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SO - Almost Like Running...
Mar2720117:27 p.m.
... Almost like heaven!
This is a long, excited post, mind.
Finally decided to join a gym. I know I've always shunned them and extolled the virtues of being outdoors for running - but 'circumstances alter cases'. I can't run (at the moment - I live in hope) and I've not had a sweat on this year, apart from the odd hill on the bike and the odd busy day at work when the loading deadline was fast approaching and we still had 20 orders to fulfil!
SO - decided to join the local, Council run, gym as it's only a mile and a¼ away, so I can walk there for more exercise, and it has a swimming pool. For the monthly fee of £35 for 2 activities I'd only need 1 gym session and 1 swim per week to break even and all the rest would be a bonus - so, well it seems a lot but yeah, well, I'll get a sweat on, and what else can I do? etc etc. I'll do it.
SO - Friday evening I had a walk up there with my application form filled out - no concessions as I don't get any form of benefits - income support, jobseekers allowance, incapacity, housing, state pension, not under 18, a student or an ASYLUM seeker! (don't get me started!) - anyway - the GirlInTheNickyHambletonJonesGlasses keyed everything in and asked when did I want my induction class - they'd had a cancellation so I could have it at 6pm if I could make it. Hmmm ... 4:40 now. It was a sign - let's strike while the iron's hot! 20mins to sign up, 20mins to get home, 20mins to pack some kit and Mrs.MTS could drop me off back there in time - DEAL!
Just fill in the medical questionnaire - question: Have you any joint problems that will limit you exercising? - say NO, that avoids getting Doctors permission. question: Might you be pregnant? - let me think? - that's a no then. Then no, no , no, no, no..... no problems - job done. HambletonJonesGlasses then takes my payment and starts the blag - so £37odd includes your induction session and the gym key, the membership card and all it's Citywide benefits, the first payment, and then the first direct debit will be £17.75 per month ... sorry? what rate is that? ... The concession rate for being 60 or over ... sorry? it doesn't say that in the brochure ... oh yes, it is 60 isn't it? (asks her colleague) ... no, no, don't worry, I'll go with your first answer ... £17.75 /month for unlimited gym visits and unlimited swims - RESULT!
SO - dashed home, dashed back, and was met by Alan the trainer who was going to set up my program and show me the 'machines'. First thing he says - 'you ran the 1998 London Marathon didn't you?' ... how the hell did you know that?!... said he was on the club bus trip that year and remembered me! Turns out he's an ex-runner (ankle injuries) and has even passed me at the drinks station I'm on at GNR - (Mrs.MTS thinks he must be stalking me
).SO - we go thru my wish list (about an hours exercise with lots of cardio stuff, please, to make me sweat and keep the weight down, as a running substitute, please. but no running because of the hip - we talked hip , knee and ankle injuries then and had a bonding moment). Then he draughts up a program, - biking (2 types), walking on the treadmill at my 4mph rate, stepper, cross-trainer, hand-pedal-bike like thingy and finish on the rowing machine, (10mins on each) but we'll throw in some upper body weights on 4 or 5 machines and some leg push thingy. All just light weights (25-27kg mainly) and light reps and easy levels and then we'll up them all when you find these easy! ...er, yes, well fine, yes.
SO - a few minutes on each and a few pulls of the weights - and HOW much did I enjoy that!?!
. Went home a very happy, excited, monkey!
SO - I'm back there 9am Saturday for my first full session. The plug in key has all my data and session programmed onto it and I just plug it into each machine, follow the sequence of speed, intervals etc then onto the next one it tells me to go to (or another one if they're all full and come back till the key says they're all done). I'm finding my way round ok, I'm upping some of the targets, I'm sweating, I'm pulling weights, I'm getting 'ripped' - I'm a Gym Monkey!! - and no problems afterwards. MyStalker did say I should find it easy but go with it till I get used to the equipment.
But getting back to the title of the piece - how cool is the cross trainer? - this one -
It's almost like running, almost like heaven - like running on air as one of the lads said today - and NO jarring of the hip! I want an hour on there please! Plus all the rest, please. I'm a Gym Monkey!! I expect to be there every day next week (as I'm on back shift at work). I'm a Gym Monkey!!
To be fair - I did exercise outside today, with the BikeCrew. We did 23.something miles with some REALLY exciting biking thru Penshaw woods (I swear that tree moved out into the path), along the riverside (nearly went over the side into the river more than once) then down the northside
and down to the seafront for bacon sarnies and coffee at the Cat and Dog Steps cafe, it's the little yellow cabin on the prom here -
in the sweltering sunshine - it's such a sun trap there - then home.
Marvellous!
Cheers, MTS
I realise some of you will find this gym stuff old hat and second nature - but to me it's a whole new and beckoning world - bring it on!!
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Comments (6)
b0alvarez 'Welcome to the world of the indoor gym! That was a refreshing account of joining a gym. It is not that bad especially during winter time. As always, love the pictures. Cheers. Bo.' added 28th Mar 2011
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SuperCaz 'I can't believe that you lied about your age to get a discount! Or that they believed you. I love the gym when I am injured. No substitute for a good run, but better than nothing.' added 28th Mar 2011
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eclipse 'The Gym isnt that bad, it comes in handy now and then, or a lot of the time if it is me Lol. Well done on the discount ;0)' added 28th Mar 2011
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Skye_Trekker ':-) but the cross-trainer has to be my most disliked piece of gym equipment, I don't think I'll ever learn to love it. So glad your gym experience went well and I hope you get to spend many happy hours there until you are out running again.' added 28th Mar 2011
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malcolms 'OK I realise that nothing beats running outside, but the gym does help and does mix it up a bit. Just waiting now to hear how you got on with the rowing machine - in my view just the best peice of kit EVER.' added 29th Mar 2011
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Johanne 'that post must have taken you ages - how do you do allthose woohoos?! Congrats on joining the gym and getting it about half the cost of mine - amazing. Does it have any classes at all - if so try spinning that will make you sweat. But I agree with above re rowing - its truly awesome.' added 14th Apr 2011
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