Gym Rat

I finally gave in to peer pressure and joined the gym. Apparently all the cool kids are doing it. My gym membership doesn't really qualify, though, since it is for the work gym. Most New Yorkers join the gym to "get in shape." This is code for "meet people." But since I'm just sweating it out with coworkers, there's not a lot of interaction. It's more of a don't-make-eye-contact-while-sweating environment. But that's OK by me. I actually did join the gym to get in shape, overcoming terrible intimidation to do so. Remember gym class? I didn't go so well for me.

Anywho, I recently turned 30. It was right around that time that I noticed my clothes were shrinking. Sure, it could be an evil plot by the rats, who, theoretically, are running my threads through a dryer while I'm at work. Or perhaps they have those Cinderella mice taking in my clothes whilst singing in freakishly high-pitched voices. But as my good friend William of Ockham says, the simplest answer is usually the best one. I had to face facts: The rats were injecting me with fat while I slept.

There's only one way to fight this, which, sadly, involves hard work. Thus, the gym. I'm total rubbish at working out at home. I'll do it for a little while, get into a routine, but the first whiff of something else comes along and that's the end of tae bo with Billy Blanks. I figured joining the gym would provide me incentive, since it is at my place of employ and I do have to pay for it. So far it's working out all right. So far.

However (and isn't there always a however?), when I was orientated to the gym, the trainer showed me how to use some of the weight machines. I have been using them faithfully twice a week for about a month now, in addition to the cardio machines. Yet I am just putting on more mass—2.5 lbs. of mass to exact—which is not what I was looking for. So I'm strictly an elliptical machine/bike girl now. And it's back to yoga at home. Until I get distracted by ice cream sandwiches, or blogging, or youtube, or the book I'm reading, or the phone ...

Until next time, drop and give me 20.