Joined a Gym

After hesitating for days, I have finally joined a gym. I had gone for a couple of days earlier, but quit. To me, it seems pointless to move my body without purpose, and I’m ok with my “body-image” as in don’t need to get fatter, thinner, bulkier, slimmer, etc. That means I used to get bored doing endless repetitive actions.

But now, I decided that with increasing success and *cough* seniority, I hardly get any exercise worth its name in the outdoors. Most of the time, as a trainer, my work load is more mental than physical, and the few times I manage to get into the activities, I have enough people who make my life easier out of respect.

Which basically means, that I’m revving with restless energy. I thought a gym may be a good way to burn it all out.

Yesterday was my first day, and it broke all illusions of fitness I had. All kinds of people were running endlessly on treadmills and stuff, which was my first destination as a beginner. As an ex-horsewoman, trekking guide and outdoor person for over 16 years, my fantasy was that it would be easy. Let’s stop at emphsizing that it was a fantasy.

10 min on the treadmill at 5kmph had me winded like nobody’s business. Somehow, walking on the treadmill got me whacked. There was a time when walking at 6kmph or so for hours with my horses was routine. While that has been a long time ago, I certainly don’t find myself anything close to tiring while walking even now. I’m wondering what happened to me on that treadmill.

My suspicion is that I was not able to get into my rhythm for walking on the treadmill. Add boredom and lack of pressure to that…. In the outdoors, there is a sense of peace, of enjoying the place I am in that was missing. Plus, there is a certain motivation to reaching the destination unless I want to be caught out in the wilds at night, which was not here – step off the treadmill at will and the walking is done.

I suspect I’m not too great with will power when it comes to doing things that don’t appeal.

Now I’m wondering how I can help myself like it. Going to take along some music today and see if that helps.

In any case, unlike the last time, I’ve created a destination that is not optional for this gym experience. I’ve paid for a full year, and the miser in me will not allow me to fritter it away. I know myself enough to know that the feeling of being in regular exercise will appeal to me, even if I don’t enjoy the actual exercise, and that is one thing that will help me find ways I can create my enjoyment in there.

A few things that come to mind are music, TV (they have one), etc. Another option is to create goals that appeal to me. One that I have in mind is doing the kinds of things that will help my climbing fitness or endurance, etc. Let’s see, its too early at the moment, but I’m certain that I will have updates as my creative mind begins to engage in this process.