I made a decision that was a rough one for me. A few months ago I joined Planet Fitness. It seemed a good plan. I thought I would have time before I went to work in the mornings...even if I decided to go to the gym and then go home to get ready. I had my zumba class with Anita that I was paying for...so the lower cost was a good deal and I wasn't concerned about exercise classes because I had Anita. I also had a neighbor/Aunt that was going to go with me. I went a few times...but it just has me criss-crossing back and forth across town(yeah, excuse) that just deters me in the morning when I have to be up and out the door by 5:30-6 at the latest in order to do the gym before work. (Have I mentioned how cold and dark it is at that hour???) In the interim I lost my beloved Zumba class. My Aunt has moved. And Planet Fitness was just not working. So on Wednesday when I left work, I headed there and cancelled my membership. Within 24 hours I had secured a membership at Golds Gym. I have been a member there on two different occasions. I've never had a problem with Golds and have always cancelled the membership for other reasons that have nothing to do with my satisfaction with the gym. This gym is about a mile from my house. So that cuts 30 minutes out of the time needed to utilize the gym. Awesome! It is a bit more expensive...but with it being closer AND with the option to pick up a zumba class (and other classes), even if it isn't with my beloved Anita, I think I will be ok.
So I made that decision (even knowing that I would have to ante up the sign up fee and that would set me back a bit). But I forgot to think about the odd noise my car had started intermittently making a day or two ago...I put it on my mental note to have it looked at. Jason was in my car last night and heard it and was almost instantly convinced that my brakes were going bad (who knew there was such a thing as a "squealer tab' on brakes) So bright and early this morning I was having my car checked (NO, I'm not messing with brakes...that's kinda necessary). Yup, he had diagnosed the noise quite correctly.....so brake pads and rotors later and a nice bill......I'm done. Isn't it fun being an adult??????
I recently read a book. It was written by Keith Foskett and entitled Balancing on Blue: A Dromomaniac Hiking. It is basically the story of a European who hikes the complete length of the Appalachian Trail. It is a pretty good read. Practical, insightful and just full of fun. It is good enough that I am planning on reading his book chronicling his hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. I would highly recommend the book for anyone that is interested in nature, health and just pushing themselves to the limit. (Of if you particularly liked Bill Bryson's book and subsequent movie "A Walk In the Woods" ....or Cheryl Strayed's book and subsequent movie "Wild") This book is less of the 'bumbling hike that Bill Bryson attempted" and a little less than the self discovery that Cheryl was looking for. It is just a guy hiking, thinking, pondering and moving through a life that he doesn't quite understand unless he is lost in the woods!
What brought this book into the spotlight of my blog? A passage in the book really stuck out at me! This passage could easily be adjusted...take out 'hiking' and "trails' an instead insert 'weight loss' and 'Healthy lifestyles' It is really the same!
"If you attempt a long distance hike, the chances are heavily stacked against you and there is a very real chance that you will fail. Most quit in the first month. They were not as fit as they thought, new gear is chafing everywhere, red -raw blisters make walking excruciating or it's too cold, too hot, too dry or too wet, sometimes for days on end. I always say push through that first month and if you come out on the other side, chances are you will be successful. Above everything else, you have to be single minded and totally fixed on your goal to succeed. If you are mentally strong, can persuade yourself that you're not in pain and can push another mile out, that your hunger and thirst are imaginary, that it really isn't the seventh straight day of being wet and the fact that you badly misjudged your food supply doesn't really matter, then you just may succeed."
Wow...isn't that an absolute parallel to weight loss?
***The first month IS the hardest...and the time when people give up on weight loss efforts. (Think about the gym in January as compared to the gym in February).
*** We find out it isn't easy. Our muscles will ache. Our new 'equipment' isn't as cool and awesome.
*** We have excuses....it's too hot, too dry, too wet etc
*** Weight loss IS a study in being single minded in our efforts. We have focus on it. We have to say "who cares that I'm whatever....the end goal is out there!
***If we believe we can succeed...we can hike over 2000 miles over numerous mountains.....we can run a 5k, a 10k or even a half marathon....and we CAN lose weight!