I just joined a gym!

[Trailpal]

There's a "Planet Fitness" gym near my home. $25 to sign up, and $10/month, and I can quit if/when I want to - no year long contract. They promise "no gymintimidation" - no judgement - just peeps like me who are trying to improve.

No pool, no tennis - I don't do either of those, so it's nice not to pay for it. Lots of machines - tread mills, stair steppers, some other thing kind of like a stepper (maybe a ski machine?) and exer-bikes. Also the standard "station" machines to work various muscle groups, and a bunch of benches and free-weights. Also a trainer (usually 2, but they are down one) to help you figure out a routine or show how to use the machines. He does classes. All the trainer services are free.

Free wifi so I can listen to internet radio if I want, or a bank of TVs and you plug your headset into a little selector and select the TV you want to hear. And they are 24/7!

So - my first foray was this morning, just a little before 6 am. Quite a few folks there, but plenty of machines. I am really out of shape and planned to do 45 minutes on the tread mill. I walk Josie around my neighborhood and that takes almost half an hour, so 45 mins didn't seem extraordinary. But I picked the "cardio" workout. Holy crap! My heart target rate (per the machine) was 135 bpm, but I never made it much past 118. When I started, I was at 3.5 mph, which was a little faster than I had planned. I was doing ok until the incline started. I was breathless and the inclination had risen to 12.5 degrees. I slowed down the tread to 2.8 mph, and kept pushing the incline to 0 - then it would slowly rise and I'd zero it out again once it got hard, around 8 degrees or so.

I did the whole 45 minutes I had planned, plus a 5 min cool down.

My plan is to keep doing the tread mill at 2.8 mph and experiment with the various settings until I find something do-able - and then either raise the incline or the speed over the next several workouts until I can get my heart rate near the target. Once I get there, I'll probably treadmill (or bike or step) ~every other day, and then start some of the circuits on the days between. They have a "12 minute ab" circuit, and a "30-minute whole body" circuit.

I do way better if I plan for a daily workout - I'm likely to miss a few from time to time, but planning for daily stuff means I don't miss too many days in a row.

[Marci]

CONGRATS!!!
Its tough getting started but once you do it on a regular schedule you will find you miss it when you have to skip. I was so happy that our local club (there is only one in town) got a pool since that is my preferred way of exercise. Well other than riding.
I find I look forward to it as the highlight of my day. Well most of the time. LOL
But then I don't really have a life now, or is that yet? I wonder though, if I had been swimming when Mark died would I have had a heart attack? It really is a zen experience, I'm in warm water with goggles, ear plugs, and a swim cap on.... I find its almost like meditating. I come away refreshed and relaxed. And very clean. LOL
The club that I belong to has classes in the water and I take two per week to break up the laps. It also is sort of a social time. We have lots of fun laughing at each other as we grunt or struggle with something. And the Zumba, its like dancing. I can't dance anymore with my knees (well maybe one dance if I am careful-or more if I want a sleepless night or week.) I find is lots of fun and actually got me to lose that last bit of weight. I am not a solid 178 with clothes on. Not bad considering I was 235 or more when Mark passed.
I have to say I LOVE being slender again, I look at my legs most of the time and think Wow that MY leg. LOL Other times I look in the mirror and think oh yeah, looks like Moms butt. LOL But well at 54 a bit of sag is expected for a normal person.
I just wish Mark was here to see it, he wold have been so happy.
So you keep going no matter what. It helps you deal with things that life throws at you.

[Trailpal]

Thanks, Marci!

[kerryc]

GOOD for you Trailpal!! Be sure to get advice from the trainers. If the service is free and you can get them to be with you as you train - DO SO. As my trainers Jasmine says - "we are all about breaks, just complete the plan/routine for the session."

My initial run through of the equipment before Thanksgiving left me sore in the arm pits, lower belly and the back of my thighs. Epson Salt soaks are your friend! 2 heaping cups to a tub of as hot of water as you can stand to get in. Soak in that until the water gets cool. Just be sure to shower the salt off and lotion down. Too many soaks in a row without lotion and your skin will let you know!

Last night was the start of my 3 days a week program. After my workout Jasmin took photos. She said she could show me measurement difference, but photo changes speak volumes. Anyway, I'm a bit stiff today, but not sore. I sleped like a log last night.

Let's keep each other posted on our progress!

[Marci]

Today I got a real picture of just how much fat is gone, I pulled a suit out of my drawer and just stuck it in the gym bag. When I got to the pool I put it on it hung on me. LOL Its only been a few months since I last wore it. I was really glad the pool was empty so no one saw it. Its so cold today no one wanted to swim I guess. Snow on the way tonight.

[Trailpal]

Thanks Kerry!

