I'll spare you my gym details! Glad you found a gym.. hope it serves you well as you 'do the time'!

Interesting date you posted too.. some of it funny!

Oh, I can't even imagine having that conversation with my mother. GAH!

I've been thinking about joining a gym...I did when I lost the first of my weight and I stuck to it for around 6 months ~ until the weather got nice and I could do my exercising outside. Then I never made it back and it has been over a year. I keep active and exercise by walking most of the time, but i miss the classes, where I was learning what my body could do. I find it taxing and scary to "start" up again ~ almost harder than the first time, even though I have lost even more weight since then. I still somehow feel like I am not "gym" material. Which is stupid, of course, but it doesn't change how I FEEL...

Anyway, you've given me something to consider... we'll see...

Congratulations on joining the gym!

I can't tell you what a thrill it is to see "definition" in my arms and legs.

Good luck at the Y. I'm sure you're going to love it.

BTW, I finally finished reading your entire blog this weekend, so I'm all caught up. I love it. I love your positivity. Oh, and I pre-ordered your book, too. I'm looking forward to May, when it's set to come out. :)

I especially recommend taking advantage of the classes and the weight machines. Prior to joining the Y, I never had visible muscles in my arms; now they look amazing!

How sad is it that I didn't really consider our Y because I found their website lacking? In retrospect this seems nuts. Especially since ...

"The women’s locker room at the YMCA near my apartment has a private exercise area with a bike, treadmill, couch and TV..."

Um, what exercise involves a couch and TV? I like the sound of that!

(...as in "used to"...*sob*)

Especially if I'm trying out the Reverse Cowgirl!

Yeeeehawwwwwwwww!

Bwahahahahah.

I had exactly one experience with a personal trainer, and I eventually quit because he spent more time up at the front desk than with me. When I'm paying $45/30 minutes plus a monthly membership fee I expect more (especially since this was also 7 years ago).

But I've read about people who have great trainers, so I've thought about trying it again. It'd definitely be a motivation to work out knowing someone is there waiting on me and is going to encourage me through the process. I just have to find the right trainer.

Now for my news.....there was nothing to help me lose all my excess weight. I was born fat and never had a chance, until I was 54 and met the most amazing GBS doctor.
He told me all the hard work it would entail but it is doable.
On January 10, 2007 I had my Roun-y procedure. I just celebrated my one year 'Surgiversary' and I am proud to report that through hard work, commitment and dedication I have lost 129 pounds.
I would like to lose another 20 pounds.....wish me luck.

I go to the gym everyday after work and workout for an hour. First 30 minutes are cardio.
I have tried a trainer 3 different times, don't like it.
I tried step classes, and dance classes....both are not for me.

What works for me is strapping on my iPod Shuffle and working out solo. I work hard, smart and I sweat a lot. I DON'T go to socialize. I can not talk to folks while getting fit. Besides, I can't talk, listen, sing and count at the same time so chit-chatting is out.

When my gym was celebrating the third anniversary of it's opening, they ran a 'Member Loyality Special'. If you extended your contract by 1 year, you got 1 month free. If you extended it by 2 years, you got 2 months free AND you got locked into a 'forever' contract that will never increase when it does for others. Of course my daughter and I both extended for the 2 years, and found out that the 2 free months come at the END of the second year, but that's ok, because I am now a GYM junkie and will be working out at 'My Gold's' for a very long time.

The owner just bought another gym, so we are able to use that facility as well, and he is opening a Gold's in Langhorne PA that we will have open access to.
Three gym's for the price of one isn't to shabby, huh?

Opps, I almost forgot. The company that I work for gives us back $150 per year for any 'Wellness' purchases. I apply it to my Gold's membership.

So, $37.44 x 12 months = $449.28 - $150 = $299.28 divide by 12 months = $24.94 a month divide by 30 days = $.83 a day.

Not bad at all!

There are also lots of tv's tuned to different channels on both floors.

I LOVE my gym!

They long ago changed their name and then tried to get him to start a "new" membership recently by asking for money. He found his contract from the 70s and by god he still goes there for free!

Janet Congrats, and your Gold's sounds great!

Amy: That is AWESOME! Good for him!

I used to go to the Y. Actually, I went to 3 different Y's, because we kept moving. I loved all of them. Then we moved AGAIN, and I now go to the local Jewish Community Center (hey, I'm an equal-opportunity gym-goer,lol!) and it is REALLY NICE!!!! I started taking reformer pilates there for the first time, because they make it affordable. Now I'm training to be a pilates teacher, and to teach there. It's also very family friendly, like the Y, and very special needs-friendly. Both of my kids have Autism, and the staff there is wonderful with them.

Thanks,
Douglas
dpmcp@juno.com