I am a part of a startling statistic. I signed up for a gym membership. Are you chuckling? Or slowly shaking your head? Please...not the eye roll. Although I deserve it, I wouldn't have signed up if I didn't really want to use it.
I get the cynicism. I don't have a great record with gym memberships.
1992-1993: YMCA. One treadmill, one stairmaster and a whole bunch of smelly gym equipment in an underground bunker. Also included for the fitness stars, an indoor track about a tenth of a mile in circumference. Yeah...kind of like the cartoon.
I went because it was free. I was a lifeguard there so occasionally, when feeling the need to lose the twenty pounds I always felt I needed to, I'd enter the dungeon and start turning right over and over again. Overall score: 3 out of 10 for actual usage.
1993 - 1995: RB during school and Crossroads fitness when I lived at home. You can't blame me for not really using the RB. Does anyone remember BYU issue? The shorts...uncomfortable. Unwearable. Plus, they displayed your size. I did try it a few times and got caught on the stairmaster next to a girl trying to sell me Amway. No thanks.
Crossroads was fine, except I always ran the risk of bumping into some guy...depending on the year there was always at least one I was trying to avoid seeing me in spandex and stretchy clothes. As I managed to stay fit, I'll give myself a 4 out of 10 for usage, but I think it's generous.
1996: Golds Gym. By far my best year. I was an animal. I'd go twice a day somedays. They had this slide class that I was into (I wore little booties and basically went side to side on a slippery mat for an hour. I can't fathom that being something I'd be interested in now). I don't think it's an accident that it's the year I wooed Jay. What can I say? The guy caught me on an upswing. Overall score: 8 out of 10.
1997-1998: The walking around campus and occasional jog around Provo's square blocks membership. Not my best effort. I gained the first significant chunk of my decade long weight gain, and haven't felt cute since. Overall score: 1 out of 10.
1998-2002: Bally's Fitness. I went through several highs and lows. I went fairly regularly before I was pregnant with Seth and then started going back consistently when he was one. It had free child care and I even managed to have a complete stranger say to me once, "I just wanted to let you know that I can see a difference in you from a couple of months ago. Just keep coming!" as she cheerfully and tonely walked away from me. I think I went back after that, but certainly not as often. Overall score: 5 out of 10.
2002-2005: 24 Hour Fitness. It was close to our house and I was raring to go. I bought and paid for a three year membership the first day I went in. I found out I was pregnant with Sam a week later. Child care was $2/hour/child and we were really poor. I think I went less than ten times total. Overall score: 0 out of 10.
2005-2007: YMCA. This time the facilities were new and surrounded with wonderful natural light. I joined for their cheaper swimming lessons and free child care. But it was a 20 minute drive and I found myself MAYBE going once a week. Even Andrea and my commitment to running together didn't get me there. And sometimes, Henry wouldn't stop crying and they'd come find me to tell me I had a needy child. Overall usage score: 2 out of 10.
December 31, 2007: XCEL Fitness. I've got six months to prove myself wrong. Obviously, I've got a lot of self-doubt here. But also hope. I don't have to let those past failures dictate how I behave today. And I don't have to let another gym steal my money. I am dedicating the next six months to brining up my average. I'm going for the 10!
Now, how do I find out if they have a slide class?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
My Scorecard
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21 comments:
My workout/running posts will be returning shortly...so you can use my pain to inspire you (hopefully)!
You can thank Thomas Edison for this one:
"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
I've got more where that came from. Of course you can do it.
I think a lot of women (I know I can) relate to this scenario! Good job in taking the leap! I started going to the gym this week after a month and a half hiatus! Best of LUCK!!! :)
Way to go LUCY!!!!!!
I so enjoy going to the gYm. I don;t like to run in the cold. A nice warm gym is a lot better. Plus if i am paying money to go, then i will go More.....
I think that is why I never could bring myself to commit. However, as I told you this morning after running in frigid temperatures (to me) I would love to be hot inside of a gym.
We are ho-humming Lifestyle because of it's great kid friendly facility. Water slides, rock climbing walls, you get the picture.
