meet gym
I’ve been hanging out with Gym a lot lately. Like five or six times a week. And let me tell you, he’s been kicking my butt. Kick.Ing.It.
With a name like Urban Active, how could I resist joining? I knew I needed to do something not only to get in shape but also to improve my mental/emotional health. So I hooked up with Gym.
To say I was intimidated on our first date would be a ridiculous understatement. My chest tightened with anxiety just looking at all the equipment that I had no clue how to use, and seeing all the people who very clearly knew what they were doing.
But I dove right in, expending more energy in one 20-minute session than I had in weeks. Months.
And I hobbled for days afterward. No lie. Hover-peeing was completely out of the question, and walking down a set of stairs nearly ended in catastrophe on more than one occasion.
But I kept seeing Gym.
And the I-can’t-believe-it-hurts-this-much soreness gradually subsided—for the most part.
Now Gym and I spend an hour together just about every day. I work hard; I sweat a disgusting amount; I huff and puff all the way to the bitter end. Today I pushed myself really hard. And I’ve had jell-o legs ever since. [Note to self: Hold the handrail on the way downstairs.]
While I don’t expect I’ll ever say, I love working out!, I do walk away feeling exhausted proud of myself.
So for that reason, I can say I love Gym.
Even though he kicks my butt.
@cassgirl says:
Gym has MANY cousins out here in CALI. I just walked on by. I guess honestly if I had the finances for a fancy shmantcy cousin of Gym, I would go.
But, I love my beach. I walk it almost 5 times a day 1 1/2 miles of beautiful air.
beautiful air or sweating smelly cousin of Gym??
Both.
All of a sudden I am rethinking the SBUX pumpkin scone I was pondering this am… hmm. :)
@moweezle says:
I am BEYOND impressed!!!! I seriously hate gyms! I’d rather exercise at home or do some sort of sport or something. But, even then I slack way more than I should. I always tell myself I will begin exercising, for all the reasons you listed, but it never seems to happen…..
hence the reason why I am impressed! Yeah for you!!!
GO GIRL! I bet you are looking really good! And, that man waiting for you back in Africa is going to be excited … he might even be a little jealous of Gym! Um-hum!
@knights_lady says:
all those luverly endorphins
@atangie says:
Have you seen the movie “Run Fat Boy Run” with Simon Pegg?
I am proud of your new found love! Good on ya’!
I have met Gym.
Once or twice.
Gym and I … don’t see eye-to-eye on a few things. I don’t care for pain in my relationships – he thinks pain is the only way to ‘gain’ or something like that.
We’ve settled on a … distant relationship of sorts. But I call the shots. Gym … my way.
PS: I admire anyone who gets their butt kicked by Gym and actually goes back for more. Twisted logic. Doesn’t work for me. But I admire it.
@danielleH says:
look at you girl! that’s awesome. while i didnt ever love working out i loved my alone time with my ipod (that and knowing i was helping my life)
okayyyy mammma bird Alece we are starting to have way more things in common. Gym is also my best friend as well. After you do the hour of huffffffffing and pufffing it all feels so good.
i will say work it out girllll, i need to make you a good work out playlist.
have you got on the Elliptical Machine yet? That thing is a killlllllllllllllller but works so goood.
welll i love YOUUUUUUUUUU
I need to meet a Gym…maybe I will start seeing GATE( as in run to the)…..just maybe…
heidi — i wish i had beach.
roxanne — oh the irony: i usually follow-up my date with Gym with a rendezvous with bux. calorically counterproductive. but i swear st. bux is equally good for my mental and emotional health.
mo — i really don’t enjoy it. i’m forcing myself right now because i need to.
debra — niel’s actually here. been here since january. he’s hanging with Gym, too!
louise — indeed!
@ — i’ve never even heard of “run fat boy run”. can i just say: what a horrible name for a movie!
anneth — yeah. i’ve been Gym abstinent for way.too.long.
yeller — oh i don’t think i could do it without my iPod with me!
jacers — ms. elliptical + one hour yesterday = jello legs. dang gina! (whatcha got in mind for a playlist?!)
char — say hi for me!
