Several days ago, I finally broke down and joined 24-Hour Fitness. I had a trial membership for 3 months with them a couple of years ago, but they just charge way too much, and I didn't actually join.
Thing is, being the night person that I am, I really do well with the opportunity to go work out late at night. I still could have rejoined Bally's for around $109/yr, but they close so early. Sucks, because facility-wise, I don't care between the two gyms. But, it was like... pay fortunes to be able to go at night, or pay something reasonable, but have to make myself go at times I don't really want to, to be able to use it. Not liking the options, and not having been very motivated to stick with (or even start, to be honest) much exercise in way too long, I just hadn't joined either gym.
I'm finally setting some things in motion in my life again, and I really need to be exercising. Not necessarily heavily, I'm not competing in anything, I don't want to be a bodybuilder, but I just should be getting some exercise, doing some running, and some light weights for toning. When I do, I feel better and I do notice a change in how I look. So I wanted to get a membership again and be able to go work out. Especially with summer sadly being almost over again, and the nights will soon be too chilly for me to go up to the schools and run on the track.
Well, I went to 24-Hour, and just asked again what the membership costs on their "big sale" that it seems like is running more than it isn't, some sale or other. The membership they try to sell you is so expensive. Like $95 enrollment, $79 processing, and then $37/month. And just one club. Ridiculous. And I told them so.
Well, comparing how they do memberships with how Bally's does, it turns out that 24-Hour does have a similar program. It's $594 for 3 years, and then $80/yr after that. For all clubs, anywhere they have them. I told them I couldn't pay them $600 all at once, but if they break that into a few payments, I could. So they broke it into 3 payments, I've got my membership, I should be able to keep it for as long as I want (I sure hope I never get financially down enough again to where I can't afford the $80 to continue it...), and I feel like I'm paying something a lot more reasonable and not just letting them vacuum out my bank account for the sheer privilege of joining.
So. All that explained, I went to work out tonight for the first time in a while. I think I had jogged a mile one time this summer. And yeah, I lift grain bags by the 50- and 100lbs at work, but that isn't exactly reps or anything. So... I'm pretty out-of-shape.
I did a little stretching, which I actually have been doing the last few days at the house, because I think I slept on something funny and different spots on my legs and hips have been aching, and it helps that. Did some crunches, which I always really like the difference I see after just a couple weeks of daily crunches. Did some really light weights, not overdoing anything, hurting myself, or discouraging myself my first time back. Plenty of time to pressure myself to start upping weights and reps, which I always do, competitive even with myself. But took it light the first time back. And then I got on the treadmill and jogged a mile and a quarter. Didn't really enjoy it, but was able to do it. Not very fast, but I have gone a lot slower, and I never jog very fast anyway. I'm not really a very good runner, but I do increase my pace slightly and my endurance greatly when I am doing it consistently.
So I felt good that I did my small workout. I wish they had any kind of kicking bags there. Really felt like throwing a few kicks at something. I really ought to get something for the house, but it's always... where do I put it... I haven't ever come up with anywhere to put a bag here. So I never have done that.
On the way back from the gym (which the other advantage to this club is that it's about 5-6 min drive from the house, only), I actually didn't feel very good physically. Kind of shaky/rubbery and that... pre-nauseous feeling where it's prickly at the corners of the jaw... not like I was actually going to throw up, but definitely unsettled. I know I ate really bad today... too much, rather than not enough, and some junk food that I shouldn't have. And even though the workout was light, I still haven't asked anything like that of my body in way too long. So it isn't that great a mystery that I felt a little off afterward. I got water when I came back in, and I'm fine now though.
So I guess the idea is to try and start going more days than not again, and just getting back in some kind of shape. I can go whenever I want now, so I don't have a good excuse not to. So we'll see what I do with it.
Thing is, being the night person that I am, I really do well with the opportunity to go work out late at night. I still could have rejoined Bally's for around $109/yr, but they close so early. Sucks, because facility-wise, I don't care between the two gyms. But, it was like... pay fortunes to be able to go at night, or pay something reasonable, but have to make myself go at times I don't really want to, to be able to use it. Not liking the options, and not having been very motivated to stick with (or even start, to be honest) much exercise in way too long, I just hadn't joined either gym.
I'm finally setting some things in motion in my life again, and I really need to be exercising. Not necessarily heavily, I'm not competing in anything, I don't want to be a bodybuilder, but I just should be getting some exercise, doing some running, and some light weights for toning. When I do, I feel better and I do notice a change in how I look. So I wanted to get a membership again and be able to go work out. Especially with summer sadly being almost over again, and the nights will soon be too chilly for me to go up to the schools and run on the track.
Well, I went to 24-Hour, and just asked again what the membership costs on their "big sale" that it seems like is running more than it isn't, some sale or other. The membership they try to sell you is so expensive. Like $95 enrollment, $79 processing, and then $37/month. And just one club. Ridiculous. And I told them so.
Well, comparing how they do memberships with how Bally's does, it turns out that 24-Hour does have a similar program. It's $594 for 3 years, and then $80/yr after that. For all clubs, anywhere they have them. I told them I couldn't pay them $600 all at once, but if they break that into a few payments, I could. So they broke it into 3 payments, I've got my membership, I should be able to keep it for as long as I want (I sure hope I never get financially down enough again to where I can't afford the $80 to continue it...), and I feel like I'm paying something a lot more reasonable and not just letting them vacuum out my bank account for the sheer privilege of joining.
So. All that explained, I went to work out tonight for the first time in a while. I think I had jogged a mile one time this summer. And yeah, I lift grain bags by the 50- and 100lbs at work, but that isn't exactly reps or anything. So... I'm pretty out-of-shape.
I did a little stretching, which I actually have been doing the last few days at the house, because I think I slept on something funny and different spots on my legs and hips have been aching, and it helps that. Did some crunches, which I always really like the difference I see after just a couple weeks of daily crunches. Did some really light weights, not overdoing anything, hurting myself, or discouraging myself my first time back. Plenty of time to pressure myself to start upping weights and reps, which I always do, competitive even with myself. But took it light the first time back. And then I got on the treadmill and jogged a mile and a quarter. Didn't really enjoy it, but was able to do it. Not very fast, but I have gone a lot slower, and I never jog very fast anyway. I'm not really a very good runner, but I do increase my pace slightly and my endurance greatly when I am doing it consistently.
So I felt good that I did my small workout. I wish they had any kind of kicking bags there. Really felt like throwing a few kicks at something. I really ought to get something for the house, but it's always... where do I put it... I haven't ever come up with anywhere to put a bag here. So I never have done that.
On the way back from the gym (which the other advantage to this club is that it's about 5-6 min drive from the house, only), I actually didn't feel very good physically. Kind of shaky/rubbery and that... pre-nauseous feeling where it's prickly at the corners of the jaw... not like I was actually going to throw up, but definitely unsettled. I know I ate really bad today... too much, rather than not enough, and some junk food that I shouldn't have. And even though the workout was light, I still haven't asked anything like that of my body in way too long. So it isn't that great a mystery that I felt a little off afterward. I got water when I came back in, and I'm fine now though.
So I guess the idea is to try and start going more days than not again, and just getting back in some kind of shape. I can go whenever I want now, so I don't have a good excuse not to. So we'll see what I do with it.
shawn_:
Good luck getting into shape. I need to do that myself.