This fancy place however comes with a semi-steep price. Hmmm.... it looks like I may be sucking up the wind, sleet, and cold for a few more months.
We are all rooting for you!! I am expecting a two day report by Friday :)
I think the fact that you keep trying is great!!!!!
Hope you do well the next six months (and beyond).
I got out of gym at BYU. Somehow while returning home from my mission and letting my dad sign up my classes he accidently enrolled me in an experimental class where we did all the work at home. We only had to go twice. Once, the first of the semester to weigh and measure and then at the end of the semester to weigh and measure to see if there was any significant change. It also counted towards all the PE credit for graduation. Being the uncoordinated geek that I am this was a real blessing for me. So, I can say I graduated from BYU with never wearing the PE clothes!!!
i don't do gyms. i don't do physical fitness with other people. (hey, i got PE credit for marching band in high school!!)
i loved your recap, and i am totally routing for you!! 10 out of 10!
I have always hated the whole "meat-market" feel of most gyms. My favorite stint was a "For women only" type gym. You just never felt like you had to do more than roll out of bed! :)
After a month of not going (not to mention the 7 lb. holiday weight gain), I am more than ready to head back! Best of luck to you!!
I love your gumption, I know you will be a ten this year!!!
I was so excited to start my new workout routine so I went after dinner last Saturday and began my workout with a little jogging and then the stairmaster, then onto the bike; well I looked up after about an hour and I was the only one in the place, they were supposed to be closed but the nice gentleman must have sensed my urgency to workout! I was so embarrased!
I was highly amused when I walked into Costco on December 31st and found that smoking cessation and vitamins had replaced the chocolates at the front of the store.
But really, thank goodness for new beginnings and recommitment. Go for it!
Hey Lucy! I love your blog! How fun to see your cute family. What handsome boys you have. Good luck with your gym endeavor. I totally remember the slide classes and I know I went to some! What a funny thing!
Aren't you forgetting Lifestyles 2000 somewhere in there? I could swear we went there together a time or two.
I have faith in you. Just having written about it will help keep you motivated. You'll do great.
I'm hoping for a 10 right there with you!
Tara - I totally forgot about Lifestyles. Yes...that was one more gym that I did not go to regularly. I blamed that one on being too far away. Excuses, excuses.
Good Luck!! I signed up for a gym membership one time and canceled it before my 3 days was up. I couldn't get over how it would be cheaper for me to buy a treadmill or elliptical and just workout in my own house, more convenient too.
I wish I had words of wisdom, but I don't -- just Good Luck!!! :)
We did give the YMCA a good try though! I still have my membership and make an occasional appearance.
If the gym doesn't work out, there's always boxing on the Wii. Enjoy a nice gym before you move to the D-town. There you choose between the "sports club" with all the hippies (although they used to have a NIA class) or the city rec center with all the snotty nosed kids. Not the best of choices! Have fun!
Kelly N
Oh, this made me laugh! I am a completely uncoordinated buffoon in all physical realms. And, though I need to exercise, I am freaked out to do it in public (due to past trauma to my psyche). So, I heard about this little gym here that has pretty much private workout space, and thought that was my solution. I told Keith about it, and that I'd really like to do it. But, we discovered it was $850 a month!! So, a couple days later Keith came home with a membership card in my name at 24 Hour Fitness. Which was so nice, but no less freaky than it was the first time I pondered it. So I haven't been. I'm trying to work up the courage to go.
And sliding class! So funny.
I worked in the RB while at BYU -- your description brought back lots of memories.
You will do great! I try to go to the gym most days, if nothing more than to break up the day and get my kids out of the house. Bring a book along to read while on the bike/treadmill. Go Lucy!
I did step classes at BYU...that's about the last really consistent exercise I've had...except for a brief 6 month period in 2004.
I told myself I was going to run every weekday in 2008...um, yeah, I haven't started yet. What's the rush?
Don't sell yourself so short, I know you can do it, and prove yourself wrong. :)
I am not a gym fan because I am so self conscience, but for a lot of people it's a huge motivator, so I say whatever works for you, go for it! YOU CAN DO IT!!
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