Ginny Mommy

I recently joined a gym. Well, let me put it this way... I recently agreed to volunteer 2 hours a week to watch other people's children in exchange for a free membership at the gym. My first day of "training" was with a friend who adamantly apologized through out. Apparently it was a very out of the ordinary chaotic and full day in the childcare and she was worried I would get too overwhelmed if this is how it always was. I told her it was exactly what I had imagined! A room full of snotty nosed, disobedient at times children who demand more snacks, smash their crackers into the carpet, poop their pants (sidenote: other people's children's poop always smells so much worse than your own childs), and a few here and there who only want to be held for various reasons (missing Mom...other kids not sharing...etc). It was truly what I had expected! I have worked one day since then and it was a lot calmer, so I suppose it could only go up from that first day!?

Anyway, so back to the gym. I have never been one to work out. And by never, I mean never. My track record for joining and quitting gyms is pretty ridiculous. I just plainly dont like it. I don't like to feel watched while I struggle. I don't like to be pushed at anything physical. I almost got my courage up to try out for cheer leading in high school because I felt like, if anything, that is where I could see myself being as close to a team sport as possible. But alas, that courage thing got in the way yet again. All my closest friends were always the athletic girls, the ones that make varsity sports their freshman year...that kind of athletic. I have always enjoyed watching and cheering on my friends, but the thought of being on a team sport where other people are relying on me to do something physical and not make a fool of myself is still pretty terrifying to me (Which is funny because I have a house full of people who rely on me constantly nowadays and I consider our family a team). And now, it seems as if all my closest friends are either into Zumba or are marathon runners, or both. I don't "get" the fascination with running. Unless there's an emergency with one of my children, or I'm being cornered into a room with a spider....you probably won't see me running. Do I admire those that choose to huff and puff and get cool shirts that say they ran a 5k, 10k, half & full marathons? Absolutely!! Have you seen the legs on some of those woman?!? But as far as I'm concerned, there are about a gazillion things I'd rather be doing.

Also, I have been told I look like deer when I run, or to put it more bluntly...I frolic. Add the fact that I get winded going up a flight of stairs to my self conscious trying to "look good" while I run? Yeah, it aint happening for me. And Zumba? Trust me, we have some dance parties in our house and I'm pretty sure I have burned some serious calories with almost daily piggy back rides running after the other sister around the house before switching roles again, again, again.... but, I'm just not ready to share my sweet dance moves with anyone other than the ones who come up to my waist.

However, I joined this gym because this time--this time! I am going to make a habit of working out. I figured I've got about a dozen friends I know who already work out at this gym and it's a totally free membership. What do I have to lose? Here's how it's gone so far....

Day One: Tried on all my work out clothes and realize nothing fits right. I'm in a weird in between stage right now with my body...and despite my valiant efforts to make my pre-pregnancy clothes fit....it just isn't happening... So I drove my 3 babies to our local Walmart and picked out the best of the best on sale for $6 a piece. (fyi I'm not knocking Walmart, I actually greatly enjoy how inexpensive their clothes are.)

Day Two: Wore work out clothes all day.

Day Three: Wore work out clothes to bed.

Day Four: Wash work out clothes since I spilled my coffee creamer on the pant leg, and also realized I had spit up on the shoulder. Once out of the dryer....wore work out clothes during day.

Day Five: Felt inspired to start my new working out habit. Today was the day! I got Audrey ready for school, got Ellie and Hunter all ready to go to the gym childcare and quickly got dressed myself. (I realize normal people don't take a shower before working out, but this was a big day for me so I took my shower) I couldn't find my gym shoes so decided to take everyone up to drop Audrey off at school then came back. I turned on Sesame Street for Ellie and began re-searching for those darned shoes in the back of my closet. I have two containers in my closet, one has purses and the other has shoes I don't usually wear. I pulled both containers out and searched through them both. My closet is about the size of a doorway. Literally, very small. I looked through that darned closet for 30 minutes! Y'all I had no work out/walking/tennis shoes!!!! It had literally been so long since I've done any physical activity...apparently including walking....that I have no shoes. I could not believe it! I mean I could, but this was just a little ridiculous. It was both frustrating and funny to me at the same time. I checked the clock and I had pretty much missed my window of opportunity to go to the gym during the available childcare hours. So! Since the Big Sis was at school and the Two Littles were all fed, changed, and ready to go, I took them to our local shoe store to buy some new kicks. (by the way, I have always hated that phrase...) We had a fun time trying on shoes and I found one that will do. We then went to Burger King for lunch. Yes, instead of working out, we went and ate french fries and chicken nuggets. It could have slightly been a set back to this new habit I'm trying to form....

Day Six: Actually went to the gym. New shoes, new attire, I was set. Thought I'd start out small and begin on the StairMaster. Yes THE STAIRMASTER. What was I thinking! So I hopped on and it asks my weight. They started with a generic amount and I -immediately- push the down button as to lower to my actual weight....and after turning the numbers down about 12 notches I then realized....umm that first weight? The generic one? Yeah..thats how nuch I weigh. so back up it went. And then the time. You know, how many minutes would I like to purposely torture myself for? I decided to be generous since it'd been oh about 27 years since I'd worked out...so I set it for 10 minutes. Easy Peasy. And then I began. Walking stairs. No break. Level 3....then 2...then 1. Yes, I had to go down from level 3! There were no more levels to take it down to after one! Other than to just get off. I debated it at 2 minutes but I was determined to keep going. So for 5 awful long minutes I walked that dang StairMaster. 5 minutes. That's all I could handle!! ha! Then I got off and got caught up on all my celebrity gossip via the magazine selection while doing 22 minutes on the elliptical.

Day 7-12: I took a much-needed break from the gym.

This habit is not looking good people.