It's Friday, and that can only mean one thing. We should be celebrating the small things.
I've been going to the gym for about 2 years. It's something that I'd been wanting to do for a while, but thought I was far too unfit to go. I assumed that the gym would be full of beefcakes pumping iron, grunting, and flexing their muscles in front of the mirror. How wrong I was. Don't get me wrong; these beefcakes do exist, but they're in the minority. The majority are 'normal' people, and by that I mean people who just want to get fit so they go to the gym, do a but of a workout, have a bit of a chat, and generally don't take it too seriously.
I go with my mum, and we try to motivate each other. We have both lost weight since starting, but that wasn't our main intention in going. We just wanted to increase our fitness levels.
At the gym, there's a horrible machine called the cross-trainer. For those of you who haven't used one before, it's a machine you stand on, and you kind of slide your legs forwards and backwards, and move your arms as well.
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| http://www.exercise.co.uk/horizon-andes-5-elliptical-cross-trainer/ |
By the way, that's not me in that image (although I wish it was!). I use this dreaded machine because it's supposed to be good for you, ha! You can set various information on the nifty little computer screen, such as level of workout. For the past couple of months I've been doing 30 minutes at level 4, on the various pre-set profiles, but today I thought I would increase the difficulty to level 5. I got to about 26 minutes and wanted to give up. My legs ached, I was sweaty, I couldn't breathe. But I pushed through. I know it was only 4 minutes, but they were some of the toughest 4 minutes of my life!
So this week I am celebrating the fact that I didn't give up, and that I managed 30 minutes at level 5. Yay me!
I am actually scared of the cross trainer I have only tried it once and it killed me!! Good on you for not giving up!!
ReplyDeleteI was terrified of it when I started the gym. I'd only use the treadmill. But now I give most things a go (as long as no-one's watching me make a fool of myself!)
DeleteGood for you that you didn't give up! GO YOU at the gym! :) Thanks for celebrating!
ReplyDeleteFantastic job! Yay for doing level 5 for 30 mins but mostly for not giving up ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you. That's what I was most pleased about. I really wanted to give up, but I'd been watching the infomercial for Insanity (I don't know if you've heard of it, but it's a crazy workout DVD) this morning and they were all talking about how they'd got through it all by not giving up, and that's when you see the results.
DeleteIt looks like a horrifying version of an elliptical! Congrats on sticking it out. Great job :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's horrifying, whatever it is! I have to keep telling myself that it's making me fitter and healthier, but I still don't like it :/
DeleteHey Rebeccah! So lovely to meet you! And so lovely to know we'll be doing the challnge together- I'll be sure to hop on over throughout the month to say hi!
ReplyDeleteI can TOTALLY relate- I do the treadmill which I abolutely DESPISE but seeing as I don't want to die (I'm diabetic) it's sort-of necessary. I normally walk at 4 miles an hour but every now and again I try to bump it up to 4.5 and I quickly get tired. When I push myself through to the finish the lap (whcih is usually around the same timeline) I feel so proud, like you.
So Yay! for you, and double YAY for meeting you. See you on Monday! ^_^
Hello Beverly. Thanks for stopping by, and it's great to meet you too. I used to give up on a lot of things when they got a bit tough, but recently (in the last couple of years or so) I've been pushing through my barriers, and it's a great feeling!
DeleteWelcome to the blog-hop, Rebeccah! New follower here. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you have every reason to be proud of yourself. I've never been on a cross-trainer, but it looks really hard. Yikes! Congrats for completing your 30 minutes at level 5!
Thank you very much. The first time I went on a cross-trainer, I thought I was going to die!! It does get easier, although I'm not going to say that it's easy!
DeleteCongratulations, going to the gym alone makes you a champion. Glad you got to that level.
ReplyDeleteHa! Thank you. Sometimes it is a struggle to get to the gym. I'm just glad I've got my mum to drag me there!
Deletehahaha! Good for you for giving it a go, and for your gym days with your mom. Ho hum. I need to get back into exercising!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteRebeccah,
ReplyDeleteYou really struck a chord with your "Celebration." I, too, drag myself to the guy every morning (well, almost; because sometimes, a woman has to assert herself-and drink coffee and write instead). But I know what you mean. It helps to have some bossy buddies who won't let you slough off. We do have a lot of fun and if feels good to have done it (afterwards, unless you hurt for the next two days).
Good to meet you. And now, I'll have to take some time to look at your intricate blog (my, I do have a lot to learn).
Inge
Hey, thanks for stopping by. I managed to do a couple of push-ups yesterday and my arms are aching a bit today, but it'll all be worth it!
DeleteWay to go! Never Give Up!
ReplyDeleteI won't, even though I often feel like it! :/
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