My first visit

The first time at our new gym was last night.

It was so akward at first. I felt so out of place, and out of practice. It was bizzare to think that I haven't gone to a gym or worked out consistently in 3 years.

I kept asking myself- "Will I like it?"

I had no idea. I used to like going to the gym. I used to enjoy running and weight lifting.

I suddenly felt small and intimidated.

What a strange feeling to have when going to do something that used to be the norm/ routine. What a strange feeling to be someplace and feel out of place.

It was akward at first. It was intimidating and strange.

It's sad- but I wanted to turn around and not even try. I'm ok with me- aren't I?

Then I remembered the other day. I brought my two sons home. The oldest- who is almost 2 1/2 years old wanted to race me down the apartment hallway. It was so fun and he was so happy. I remembred again why it was important and why I needed to try- because I want to be there and be able to be the best mom I can be for my kids, and the best partner "in crime" to my future husband.

So, for my workout, I did a mile long bike ride to warm up ( 6 minutes), a did a run/walk for 20 minutes (and got up to 7.6 mph- which is really good for me, my short legs, and lack of running for about 4 months). Then, I moved on to weight lifting- bicep curls, upright rows, tricep extensions and other arm exercizes on the cable machines, the assisted pull up machine (I could never do pull ups on my own in gym class), and the roman chair. The roman chair was tough- it used to be so easy. I did 6 back extensions on the roman chair and then felt the c-section incision. It was time to stop.

I ended the work out by using these cool new stationary bikes that have different races and routes with a monitor so you have something to look at.

After I worked out I felt great and remembered why I used to love going to the gym so much and why I've missed it.

We are officially members!

After much debate and a long hiatus from having a gym membership- I (I should say WE, as a family) have a gym membership.

I am so thrilled to be able to go to the gym. No just go to the gym though. It's much more than that. It's promoting and showing healthy habits to our kids. It's having options in my workouts. It's about the family time that we can have together in the gym or the pools.

It is so exciting to know that I have the tools and the time to take care of myself so I can better take care of my family. I'll also be able to live a longer healthier life and that is a great prospect.

Since we joined the JCC, we also qualified for a scholarship. Which I am so grateful for since my better half is still in school, and I have just started working again.

I have to admit - the tears welled in my eyes just thinking about how grateful I am to the scholarship program. Grateful to be the mom and partner I want to be and how having a healthy, active lifestyle fits into that.

NOOOO comparison

I had my fiance and our kiddos meet me at work yesterday.  There is a gym located in the same building- the Sabes JCC.  We took a tour of the facilities and WOW.  NO comparison to our preceeding visit at Bally Total Fitness.  3 indoor basketball courts, 1 outdoor basketball court, raquetball, multiple class options, nice locker rooms, a children's pool, a lap pool, an outdoor pool- complete with diving board and slide(!), plenty of cardio, weight machines and free weights.  The list goes on: a sauna, whirlpool, steambath in the men's and women's locker rooms, a family locker room,  locker rooms for those under 18 (a safeguard due to sauna and whirlpool restrictions), 2 masseuses, a staff of 15 trainers, free towel service, a $50 credit to use as we please once we become members, aquatics classes, lifeguards on duty at the pool, a track above the basketball court, Sasha's place and the tumble room (where the kids hang out).  Sasha's place will feed and change your kids.  Locks available to use during your visit for your locker, or you can rent a locker.  A hoard of aerobics courses ranging from spinning to yoga to pilates to Zumba!  They also give us 24 guest passes for the year with our family membership.

WOW.

The club was so clean and friendly too.  It was big- but not so big that you feel annonymous or that the gym is a cash cow with a revolving door. 

They also offer a sliding fee scale so that regardless of your financial situation, you can still maintain your health.

I wish I had known about this place sooner!

My fiance is excited to join and feels good about the change I think.  I feel good about all the ammenities and that it is so family friendly!

No thanks....

I handed in my resignation from my Bally's membership on 12/23/2010.  I never even used it.  The more I thought about the space (very warehouse like and unmotivating) paired with the children's area not willing to fulfill my children's basic needs (food, water, diaper/bathroom - we're potty training our 2 y.o. now) I just was not  comfortable with the situation.  I went and surrendered my membership card, along with my very formal typed resignation-- which included where to find the rules of my contract (section 2 paragraph A in this case). I left my ice hockey game and uncovered, or in this case, attempted to uncover my snow covered car and hoped that I would get to Bally Total Fitness before they closed at 10p.m. 

It was 9:50pm when I stood at the entrance.  The doors were locked and a blonde attendant sat behind the counter.  I had left my phone in the car- believeing this would be a quick in/out.  I knocked, I waited.  Since the door was locked, the attendant had to get up (which I felt bad about because she had some sort of physical problem that hindered her walking).  I handed her my resignation along with my club member card and explained that I just needed to drop this off.  She retorted that I could not drop off a resignation and had to mail it to corporate.  I replied that "..according to section 2, paragraph a of the contract during the first 3 business days I am allowed to drop off my resignation to the club -- if I were already a member I would have to give 30 days written notice and send that to corporate".  She took the paper and said she would put it on the managers desk. I felt like I had been a bit of a "b" to the employee- I hadn't meant to and apologized.

