I'm BACK!!!

Well today Eric and I made a big step in our married lives.....WE JOINED A GYM! Now you would think we would have joined as a couple but it was actually cheaper for us to get the student (under 26 rate) as individuals. Oh well when I turn 27 and if we are still members here we'll probably become a couple.....(lol)

Now as a former-avid exerciser (6 days a week of at least 45 to an hour a day) I will admit I fell off the workout train. I'm embarrassed to admit it and as a dietitian I felt so guilty for slacking in this department. In my defense, this winter has been a rough winter. Eric and I think it might have been worse than just Seasonal Depression I was pretty down in the dumps the last few months. It was a combination of things but mostly my job, moving to a new place and the rough Nebraska winter. Thanks for sticking in there with me babe! I was also a little burnt out on exercise coming off of the 1/2 marathon and then being an exercise fen (sp??) before our wedding (yes I admit I worked out a couple of times a day in the month or two leading up to the wedding) EXCUSES ASIDE.....I'm ready to hit the ground running again.....literally :-)

After we moved into our house I vowed to make a change and start exercising regularly again. Last week I tried out Anytime Fitness free with a 7-day pass.....I went 3 times which is way more than I have been exercising but I just wasn't excited about the gym. Not many people only 4 treadmills....and NO ARC TRAINER and there was only one group fitness class that I would have had to pay $75 extra for...no thanks.


So today I made Eric go with me to another gym close by...Lifetime Fitness.

It is HUGE and they refer to themselves as a club.....but that's not why we joined. During our tour I fell in love with it. The atmosphere is awesome and it's really what I've been looking for. Group fitness classes are included...there are so many treadmills I couldn't even count them all. And there were at least 15 arc trainers throughout the cardio room. It met Eric's requirements as well......which are a racquet ball court and a sauna. And Eric was excited that they have a cafe. Which we got to have lunch at for "free" today. I got a Fiesta Quesedilla and Eric got a chicken pesto pizza with a strawberry/banana smoothie. The menu has nutritional information right on it which was great.

Other Amenities Included in our membership:

• spin class
• in-door rock climbing
• indoor/outdoor pool access
• in-door hot-tubs
• sauna and steam rooms
• locker rooms with everything you need to get ready including blow dryers ect
  
• And much more....
  

And for additional money we have access to:

• Life spa/salon
• Cafe
• Raquet ball club
• and more....
  

Now how am I going to make sure I get to they gym:

• pack my workout bag and put it in my car....I drive by the gym on my way home from work so if I don't come home first then I won't be as tempted not to go
• find workout classes I enjoy because if I look forward to working out I won't want to skip my workout
• get up early.....not everyday but occasionally I need to go in the morning especially if I know its going to be long day at work (for instance Tuesdays....they always seem to be a long day that often goes into the night)
• get Eric on the work out train with me.....then I'll feel guilty if he goes and I don't (what can I say...I'm kinda competitive)

Well wish me luck on my journey of getting back into shape and enjoying to work out again. :-) It's sad how quickly you lose it when you don't use it. Oh well all the more motivation to get back out there. I think this experience will be good for me when emphasizing with my future clients that I work with. I know its not easy to get in your workout with everything going on in your life but there are so many benefits to exercise and I truly believe that it can make you healthier, happier and more productive!

I'm excited for the old me to be back and what a great way to Spring Forward into Spring!