As you remember, I quit my gym of almost 3 years back in April. You can read all about my woes in this post.
I thought I would write a bit about what I have been doing since then. To put it succinctly; running.
Here’s what I have realized over the past 2 months without the gym. When I was forced to get there 3 times a week, I would have to switch up what I did. I am not huge on the treadmill especially when I knew I could run outside. So I would lift for about 30 minutes, then run for a short amount of time on the treadmill. My loathing for the elliptical, recumbent bike, stair master and any other squirrel wheel type device kept me hitting the weights.
So while the weather has been conducive to lots of running miles, it hasn’t been encouraging me to hang out in my basement with my dumbbells and plates. Definitely am working on this aspect of my overall fitness regime. As I alluded to in my last Work It Out post, I came up with a plan to do one or two exercises a day. After implementing this last week, it didn’t go quite as planned. I still got in more lifting then I had been.
I know a few things are for certain though. I do not miss waiting for a locker, waiting for a treadmill, dodging the bros in the weight room, and driving back and forth the 3 miles each way. Bonus: I am saving on gas, too! Okay not much since my sweet ride is a Honda Civic, but still. Every penny counts…towards the purchase of a new treadmill! (I wish the cost of the membership and gas would pay for the treadmill in one year.)
I have pretty much made up my mind on the treadmill I want to purchase. The Livestrong 10.0T from Dick’s Sporting Goods. It gets great reviews for it’s price point and two of my co-workers have each had one for quite some time and have been very happy with it. I also liked the way it felt when I ran on it, which is probably the most important thing. I have some money saved up and since they really never go on sale (and I am not interested in used if it’s not coming from someone I know personally…I want some kind of warranty), it’s just a matter of time before I stroll in and plop down some serious (for me) dough.
I’ve belonged to a gym off and on since I was 18 and although it has it’s benefits, I have always tended to veer towards the great outdoors preferring the pavement at my feet and the solitary task of running. Not to mention lifting on my own.
Who knows, maybe someday I will gravitate towards the latest greatest group class phenomenon. It’s unlikely, but I have learned to never say never.