I went again yesterday and toned down the program - a little too much, maybe, as my heart rate stayed pretty low, but I feel like I have a good starting point. For now, I have the right speed (2.8 mph) and a good duration (45 mins plus 5 min cool-down) so it's a matter of dialing in the hills. Before I even start working the machines, I want to get my heart rate and endurance built up - kinda like re-starting a horse after a long lay off. My normal breathing is pretty shallow and the walking should improve that.

The trainer is not in until later in the day - so I'll try to catch him over the weekend to plan my week. (Normally there are 2 trainers but they are down one at the moment.)

Congrats, Marci! my motto is "Water Bad" and I really don't enjoy being in water. I barely float and don't really know how to swim. Probably has something to do with nearly drowning on a road trip (passed out, had to be rescued and was coughing up water for 2 days). I've tried overcoming that but there is only so much time in my lifetime.

[Trailpal]

I think I'm making some progress already! I've been able to pick up my speed somewhat and have increased my heart rate.

If I have some good tunes, 45 minutes goes by pretty quickly. My hubby is amazed that I can do the treadmill that long but I ride for about an hour at a time (warm-up/cool-down/work) so this seems shorter to me.

[Marci]

Sounds like your doing great. The secrect it to keep it up. I am so hooked on the endorphins. LOL

[dl]

How are you doing? I totally missed this message. I belong to a Planet Fitness here. I stop and start all the time. When I'm going I feel GREAT and when I don't I get tired and grumpy and I start craving junk food like crazy. Then I always feel too tired to go. I recently signed the twins up, since they are 13 now, they are old enough and PF had a special beginning of the year introductory offer of $10 sign up fee. Rose has been going more than Jacob because Jacob has been struggling with getting his lessons done. One of the things that was making me stay at home was doing lessons with Jacob.... He does better if someone is listening to him. I found out that I can take my cell phone and earbuds and listen to him while I'm on the treadmill! We got LOTS of lessons done while I was working out.

While I kind of miss going on my own, and I miss my "mom time".... on the other hand, they constantly beg to go and they want to stay for the whole work out and won't let me leave early or skip days. That's good!

Anyway! Welcome to Planet Fitness! I hope you are still enjoying it

[Trailpal]

I was just talking to a friend at work - I went pretty regularly the first couple of months, but with the bitter cold I couldn't make myself go out more than once a week (if that!)

I was about to start up again but I just had a procedure on my big toe which removed half the nail <eek!> but it's healing well and I should be able to start up again next week I think. The swelling is down and I can use a bandaid instead of a bulky gauze.

Thanks for asking - talking about it is getting me excited about going again!

[dl]

I had a hard time last night... I just wanted to go HOME! I had done my weight lifting and did not want to head to the treadmill. I looked over at that section and saw all that it was full of women with grinning faces glued to the TVs. I went over and looked at the sets and the two that the women were glued to were tuned to a program featuring Matthew McConaughey, including lots of pictures with his shirt off. I figured I could watch pictures of a shirtless MM for a while so I got on the treadmill, slowly. Pretty soon "slow" felt too slow, so I sped up a little.... then a little more.... then a little more. Before I knew it I was back up to my regular speed and doing great! I know that it's recommended to take days off, but I really do better if I don't take days off unless I absolutely can't manage it. I am better off to go and walk slowly without the weight lifting if I have to take a break from that, than to not go at all.

The picture of all those women staring at the tv sets is still making me laugh! LOL!

[Trailpal]

hahaha - whatever it takes, right?

[dl]

Okay, Scale. You can move now. And NOT UP, understand?

[Trailpal]

LOL. Check -what- you eat. At least for me, if I eat much in the way of bread/rice/pasta or salty snacks, my weight can go up a couple of pounds in a day. I finally went "very low sodium" and my ankles quit swelling and my weight is down and steady.

[dl]

Yes... I have had an issue with what I've been eating for the past month. When I'm not exercising, I get horrible cravings for junk food. And when I'm stressed out I get horrible cravings for cheese in the middle of the night. I don't bring junk food home, but I also spend a LOT of time driving around and the possibilities for picking up a quick snack are endless. I can feel my brain chemistry change when I have been exercising regularly and I do not have stupid cravings then. But I had the flu in January and my energy level was so low for about three weeks that I just couldn't work out. Then it took a couple of weeks of fighting with myself to get back into it.... of course I was blowing up like a balloon during that time.

I can't diet. I over-dieted (eating disorder??? I'm almost 5'10" with a large frame, and I thought I was fat if I weighed over 108) in my late teens and 20's. Now, if I start counting calories, something in my brain says, "NOT GOING THERE!!!!!" I have to exercise regularly... that is the key to keeping my brain and body chemistry to where I behave in a healthy way. It's just frustrating that AGE plays a part and makes it take longer and longer to recover from transgressions.

So I've been back at the gym for over 2 weeks. I've been eating much better. It used to take 3 or 4 days for the scale to start moving. Not anymore!