I finally bit the bullet and joined the local gym.
This may not seem like a big deal except that I despise gyms!
So, why does someone who dislikes gyms so intensely join one?
Well, here’s the rub . . .
I kept trying to workout at home and found myself being thwarted over and over and over again.
I began to feel cranky, depressed, tired, and fat.
Not really a great recipe for becoming a Real Fit Mom or having a delightful home, is it?
Here are the challenges I have faced when trying to workout at home:
- Our home is very small, so it’s hard to exercise without waking up half the house (namely a certain two year old).
- A certain two year old thinks I am a great bridge to climb over or crawl under whenever I try to do any type of floor work.
- I don’t feel safe enough in our area to go for a run in the early morning alone.
- If I try to exercise at a time of day when everyone is awake, there are many interruptions. And not just from my family, there are other people and things that seem to pop up right when I tie up my sneakers.
- When I’m home I see the dishes that need to be done or the crumbs that need to be swept. It makes me a little anxious if I’m trying to do a workout that is longer than 20 minutes.
Some of these things I can work with, but some of are pretty difficult to change.
I’ve tried to find solutions, and they may come in time (read: when the 2 year old is a little older), but for now, I am a little tired of pushing against and climbing around these hurdles.
So, I joined the gym.
Did I tell you I don’t like gyms?
OK. So, why don’t I like gyms:
- I have to exercise in front of people
- It can be crowded
- People jump on the equipment I’m about to use right when I am going to use it (not always, just sometimes)
- I have to drive there
- It costs money!
- It costs lots of money!
- I have to get up extra early to get there and back before my husband goes to work.
- Lots of sweaty people touch the equipment I’m using (but my sweat is not a problem. ha!)
I kept talking around and around about the gym and finally decided to try it out. I mean, how will I know if I never try?
I won’t.
I am now at the beginning of my fourth week.
I still don’t really like it, but I do like getting my exercise in.
This morning was a particularly terrible morning and I found all the stuff I wanted to use was already working for someone else. My training session seemed to take forever and I lamented the fact that I could do all this at home a lot quicker. If only I could.
Logistically, if I want to work out at home in the early morning, I have to do it in my bedroom, while my husband is still asleep! He says he doesn’t care, but I find myself trying to be quiet and not putting in all the effort.
I’m not yet convinced that I will stay at the gym.
I was fortunate to find a place that lets me pay month to month. So, I can end at any time.
Things I do like so far:
- It’s pretty cool to have my workout done and dusted before breakfast!
- A few ladies from church also joined the gym and we have attended a class together. That was quite hilarious and a lot of fun.
- There are a few pieces of equipment there that I don’t have at home. I love the chin-up machine.
- I can exercise without people climbing on me or telling me they are hungry or that their sibling did something I need to deal with.
For now, I’ll keep going and re-evaluate in another month or two.
Do you like to exercise at the gym?
“A certain two year old thinks I am a great bridge to climb over or crawl under whenever I try to do any type of floor work.”
My two year old does this, and sometimes my four year old as well. It’s somewhat amusing, but also frustrating. I haven’t worked out consistently for a few months and would love to join a gym but we have no room in the budget for it at the moment. I’m going to have to get a bit creative and start something at home again.
I know what you are saying about finding room in the budget for the gym. It sure is a stretch for us right now.
Having little ones can does present some extra challenges when working out at home (like them using us as bridges). I hope you find something that works for you. Creativity can get you a long way ๐
I feel you. I hates gyms too. Mainly because of the people all around me. But I have been goin now about a year and the benefits outway the negativity. I can truly say it has been a blessing being able to be at hone for my family and know I have already got my workout in for the day. Keep it up!!!
Thanks, Tana! It’s fun to think of you braving the gym, too ๐
Thanks for encouraging me.
I can totally relate to this. Once upon a time, I tried to do the whole workout-from-home thing. Except my problem was I would start out amped up and ready to go, then suddenly find myself sprawled out on the couch watching a show. I felt like a blob! At the same time, I could never get myself to go to the gym! After a long day working at Dish, the only thing I wanted to do was be a couch potato and the last thing I wanted to do was workout. I had to find a median between the two. Luckily, I found the answer to my prayers! I started bringing my tablet into the gym so I could tap into my TV channel line up through my free Dish Remote Access app. I could still watch all my trashy reality TV shows while working up a sweat. Like your post touches upon, sometimes we just got to bite the bullet in order to figure out what works!
Thanks for you comment, Marsha. You made me laugh when you said you would find yourself sprawled out on the couch! I’ve done that before. There sure a lot of distractions at home!
I like how you figured out a way that works for you. That’s awesome.