Progress

The worst thing about going back to the gym after a long absence is how frickin' sore you get the next day. I went back last Friday, and egads, it was Monday before I could move without any pain. But now, here we are, ache-free (for the most part. I have bad knees, so they always hurt.) And I'm already down two pounds. Woo hoo!

I've belonged to my gym since 1998. A lot of the staff has changed over since then (not too long ago, I saw a former kickboxing instructor in the ER, where she's now a nurse,) and a lot of the clientele has as well. But it's always funny when I see someone I remember from way back when I first joined. I don't know them by name, or really to do much more then smile and say hello to, but I remember their faces.

It's a women only gym, which I love. Way back in the Stone Age, I belonged to a Bally's (it was Jack LaLanne when I first joined and then morphed) and I hated going there. It was always crowded and not one session would go by where some musclehead didn't try to hit on me. Ugh.) I far prefer not having any guys around while I'm sweating my ass off on the elliptical or stumbling my way through a mile run on the treadmill, thankyouverymuch. In my gym, no one bothers you and that's how I like it. I like putting on my iPod and tuning out the rest of the world for two hours. It's me time. Really-good-for-me me time.

I'm also making progress on Dance with the Devil, which is good because I'm sick of looking at it and I want to get it out the door. Spring Break is coming up soon and I want it finished before the kidlets are home for that week, because I know nothing will get done. :D

Changes

Every so often. things just need to change. I'm not normally a big fan of changes because for me, most of the changes in my life have been really awful ones. A few have been wonderful, of course - like getting married, having my kids (for the most part. :D) But I'm not one who easily embraces change. Not usually, anyway.

So, we're going away in a few weeks and I was getting out some stuff to try on - clothes from last summer. We're going to visit family in Florida and while I understand it's been cold there (to them, that is. I laugh when I hear it's 50 degrees there and they're all bundled up like Eskimos,) it's still warmer than it is here. So I'm going to need the warm weather stuff I haven't worn since last summer.

Imagine my shock and horror when some things. Didn't. Fit.

I used to be such a gym rat. At one point, I was hitting the gym 7 days a week.

But that was then, this is now. Now, much as I do like to work out, I'm not nearly as diligent about it.

Which is why some things. Didn't. Fit.

**sigh**

So today is the day for change. I'm going back to the gym.

God help me.

I hope I'm not too sore tomorrow.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed

That I'll be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Once upon a time, I hit the gym 7 days a week. I did cardio. I lifted weights. I was fit! I was also childless, which made hitting the gym 7 days a week easy.

Well, fast forward two kids later. Up until this past December, I managed to still get to the gym a few days a week. I get cranky if I can't exercise. Yes, I'm one of those crazy people who actually likes to work out. Last year, I discovered I like to run (I always thought runners were even more mental then the rest of us gym rats. But there you have it.) I was up to three miles every other day when I pulled a hip flexor muscle last spring. Do you know how much that frickin' hurts? It took months to heal. Months, I tells ya. By the time I could run without pain, it was nearly September and I had to start all over again. By Thanksgiving, I was hitting almost 2 miles per workout.

But then the craziness of the holidays caught up and for reasons I won't go into, I ended up running like a lunatic. Time was at a premium, so the gym was the first thing to get sacrificed. I didn't give up my membership - I've belonged to the same gym since 1998 and won't ever give it up voluntarily. Ever. But that time was used for other stuff.

Well, I decided it's time to carve out that time again. And so I went back today. Ran half a mile. Did an hour with the weights. I tried to make sure I didn't push too hard. But my legs are already tight and I think I won't be able to lift my arms over my head tomorrow. Oh well. I don't care. I'm just happy to be back in the gym again.

But keep your fingers crossed that I can get out of bed in the morning. I am 40, you know... :D