Very keen readers (Hi Mr Pencil) will remember that I went to Byron about two months ago. It was on that trip that I uncovered the full extent of my sloth when we attempted to walk up to the lighthouse and I nearly died. Seeing 70 year-old people literally prance ahead of me was bad, still being the colour of a beetroot and puffing a day after the event was a hideous reality check.
When I came back and my mum had surgery
I went into the pre-op consult with her and listened to the anaesthetist tell her that the effect on the heart of having an anaesthetic could be compared to a jog around the block. I almost needed the services of a doctor myself when it dawned on me that I might actually die trying to jog around the block.
And so something had to change.
I signed up to Michelle Bridge’s 12 week body transformation challenge (which is a post of huge praise for another day) and bought new running gear. I used to be a runner so I was keen to get back on to the road.
The road running was going really well until it started to get rainy. And cold. My husband very kindly suggested that I go to the gym and run on the treadmill. “It will be kinder on your knees” he said. (And there I was thinking that I had been hiding the fact that my knees were so old sore that I couldn’t walk properly.)
So I stumbled off to the gym where he holds a contract. Except it’s not so much a contract as a key card that you swipe and it allows you into the gym 24/7 as long as you keep paying them money. Okay, I guess it is a contract.
It’s a wonderful thing this gym. It has all the things about gyms that I love – ie
- Treadmills
- Loud music
- Water
It takes around 30 minutes for the tablet to viagra professional 100mg get dissolved in the blood. The best part about the medicine is to be consumed at least 1 hour before getting involved in sexual activity. viagra online prices When a man is aroused, the blood flow increases to his reproductive organ filling up the empty spaces responsible of getting cialis generika cute-n-tiny.com erection. The main component called Sildenafil citrate is online viagra without prescription present in it with the name Tadalafil.
And it has none of the things that I normally hate about gyms – ie
- The smell of fear, sweat and exhaustion
- Very fit people
- Personal trainers who laugh at the way that you execute a squat
- Anyone wearing lycra
- People in general
Seriously there are so few people that I always go with a back up plan in mind lest I arrive and there is a “For Lease” sign hanging in the window.
It’s quite liberating training without eyes on you. Sometimes I worry that I might fall off the treadmill and be left to die but other times I just love the fact that no one is watching me. Trust me – I am NOT pretty when I exercise. Imagine a beetroot with sweat.
But there are one or two people there who I wouldn’t mind occasionally looking up. They work there. I know this because they wear shirts bearing the name of the gym and they sit behind the counter with multiple scarves on because it’s cold and they are not planning on doing any exercise.
I have set myself a little extra challenge – not only do I want to be able to run 5km without dying or pausing to catch my breath, I want to actually make eye contact with one of these staff members.
They see me 6 days a week and every time I walk past the counter to rehydrate I look at them with a red, sweaty smile and they look straight through me. Sometimes I say “hi” and they ignore me. Sometimes I try a “thanks” trying to show them how grateful I am for their services (which is basically paying the rent) and they look right through me.
I know not many people think to engage with sweaty beetroots but surely if you work at a gym you must be comfortable with seeing people look like this. Surely you should at least check occasionally to see if your customers are still breathing.
But nothing. Not even a raise of the head.
I guess I am not going to this particular gym for the great service because, in all honesty, personal trainer types intimidate me. But what kind of business runs itself without any eye contact at all?
I can’t wait to take my fitness back to Byron where the 70-year-old prancers on the lighthouse walk will look me in the eye and, in all likelihood, offer me some water and a lie down.
Do you go to a gym? Are you intimidated by the fit people or are you one of them?
I used to go to a gym and left for the reasons that you have avoided going. I was reasonably fit (not run a marathon fit but enough that I would die if I had to run anywhere) but hated the ‘haven’t seen you for a couple of days’ if I didn’t go for a week. I wanted to go, do my thing and go home. The gym I went to had foxtel on the equipment so I would set myself up on a bike and go for my life..until I discovered classes and then I was kind of locked in.
I salute you in your quest. Running for me has never been a choice. With an F cup size the thought of jogging the treadmill or the soft sands sends shivers up and down my bra straps. I am however, the converted Yogini .After younger years of being a dancer my ability to pretcel myself hasn’t gathered dust! So I found yoga a beautiful alternative.
Of course I’m one of the crazies who teach and practise Bikram yoga.
Not for everyone I agree, any sort of stretching, toning, breathing, meditive excercise is a great thing.
We all have our sweat bands to bare.
I encourage you to embrace your slightly flushed face at the end of your gym session….and remember….you can always ask the gym staff for fresh towels!