about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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November 19, 2004

Progress permalink

Well, I made a trip to the gym, and it's nice, though surprising, to see progress. I did my usual upper-body workout, which I have been doing only occasionally since before the Michigan trip, and while parts were hard, it felt really good.

I learned that my gym has two evening pilates classes in addition to the once-a-week lunchtime class. They also have a small-session twice-a-week abs session.

My goal for Monday is to weigh 240. Today, I weigh 236.

And, I got on the treadmill to do a little long slow distance (except in this case it was short slow distance). To keep my heart rate at 65%, I usually do 2.8 miles an hour. Today, 3.2! Now, I don't ever take my waking heart rate, so I don't figure out what is truly 65% each time. But all things equally, that's still .4 miles an hour faster.

I've been investigating pilates classes, and, um, they're expensive. Hmmm, get a wifi PDA or take some introductory classes? The gadget wins everytime. Okay, it's not quite that bad, but close.

Posted at November 19, 2004

Comments

Which gym to you go to? I go to gold's, for example, and while they're far from the nicest gyms in the world they're not bad - and every single class is included in the $20/mo I pay. Might be worth shopping around a bit. Oh - and congratulations on the speed boost or, should I say, the heart health boost!

Posted by: Richard at November 19, 2004 4:30 PM

Hey Richard --
Thanks! I belong to Bally's and it's okay. Not as many classes as I'd like, but I have a decent (okay, cheap for Portland) rate. The small session classes do have an additional charge, but it still looks cheaper than my other options. The gym is a block from my work, which makes it really convenient--and since my work doesn't have a shower, convenience is good.

The deal is: a friend and I decided to do pilates classes, and she's not a gym member. We both thought they'd be cheap. Ha ha ha!

Posted by: vj at November 19, 2004 6:35 PM

Hey, glad to see you are getting over whatever was getting you down! You were down and out for quite a while.

I've considered joining a gym but I don't know how to find the time. How do you manage to fit in walking, gym and a bicycle commute?

Good luck making a decision on gadget vs. gym!

Take care of yourself.

Posted by: Marshall at November 19, 2004 6:41 PM

Hey Marshall! I'm just figuring out this comment thing -- like, I'm not sure when/if I should be responding, etc., etc. I belong to a gym, well, part of it is entropy on my part. I joined 10 years ago and got a good deal and still work really close by it, so I've never quit. I have a hard time working the time in for exercise, surprise, surprise, and I really can't imagine what it would be like to have a family and still carve out that time for yourself. I get up fairly early, so if I can get myself going, I do bike or walk in (but lots of time I take the bus or catch a ride). I always plan to workout over lunch, but maybe half the time I actually do. And then, I'm loathe to give up time in the evenings--I want to hang out with my sweetie or my friends. So my success rate isn't too high, though right now I am feeling particularly obsessed about it. It will be interesting to see how my follow-through is when I become less obsessed... Happy thanksgiving!

Posted by: vj at November 24, 2004 11:30 AM