I went to the gym early again today. It is getting easier! For real! (I’m shocked) It feels a little bit like traveling to another time zone: at first it totally sucks. I can barely even deal with Daylight Savings. But eventually, you get used to it, your body adjusts and it’s all okay.
The first day I got up at 5:30 and went to the gym, I felt so bleary and just pretty nonfunctional. Yeah, I got a few nice endorphins but they could not combat the total brain-fuzz that happened. And by dinnertime I was passing out.
But the next day was easier. And the next one. And by today I even woke up BEFORE my alarm and it was all good. I got to the gym and headed straight for my favorite machine, the AMT (Adaptive Motion Trainer). I know, it looks sorta like an elliptical, but it’s SO NOT. It’s just way beyond it. You glide on those pedals and sometimes they’re stairs, going up and down, and sometimes they’re looong striders. It’s all sort of intuitive and well it’s an INCREDIBLE workout – I was absolutely drenched in rivers of sweat – but I never got sore. It’s like zero impact. I traveled over 6 miles in an hour on this thing, and you know if I’d have done the same thing running I’d be one hurting puppy. When the hour was up, I climbed off very reluctantly. I could’ve stayed on it all day. One day I’d like to do a little marathon for myself and see just how long I can go at one stretch. I know I hadn’t reached my limit. I started thinking, oh how nice it would be to have one of these at home! But with a price tag of $8,000, I think I’m gonna keep renting it by the hour at the gym.
This week has taught me truly never say Never. It it kind of shocking to me, various things I’m doing now that I have said I’d never ever do:
- I said I’d never get up in the dark to go exercise.
- I said I’d (probably) never work in my old health profession again. (I’m back at it this week)
- I said I’d never do a triathlon because I can’t bike or swim.
- I believed, for decades, I’d never reach my goal weight.
- I NEVER believed I’d ever be hired by Weight Watchers.
- Of course, I never believed I’d get diabetes either.
So just shows how much I know. I know now to never say never.
April 16, 2010 at 10:29 pm
great job! and yes, the morning workouts get easier. 🙂
April 16, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Why I need a gym membership…
April 16, 2010 at 11:42 pm
You know it’s cool to belong to a gym but I probably have gone to the gym a dozen times (or less) in the past year. The only reason I started going back this week is that I needed to work out really early. It’s too early for me to work out INside my house because I’ll wake everyone up. And it’s also too early for me to run outside where I usually do (the park nearby) because it’s too dark. The gym opens at 6 so it felt like the best environment to work out super early in a safe place. But I don’t think it’s necessary. If I didn’t have a gym membership? I’d probably use a DVD on mute at home, or go running on the road with reflectors.
April 16, 2010 at 10:35 pm
I love this post – it’s so inspiring to see how much you’ve accomplished when you thought you never would! I had never heard of the ATM before but now I really want to try it!!
April 17, 2010 at 5:36 am
I always feel like I can really kick some serious butt when I’ve done an early morning workout.
I find them IMPOSSIBLE when you don’t a job you have to go to. I do the morning workout now.
GREAT for you.
April 17, 2010 at 5:59 am
That machine sounds fantastic! I love that you’re getting up early. Maybe we can do an early morning run?
April 17, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Good going my friend! I love all the “nevers” you’ve turned in to “dones” 🙂 I have never been a fan of the elliptical but that machine intrigues me!