Let's get it started

In true new year fashion, I entered January with a fresh list of resolutions. Of course they’re pretty much repeats of my 2008 list (no comment), but a new year always brings with it new promise, and I was inspired enough to put pen on paper – or keystrokes on a Word document, since it is 2009 ;-)

1. Run!
2. Get serious about budgeting
   
3. Give yoga a real try ~ there MUST be something I'm not getting
4. Learn to play either the guitar or piano
5. Learn origami
6. Read one book per quarter
7. Take more pictures
8. Put a second coat of paint in my guest room
9. Become more patient
   
10. Stop biting my fingernails (eww)
    
11. Take vitamins
12. Sky dive
    

Part of my motivation stems from the fact that I turn 29 next month – meaning 2009 serves a dual purpose, as it is my last year to accomplish some things before I turn 30. I didn’t realize exactly how similar the list above is to last year’s list until now. Humorous, no?

Well, the first 10 days weren’t fantastic - starting with the first goal. In fact, I failed miserably. But it all changed when I bought a new pair of Nike Shox. Voila! The past several days, my feet have magically taken me to the treadmill and even the gym… which leads us to the subject of today’s blog post: the gym.

Aside from the “side” areas of the gym – the pool, basketball court and aerobics room – the big, main room is divided into two areas: cardio equipment and weights.

Cardio

The cardio area is my safe harbor. Not only is it pretty darn easy to use a treadmill, but there are 10+ televisions to keep my mind off of the fact I’m absolutely miserable (people who say exercise is fun are LYING). The cardio equipment also shows how many calories you’ve burned, which is really pretty motivating. Finally, there’s a whole range of people over in this section. I’ve seen people in jeans, high-top Reeboks with the straaaaaaps (imagine these, only HOT PINK), khaki shorts – almost everything except high heels.


Weights

The weight area, however, is foreign territory. And terrifying! First off, it’s filled with meatheads whose arms (which, by the way, are completely disproportionate to their bird legs) don’t even touch their sides. So basically, they look like Ralphie’s little brother Randy on a Christmas story. Remember that? He was wearing a snow suit and couldn’t put his arms down…


Only these dudes are sans snow suit. But even aside from the people, the machines are intimidating. In fact, I’ve only gathered up enough courage to venture into the first layer – machines that have the weights attached, meaning you just have to move the pins. The second layer (machines with weights that have to be put on and removed) and third layer (free weights) are still too much.

Finally, the pin machines don’t go low enough on the weight options and sometimes I’m not sure which way I should be sitting!! Yeah, I know, I know… I turn remedial when I cross over to that area.


Just for y’all, I’ll keep posting my progress as I make progress moving toward the elusive third layer ;-)