I knew working out was important, but I never had the motivation (AKA was too lazy) to go to a gym because I didn't know what to do in one. I took Zumba classes, but I didn't do regular workouts. Was embarrassing myself staring at the odd metal machines worth the trip? It didn't seem as rewarding as going to the cafeteria and eating three cookies.
Last week I decided to start making an effort and go 'gymming' with a sorority sister. She can help me understand what to do to make the most of the gym on campus. I decided to go because I had read an article about how unhealthy food isn't only bad for your body, but it also can cause acne. I have had trouble with my skin throughout my life, so I thought, "if how I handle my health can make that much change, I should take better care of myself."
For some reason, that one article did it to me.
So I whipped out my workout clothes that I thought would have motivated me sooner to go to a gym and headed out early with my sorority sister, Jamie. She said we would start out with 15 minutes on the bicycles first. I think I was on a basic level, but it seemed right to be on that level in order to get through the full 15 minutes. I watched a TV show with the subtitles, which really distracted me from the minutes I was pedaling.
Once Jamie stopped, we cleaned the equipment and went to another floor to continue the workout. I felt somewhat accomplished, but ready for more.
On the next floor were these obscure structures that I knew were for abs and legs and arms, but I was not sure how. Being with a friend in my mind meant it was okay to be a little embarrassing, so I messed around with a couple of available machines to see if I knew how to use them. I didn't. So I let Jamie show me what to do.
Eventually we settled at a bench for sit-ups. (After a Google search I discovered that this is called a sit-up bench. K.) Jamie handed me a medicine ball and positioned herself on the bench. After we each did three rounds of passing the ball back and forth ten times while doing sit-ups, I was surprisingly ready to keep going.
The last workouts we did were for our inner and outer thighs. Looking at the labels, I read that they are called hip adductor and hip abductor machines. I learned some new words that day.
Jamie and I had fun on these machines while singing along to the songs playing in the gym. On my third and final round at the machine, I managed to make it through all ten reps.
Since we had other things to do, we left after that. After about a half hour of exercise, I felt pretty good.
Then the soreness came in.
Days later I still felt the pain in my abs and inner thighs. Save me.
I had no idea that the soreness would last multiple days, which apparently is super embarrassing to not know. "It's good. It means it worked and it was a good workout," my more in-shape sisters would say. I used to think people were just bragging when they said how they were sore, but this was like cramps throughout the body. This was also the moment where I discovered why people have "leg day" and "arm day" to alternate the focus of pain. I'm telling you I really didn't know this stuff.
Anyway, a little less than a week later and I can now reflect on this experience. There was a quote on a mirrored wall at the gym that really resonated with me: "The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!" Putting in that extra effort to do something good for myself was rewarding, and I definitely want to do it again. I will admit, however, that I may need the motivation of going with a friend to push me in the beginning. Because that soreness, like, WOW.
