Why I Go To The Gym

I walked away from exercise and physical exertion in a gym over 11 years ago after "tapping out" of my college's ROTC program. After only a year of doing hard PT, my joints were blown, I was exhausted, and I was beyond sick and tired of having to tolerate college boys "playing Army" when, in fact, most of them weren't even taking contracts to enter the military after college. I was only too happy to go back to a lifestyle of taking it easy, pursuing academic interests, eating and drinking to my heart's content, and popping out bowling ball-sized babies. Then I became a widow who would eventually have to get naked again and have the self-esteem not to be suicidal when I saw the look on the (un)lucky guy's face when he saw me in all my glory.

This was not the only reason why I decided to re-enter the realm of extreme neurosis physical fitness. I also realized, having recently turned 30, that I was no longer the perky, firm, healthy person I had conned myself into thinking I was. And some of you who know me or have seen me in person are already poo-pooing this and formulating your comments about how silly I'm being, etc. Perception is reality, and I try to be realistic about my age and size. Let's be honest, ladies: after 30, and perhaps children, things are longer and floppier than they used to be. You wake up one day and realize that there are simply some things in life you've got to accept and grow old gracefully. I can't make stretch marks disappear no matter how much CrossFit or P90X I do, or how many disgusting salads I force down my gullet. But I can declare war on poor muscle tone and cellulite!

So, with a couple of cute outfits, an iPod loaded with motivational music for kicking major hindquarters, and some specific workouts R. helped tailor for my needs, I entered the gym, dedicated to make my 30s the healthiest, most active and vital years of my life. Once I figured out how to make my gym experience be something I would look forward to instead of dread, I have to admit I was addicted quickly. I lost weight, and most importantly a lot of body fat, and gained a sense of accomplishment that I could affect this sort of change in my health.

That being said, this is not why I go to the gym.

My gym is fairly small. I like going in the mornings when both of the kids are in school. This is the time of day when the cardio room is full of senior citizens and a few stay-at-home moms. It's a pretty regular group of faces around here. I also started attending a pilates class and have been known to schedule doctor's and hair appointments around this class, as well as my cardio class. Again, a dedicated group of people, mostly women, are part of my regular experience in these classes.

Here is why I go to the gym: the people.

I have seen a young mother of two transform her life, and it motivates me. "Kristen" has gone from being over 50 pounds overweight with congestive heart failure to being toned and fit, lost weight, and a cardio junkie. She has literally bought years back of her life and will be able to see her children grow up, something that was seriously in danger of not happening just two years ago.

I have seen stay-at-home moms come out of their shells and network with one another, allowing themselves to invest in their own physical and emotional fitness to trust a childcare worker with their small children. They realize the importance of having a little "me" time and don't feel guilty for it.

I have seen senior citizens huff and puff at the cardio machines or shake their money makers in the Jazzercise class. As they are helping to fight off things like osteoporosis or heart problems, they are socializing and interacting in the community, reinforcing bonds and friendships that I imagine they've had for decades.

I have seen a friend of mine, who clearly lives with scoliosis, come to pilates regularly and is one of the advanced students in the class. I say "friend" -- I don't even know this woman's name. Upon hearing of my grandmother's surgery later in the day, she took the time to talk to me about her own ailing 90 year-old father and what her family is enduring. Even though we may not know each other's names, we notice when the other is not in class. We have only 5-10 minutes for any conversation, but I could tell you more about her than my next door neighbors.

Another pilates friend, "Linda," volunteers in quite possibly the scariest neighborhoods in Bell County. Upon hearing about my caregiving ministry that I'm researching and trying to develop, she asks if you have to be a member of the church to be involved. This woman has 20+ years of involvement in this type of ministry, and you can't tell me the Lord didn't place us in each other's paths so that we could be establishing a friendship that might prove to benefit ministry and outreach to the elderly, lonely, or needy.

Physical fitness is once again important in my life; however, the gym offers me spiritual exercise all the time. To see God moving and working in the lives of people, meeting everyone where they are and being blessed by the imprint that they make on this world, is something I never expected to see in an environent that smells of rubber flooring and body sweat. No wonder I'm so hooked.