No time like the present

As the Procrastination Queen, this post may surprise you.

I'm a gym member, once again. A paying, one year gym member. Why is this special? Because now I have made a contract, I'll damn well be visiting often to get my money's worth. In all honesty, it wasn't that expensive - only just over $10 a week. It's not much when you think about it. I'm good at justifying anything, though.

A new women-only gym opened at the local shops not long ago; Mum and I went to check it all out yesterday. I was surprised to see that it is actually a really big circuit course, with about 20 different machines and stations. You spend 45 seconds on each station, and rotate around - there is music overhead and a cheerful recording telling you to change stations. Every so often they do a pulse check too. Then you do warm down stretches.

We decided on the spot to do it; even though we probably won't do it together. The plan was going to be to go in the mornings - but the place doesn't open until 7.30am, and that's when I leave for work. So instead, I'll be doing afternoons and mum will do mornings. So basically, I'm going to be brave and go alone.

Today was our trial - looked really easy, and wow. 45 seconds goes fast, but then so slow! Fast for the machines, but sloooow for the cardio stuff. My killer? Punching out on the spot with weights, and doing twist jumps. 45 seconds later and I feel like I'm going to fall over. Loving the machines though, I always did enjoy the weighting machines at the gym.

We were shown around by two ladies today - a trainee middle-aged woman on her first day, and this very pretty, VERY flexible trainer. Let's call her Heidi. Heidi has legs that go on and on and on, makes everything look graceful and was very polite as I showed her just how unco-ordinated I really am. She is the swan; I am the duckling. I don't understand how one is supposed to make twist bouncing look graceful, but damn, she could do it.

After the first round, my hair was matted with sweat and I had turned bright red. Damnit, happens everytime I exercise; so embarrassing. Mum was fine. o_O By the end, I felt like I was going to drip on the mats. I didn't, but there's a first time for everything. It was good! I felt exhausted, but sort of pumped. It doesn't seem like a lot, but because you're constantly moving, you don't have time to think.

(I was rather bummed that the Jitterbug song came on AFTER we had finished working out and were stretching. I could bop away to that song for hours.)

The verdict? Hoorah! Good! All ladies is good, even though I'm still self conscious. But at least I'm there, I'm going, and I still WANT to go. I want to try and make a habit of it - keeping a gym bag in the car so I can pop in after work. I spend way more than 30 minutes on the computer each day, so I'll squeeze it in. Wish me luck, even though I won't need it. Perhaps I'll learn to be graceful about the whole exercising thing one day.

AND THE PICTURES? WITH LADIES SITTING ON MACHINES WORKING OUT WITH PRETTY HAIR AND NO SWEAT?

They can go away. For good.