How’s your week going? Mine’s been pretty cool so far, but it’s going to be a busy few days ahead.
I recently wrote this post about gym (the place, not the person) and how I was sure I’m allergic as I forever kept getting sick.
Subsequent to that I changed to another gym and what a difference it has made. No, I still don’t enjoy waking up at 4h50 in the morning so I can drag my sorry ass out of the house and into the cold and dark, but I’m never sorry that I went. And it rained this morning when I came out of the gym at 5h55. Just rude.
The new gym is a lot bigger than the old one and there is such a mix of people there, from serious, 5am-make-up-wearing-gym-bunnies to Dads and their boys hanging out on the circuit. I’m completely amazed at how packed that gym is so early in the morning, so many cars in the parking lot!
The best thing about the new gym must be their treadmills. Each treadmill has a TV screen, so you can watch TV whilst you sweat. For someone like me that cannot bear doing only one thing at a time this is very pleasing. My favourite channel is VH1 Classic and I spend a lot of time either grinning like an idiot or trying not to bop along whilst trying to walk my 4km in under 40 minutes. I also may or may not have given in to flicking fingers and waving arms around whilst keeping pace. But I’m not saying. I do dread the day I either trip or something equally stupid that lands me on my ass on a moving treadmill.
All in all? I’m having fun. I enjoy being able to just do my thing and not having to make eye-contact with or talk to anyone. It’s just me and VH1 Classic. No need to try and figure out the whole sub-culture of gym that I can see exists. And I have yet to run into a single person I know.
Awesome.
This morning’s favourite was Take That’s Back for Good, complete with bad boy Robbie Williams. I had such a rush of London memories of when they broke up and the gay guys at work were all crying. That was London in the 90’s for you!
Here’s the song and remember to look out for Robbie..
Now I just need to get off the treadmill and try something else at the gym. Or just start running, like I promised myself I would.
What do you do at the gym?
Try a 5:15am-ish spinning class for a change, sit at the back, don’t turn up the level too much, just sit and work up a little sweat. And try them all till you get the instructor with the best music :). Weights are daunting but weight/resistance training is extremely important – I forget all the technicalities but it speeds up your metabolic rate i.e. you carry on burning calories even after you’ve stopped exercising, and more muscle = less fat. Start with a round at the circuit but put enough weights on so you can’t move the next day, then go back the next day and do it again 😉 Or even better, do your brisk walk for 20mins then do weights/circuit for 20mins while your heart rate is still high, for most benefit. OR (haha options…) try a Shape/Body Conditioning class! Easy to follow and you will be sore the next day, “which is good” 😉
You get up at WHAT time?! Oh my word. I thought waking up at 5.20am was early to get to the gym. I go every second week when my husband works the late shift at work (we share a car). You’ve given me some inspiration. Maybe I’ll get up that early when we get closer to summer, lol! I miss my old gym at Willowbridge in Tygervalley. It’s for women only…SO much nicer than Virgin Active and the likes, because the women don’t feel like they have to dress up (or let their hair loose) for anyone. Their treadmills had TVs inside and I used to watch Baywatch and other old series for 20 minutes. It was heaven. Now I just put in my earphones and disappear into my own little world when I get the gym. And I also don’t like look at or talking to anyone when I’m there. I hate it when the trainers or people who work there come up to chat and see how you’re doing. 😛
Oh you are amazing getting up so early! I do love VH1 too at the gym Zumba girl – you will love it