I am so happy for you, friend! Gym and I have been distant lately, but must get reacquainted soon. This junk in the trunk has got to go!
dangggg ginnnnna, your legs ARE PROBABLY LOOOOOKING GOOD.
that thing kills me and i have lots, I MEAN lots of ideas for a playlist.
maybe some hip hop in your life..it keeps me going cause of the fast beats. my mom works out to a playlist i made for her. its funny stuff.
@coloraturajoy says:
woohoo! go alece!!!
i can’t wait to read the post about you kicking gym’s butt! ;)
Gym and I used to be tight. But since we broke up, nothing on me is tight. I’m just sayin’…
Gitz, you’re hysterical!
The less we exercise when we are young the more we pay the price in bad joints, and muscles, when we get old.
The hard part of exercise for me is getting started. Over the winter I get lazy. Starting back up is sooo hard. It is very easy to come up with excuses to not exercise.
Once I get back into shape, power walking three miles, I feel so much better.
Of course once the cold, windy, weather of winter comes back I turn back into a blob again.
Keep up the good work Alece.
I have a date with gym every day. And I’ve been dating him off and on for about 9 years. We are “on” most of the time, but the 2 times I was pregnant, we took a little time apart. It was good for both of us. There have been times we’ve been obsessed with each other, but now we’ve settled into a comfortable easy relationship. : ) way to go, alece!
shiniqua — “junk in my trunk” always makes me laugh.
jacers — got your email. i’ll send you my address! it’ll be like having you DJ again. (makes me sad…)
JR — me too!
fritz — crackin’ me up!
ed — good for you! has it thawed out enough up there to get started yet?
sarah — no joke, you are one of my biggest inspirations for this.
@traceepersiko says:
me and Gym spend much time together. we are like BFF’s, especially when iam stressed out. Add some altitude on top of that….dang!
I love me some Gym!
Damn, friend.
you have more affection for Gym than i ever will. altitude or otherwise.
damn isn’t enough, sweetfriend.
@XCWATERBOY says:
i know of what you speak. running after a long layoff (or for the first time ever) leaves you sore for quite a while.
after my marathon i went to see my grandparents and hobbled around there house a few days. i slept on there porch. it had one step down to it from the living room. one step. i nearly fell and broke myself everytime i went to go to bed.
but now that your excited about it, may i suggest giving running a try? nothing like the runners high haha.
i totally understand about the one step.
and i’ve been running. usually about a mile on the track. are you impressed or what!? ha.
(did you know i ran track in junior high/high school?!)
Your post cracked me up :-)
Hover-peeing was completely out of the question !!! :-D :-) :-D
I’m sure your improved immune system (as a result of the extra Gym assignations) will help ‘protect’ you :-)
as for the ‘Runner’s High’ – as i recall it it was mostly about shin splints and wheezing while holding yourself up with your hands on your knees or watching the sky spin as you lay gasping flat on your back – sound familiar? ;-)
of course once the pounding in your ears stopped there was a slight feeling of well-being.
Give me a bike anyday!
<B
yeah. i can’t say i’ve ever experienced “runner’s high” either!
@atangie says:
Ask Natalie. She has seen it. http://whatireallywanttosayis.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/a-movie-to-see-i-went/
You must see that movie! It is hilarious and fun. (It is a British flick so try to get past that accent that you find so freaky.)
ah! british humor!
i’ll file the name of the movie away in my brain for later, and hope that my FBS (fuzzy brain syndrome) doesn’t eat it.
@tamhodge says:
i dumped Gym years ago.
im so glad he has found someone who will commit.
@atangie says:
That is the great thing about it… it really ISN’T “British” humor.
Here, let yourself laugh a minute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAmisSpAlkU
tam — i’ve ignored him for two days straight. i’m sure his feelings are a little hurt right now.
@ — phew. (wiping brow…) trailer was fun – thanks!
@tamhodge says:
well you know he’ll get you back with extra pain when you hang out again?
hes so rotten that way.
monday’s gonna be rough, that’s for sure.