that s*it. He's a creeper.

Anyway...I finished up my first hour. The results were immediate. Six pack abs. Power. Yoda came to me in a dream and said 'Young Jedi...Do or do not, there is no try'. Then I woke up screaming asking for Frosted Flakes.

More to report on soon...