I emailed the manager today to ensure that he had infact received my letter.  His email was short and curt.  Clearly not happy that I had declined my membership.  I hadn't planned on cancelling- it's not something that I do for fun... sign up for things only to opt out later.  Especially a gym membership that I have waited so long for.

In the end, I couldn't justify the lack of options and the lack of quality child care. That and my fiance is always telling me things are broken there (i.e. the whirlpool specifically).  The staff is probably worried about hitting their quotas and I probably screwed things up for them a bit in that area- but what they had to offer- blah.

To digress to the scene at the entrance of Bally's- I guess the argumentation class I took in college is proving helpful.

Sabes JCC- fitness center?!?!?!

I had no idea until I started working here that the JCC (Jewish Community Center) had a gym/ fitness club attached to it.  I wish I had known!  Especially when I was unemployed- they have a special "Pay what you can" program for those that have lost their jobs.  If I had only known....

Even though the club is at the Jewish Community Center- it is open to the public- just in case anyone is wondering...

Their club is clean and modern.  The child care area is clean and the staff is really friendly. They let my kids hang out there one Friday when I didn't have anyone to watch the kids.  There's usually more than 1 person on at a time in the children's room too.  Someone pinch me!

Right now, they have a "Pay what you want" promo going through December 25th. 

I have $2 in my jacket pocket.  I wonder if that is acceptable???  It would be really nice to go work out over my lunch breaks.

I picked up their personal training pamphlet this a.m.- they have 30 minute express sessions.  Perfect.

I've already contacted the membership department.  Maybe this will be a better fit than Bally's.

(My fiance keeps getting his membership fee raised without notice at Bally's and has been considering leaving because of that and the cleanliness is lacking- they reportedlycut their janitorial staff due to budget cuts with the economic changes.)

The last time I tried this....

It's been a while since I've had a gym membership or even stepped foot into a gym.   I canceled my memberhsip at SNAP fitness after my first son was born.  You can't go to the gym and leave the baby in his carseat- that just doesn't work.  It's just not right- i.e. does anyone else remember hearing about the kiddo that died at daycare in MN for that???  My conscious does not allow for that...

The last time I was at a gym at all was after our oldest was born and L.A. Fitness was fairly new in Hopkins.  We had a guest pass.  I enjoyed the step class and my fiance enjoyed the cardio and free weights.  Our son was in the children's area.  When we went to pick him up- it was a mad house.  Kids running everywhere.  The lady working was very nice, and held on to our 4 month old son as if for dear life.  She looked completely freaked.

Then we met with the sales rep- James.  Oh, I will never forget James- the fast talking, let-me-make-this-as-confussing-as-possible salesman, that finished with providing us no clear information regarding membership rates, sign up fees etc.  The meeting finished with him stating "Well now that you have all the prices and information just let me know what you decide".  Then, like a vulture, he plucked away our 3-day visitors pass as if it were vile and poisonous. 

So much for the visitors pass- apparently, you have to forfeit it to the sales rep upon entry and the remaining "free" days- are allowed to you once you have decided you want to become a member.  I clearly remember James stating "Ok, so once you make a decision to join, then you can come back and use the other two days."  That's not a 3-day guest pass.

Today, I have a 7-day guest pass to Bally's in St Louis Park.  I can't help but wonder how this is going to play out.  I've already recieved an email from the club's general manager. And a sales rep with an east coast Long Island accent left me a voicemail within moments of my request for a guest pass was submitted.  His name is Johnny.  Immediately, images of an individual mimicing Jersey Shore's too-tan cast with too-tight tank tops, and too much muscle come to mind. 

This should be interesting.

On a positive note, the child care area at Bally's has a 2 child per family and 2 hour limit. And there can only be 8 kids in the room at a time.  At least they have crowd control.

I looked into their class schedule- it was less than appealing.  They only have 1 studio at this location, and the variety of classes is lacking. 

I did visit Bally's with a guest pass my fiance gave me once before (pre-kiddos).  It was ok.  The hot tub was broken- which I'm told is often the case. They do have a sauna- which I always like to have.

The gym used to be so much apart of my lifestyle.  It was what I would do before and after work or class.  I considered myself a runner, a weight lifter, and athletic.  I still consider myself these things but it's not reflected in my day to day life, nor has it been for the last 3 years.  3 years- wow- where did the time go? 

It'll be interesting to see what happens at my visit this evening. 

Anxious....

Its been difficult to stay on track with my return to work, my fiancees return to school and new work schedule.  I'm eager to get a gym membership again- one with childcare- now that I'm working again.  I had to give up my Snap Fitness membership because of lack of child care and lack of cash flow.

When I went up to Fargo-Moorhead for homecoming- I wasn't ready to run the 5k.  On a positive note, I was able to run at the hotel fitness center- I only ran for 20 minutes but it was a mile and a half straight- without stopping or slowing.  Towards the end I was challenging myself to run faster each quarter mile.  It felt good.

I'm eager to run more and have the "click" that I've felt with running before. To run a 5K or more.  To be a good example for my kids and to feel like I can and am able to run and play with them without a problem.