Now That I Have More Energy
Here are some more things things that have been going on.
I joined the gym in the same complex as our studio. It's two doors down from us, and I have never been inside it. I thought it was very bare-bones, very gritty judging from what I could see through the windows. I went for a short tour earlier this week, and learned just the opposite. It has quite a large cardio "theatre", with about ten TVs you can tune radio headsets to, so that you can watch various things. The equipment is varied and in good shape - eliptical trainers - (Precor!), decent treadmills, stair climbers, and recumbent bikes. There are also several "real" stair climbers, which instead of climbing in place, have you running up "real" stairs, which cycle around. I'd never seen such things. Lots of rowing machines, too. Which is nice.
A room full of free weights, and nautillus. Lots of machines, too. Beautiful three storey cielings and nice natural light. There is a training studio upstairs, too. Not too large, but good springy hardwood floors, mirrors on two sides, neoprene weights, stability and bosu balls, medicine balls, etc. Their classes are really quite varied - Stott trainer-led 1 hour pilates classes three times a week, three 1 1/2 hour ashtanga yoga classes, core training, body pump, hip-hop, everything. There are at least two classes every night that I'm interested in, with a max of about 6 people per class. Which is quite good.
There is a full boxing gym, heavy bags, speed bags, and a full size ring. Something I might think about getting back into in the future. Not today.
It's been awhile since I belonged to a gym, and I'd forgotten what it's like. The sounds, the environment. This particular gym is really friendly. It's small and everyone keeps introducing themselves (but still letting me get on with my workout). The classes are challenging, and well led. The instructors are all members, and are always attending one-anothers classes.
I had a fitness assessment. Similar to what I had at my last gym. A cute guy took my measurements, read a questionaire I'd filled out. Some of the answers were pretty pathetic.
How many hours do you work a week?: 60+
On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest, how would you rate your stress level: 5
How do you relieve stress?: Alcohol and marijuana.
I had to write what my body was like the last time I was happy with it. That was hard. I haven't thrown away those pants with the 26 inch waist yet. I wanted to cry as I asked "Can I have my body back? I used to be healthy and strong."
He told me I could, within a year, even if I worked out half as much as I told him I wanted to.
I'm pretty suprised how out of shape I am. I'm had a few small victories, but it's hard going back to the things I used to be so good at, and starting back at the beginning. Smaller weights, slower speeds, less reps, etc. I can't afford a personal trainer, even for a few sessions - though I know it would be helpful to have my ass kicked a bit.
I'd forgotten, though, what an effect excercise has on my eating habits. It's really difficult to come home, glowing with sweat, muscles total jello, endorphines pumping after an hour of pilates and a half hour of rowing, and tuck into a crappy, fatty, calorie filled dinner. It feels like a waste. And I don't do it.
I joined the gym in the same complex as our studio. It's two doors down from us, and I have never been inside it. I thought it was very bare-bones, very gritty judging from what I could see through the windows. I went for a short tour earlier this week, and learned just the opposite. It has quite a large cardio "theatre", with about ten TVs you can tune radio headsets to, so that you can watch various things. The equipment is varied and in good shape - eliptical trainers - (Precor!), decent treadmills, stair climbers, and recumbent bikes. There are also several "real" stair climbers, which instead of climbing in place, have you running up "real" stairs, which cycle around. I'd never seen such things. Lots of rowing machines, too. Which is nice.
A room full of free weights, and nautillus. Lots of machines, too. Beautiful three storey cielings and nice natural light. There is a training studio upstairs, too. Not too large, but good springy hardwood floors, mirrors on two sides, neoprene weights, stability and bosu balls, medicine balls, etc. Their classes are really quite varied - Stott trainer-led 1 hour pilates classes three times a week, three 1 1/2 hour ashtanga yoga classes, core training, body pump, hip-hop, everything. There are at least two classes every night that I'm interested in, with a max of about 6 people per class. Which is quite good.
There is a full boxing gym, heavy bags, speed bags, and a full size ring. Something I might think about getting back into in the future. Not today.
It's been awhile since I belonged to a gym, and I'd forgotten what it's like. The sounds, the environment. This particular gym is really friendly. It's small and everyone keeps introducing themselves (but still letting me get on with my workout). The classes are challenging, and well led. The instructors are all members, and are always attending one-anothers classes.
I had a fitness assessment. Similar to what I had at my last gym. A cute guy took my measurements, read a questionaire I'd filled out. Some of the answers were pretty pathetic.
How many hours do you work a week?: 60+
On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest, how would you rate your stress level: 5
How do you relieve stress?: Alcohol and marijuana.
I had to write what my body was like the last time I was happy with it. That was hard. I haven't thrown away those pants with the 26 inch waist yet. I wanted to cry as I asked "Can I have my body back? I used to be healthy and strong."
He told me I could, within a year, even if I worked out half as much as I told him I wanted to.
I'm pretty suprised how out of shape I am. I'm had a few small victories, but it's hard going back to the things I used to be so good at, and starting back at the beginning. Smaller weights, slower speeds, less reps, etc. I can't afford a personal trainer, even for a few sessions - though I know it would be helpful to have my ass kicked a bit.
I'd forgotten, though, what an effect excercise has on my eating habits. It's really difficult to come home, glowing with sweat, muscles total jello, endorphines pumping after an hour of pilates and a half hour of rowing, and tuck into a crappy, fatty, calorie filled dinner. It feels like a waste. And I don't do it.