hsapiens: strutting human skeleton (Default)
hsapiens ([personal profile] hsapiens) wrote2008-04-16 11:15 am
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Took the Plunge

I've been putting off dealing with the fact that I need more exercise for a long time. Yesterday I finally pulled up my big girl pants, joined a gym -- and got a personal trainer. It's not cheap but I feel as if I need one. I hit plateaus that can last for months; that just demoralizes the hell out of me and I do the unhelpful thing: I stop working out. I've never before had a personal trainer. I'm so out of shape right now that I expect I'll see some immediate results (I picture some perky coach telling me, "nowhere to go but up!" but thankfully my trainer seems friendly but not perky) but eventually I'm going to hit one of those speed bumps. Hopefully, this will help me break the doldrums before I allow myself to give up. My membership includes 3 "free"** personal training sessions but I bought a few more because I need that motivation while I'm learning to make this a habit.

The gym has lots of classes, including some that sound cool: dance, pilates, and balance ball. I'll finally try out an elliptical trainer, something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I'm actually looking forward to dancing again on a regular basis; I've really missed it. There are also the much-dreaded weight machines. It has been 20 years since I last used one. I'm going to have to learn to not hate them but that will be a...challenge.

I still don't want to exercise but I want even less to suffer heart disease and crumbling bones. (And, you know, in the short term I'd like to lose body fat and be able to climb four flights of stairs without losing my breath.) At least, that's what I think now. We'll have to see how I feel on Friday after my evaluation and first workout. ;)

** "free" being code for "already added into the original membership price we quote you"
ext_1645: (Default)

[identity profile] hsapiens.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I totally get what you mean; I want my UST to be in my fic, not my workout. I could have had a personal trainer when I was still at home and being dragged to the club by my parents but the very idea was unpleasant. It's only through reading [livejournal.com profile] la_directora's positive experiences and talking weekly to my best friend about what she gets out of having a personal trainer that has led me to consider this.

I would consider it a success to drag my sorry butt out of bed in the morning to work out! I don't do it over lunch OR in the morning. Or in the evening. Thus, my problem.

When last I was working out regularly, I was combining hand weights with low-impact aerobics and I really liked the muscle definition that gave me in my shoulders and arms. I'm looking to the weight machines to help me there because dancing and yoga don't work like that. I'm hoping they've made some real strides in the 20 years since I last used them. (At least the butt crack thong outfits of the late 80s are a distant memory. The stationary bikes faced the Stairmasters and I hated watching the women on them because they invariably wore those hideous things.)
superbadgirl: (hot sauce)

[personal profile] superbadgirl 2008-04-16 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Note: I don't currently drag my sorry butt out of bed in the morning to work out. But I should, you see.

My issue is more with food choices and portion sizes, methinks, with a side of plateauing on the exercises I do. I would still love to run (not because I like running so much as I can get it over with faster than with walking), because that did work for me. It also ruined my knees. :(

Ah, butt-crack thong outfits! Nice imagry, thanks.

Do keep us updated, will you?
ext_1645: (Alec -- Double-Vision)

[identity profile] hsapiens.livejournal.com 2008-04-17 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Currently, I don't work out at all so you're well ahead of where I am.

I'm reasonably good on food choices (being a vegetarian is no guarantee of eating healthy but it sure does help!) but yeah, food portions are always a problem for me. My better half is a foot taller than I am and he seems to think we should split food available in half. I love where he's coming from equality-wise, but I don't want to weigh as much as he does!

Nice imagry, thanks.
Need some mental floss?
superbadgirl: (dean cheeks)

[personal profile] superbadgirl 2008-04-18 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I've got the general health benefits from what I do, but I would love to tone up my arms. Nothing I've done at home has stuck (or worked, even after months of sticking to it). It's sad that I could probably lose an inch off my stupid fat arms, and that it would make the rest of me look so much more fit if I did.

Ah, equal portions need to be proportionate to size!