Admitting it is the First Step

After 30 years, I finally was able to admit something I had never admitted before:

I hate going to the gym.

Well, that's not entirely true - I don't always hate going to the gym. But I do burn out quickly when I think about going to the gym 5 days a week. 2-3 days a week, I can handle, but I was finally able to realize (and admit) that getting on the stair climber and lifting weights cannot be my sole form of exercise, because frankly, it bores me.

Sure, I'm entertained by the individuals who go to the gym. There's one man who has fully committed to living in the 70's. He has the bushy, curly 70's hair, complete with matching mustache. His workout shorts are a bit too short, his tube socks pulled up a bit too high, and his yellow t-shirt is a bit too tight. On their own, each piece of this ensemble is a disaster, but collectively, they are brilliant.

Then there's the South American man with the really long hair, curly, oily, Kenny G hair, who wears a day-glo spandex bodysuit and a sweatband. Again, it's the full commitment to this image that makes it work. The man who talks on his cell phone and manages to eke out no more than 15 reps in a whole hour and the girl who wears full make-up and her long hair down - while they annoy me, they also entertain me. But as entertaining as these individuals are, I quickly lose my attention, only to discover I still have 25 minutes on the stairs to nowhere.

When I get to the gym, I put on my headphones, listen to the same songs, mindlessly watch the same shows (since I typically go at the same time every day I go) and do the same routine. Even when I mix it up, I know burnout it just around the corner, because I'm essentially going from one boring routine to the next. Additionally, since I don't find my gym workouts to be mentally stimulating, rather than providing a great anxiety-attacking physical activity, my mind is free to wander back to work or other problematic situations, which ultimately leaves me an anxious sweaty mess when it's time to go....I'm lucky Daniel wants to let me in the car at that point!

But, I have done this for years....decades, in fact. Why? Because I know working out is good for you and hitting the stair climber or treadmill seemed to be the most efficient (and effective) way to do that - I mean, that's why everyone seems to have a gym membership these days, right? And while it was efficient, at some point, I finally had to recognize that it was not effective - especially when, after only a week or two, I was already coming up with excuses not to go....I'm tired from a long day at work, I feel less than perky, I have other more pressing issues (snuggling with Sampson is high priority in our house!), I don't have any workout clothes to wear, it's Wednesday.....whatever I can come up with.

So, I finally admitted it. But, as I tell my clients, admitting it is only the first step - then you have to do something about it (groan). In lieu of going to the gym, I decided to do something I had always wanted to do for years - take ballroom classes. Now, I have no delusions about what I look like when I'm ballroom dancing - I'm a cocaphony of limbs, all moving, but not necessarily in a coordinated manner. But guess what, I don't really care. I'm having fun and getting in a great workout as well - two birds, one stone. I still go to the gym on the days I'm not dancing, but get this - not only am I enjoying the gym more because I am not trying to force myself to go every day, but I am enjoying the gym more because I see it as a way to help me improve my dancing.

And, as I encourage my clients to do, I'm going to try and use this small victory and life lesson and extend it to other areas of my life. My New Year's resolution is to be fearless in getting rid of what's not working and trying new things. My only regret is that it took me until I was 30 (hey, my birthday's not for another 2 weeks!) to figure it out....but I'm happy that I have the rest of my life to put it to good use.