Back to the Gym

About 2 ½ years ago I found that I was gaining weight; pants were really tight, pleats were stretched out over the gut. I started walking around the development but soon that walk wasn’t enough. I did an on-line test and found that I was borderline obese. I immediately signed us up for a gym that was being built near us.

We arranged for a personal trainer for a few introductory sessions. At that time I could only go 10 minutes on the treadmill and one set of each weight exercises. Gosh was I ever out of shape.

For about the first year I did not lose a single pound but finally after several months I actually started losing inches. I did work up to 45 minutes of cardio training by the end of the year.

About a year ago I’d met the head of the trainers; he saw that I was feeling sick having not eaten before working out and he advised me on changing our diets. Then in Feb 08 I decided that I’d like to be in shape to hike the Ancient Inca Trail this past Jan so we met with the trainer. He changed our diet, and especially the times we eat. He also started us on an endurance and strength training regimen.

Unfortunately we did not make the Peru hike this January but we have increased our times and training over the past year. Additionally, I’ve lost more inches and pounds. Dale has gained weight as he was not eating enough.

While in Seattle I tried to run Twinkle to the trash bins and sometimes around the RV park. Usually I was just too busy to do anything more than a very quick walk which meant that I went for a whole month without working out.

Yesterday I finally caught up enough with the work I’d brought home and went to the gym. Dale and I thought that we should do our strength exercises as I was not ready for the running, biking and step machine. I did the entire workout at the same level as when I left but that was because I didn’t want for the head trainer, who was walking around, or Dale to think that I had fallen behind. I thought that I was going to die on the pull up machine and doing my sit-ups on the incline bench. But I did my 3 sets of 20 of each exercise in my routine.

Today I feel the pain. My niece, Laura Jean, was making me laugh on Facebook and that triggered a cough I’d developed in Seattle, which hurt my middle from the sit-ups. I guess I’m going to have to get to the gym so that I can get back to where I was before Seattle. I can’t let a laugh hurt!