The Gym: Love It or Hate It

I know many people who hate the gym environment and just as many who love it. In all honesty, I understand both points of views. I can recall my first experience in a health club at the age of eighteen. Shortly after high school graduation, I moved in with an aunt and uncle near the L.A. area where I was working full-time in a medical office doing clerical work. I had struggled with my weight since the fifth grade and had decided to finally do something about it, so I hired my first personal trainer.

Socializing in high school came somewhat easy for me. I loved being a cheerleader and for the most part I considered myself outgoing. But because my diet consisted of primarily junk food, my weight reflected that. My self image was basically the “chubby girl with the cute face.” After high school I longed to make some drastic changes in my life - losing weight and getting fit was one of them.

I’ll never forget the impact my first personal trainer had on me. He was perhaps in his late thirties and built like a Pittsburg Steeler defensive line-man. His workouts were intense, physically challenging, and outright seemed impossible to complete. But I was determined and desperate to change my figure. It was during his intense “tough-man” workouts (that consisted of supersets, push-ups, jumping-jacks, and non-stop movement) that I learned to mentally and physically push myself to the limit. During the course of a few months I saw tremendous changes take place with my physique. It was at this point in my early life that I knew being active and exercising was going to be a part of my life forever.

Having a “good workout” can mean different things to different people. During those early years - thanks to my first personal trainer - I learned one sure way to achieve results was to challenge myself physically EVERY TIME I exercised. That meant finding the internal motivation to PUSH myself during my workouts. Some people view exercise as a relaxing, soothing time. In many ways that is how I feel, but it’s usually after completing my workout that I feel the bliss. My mind frame during exercise is very focused, intense and oftentimes my body is slightly in “pain.”

By the time I was 20-years-old, I loved spending time in the gym so much that I eventually got a job working as the front desk girl at a local health club called “Women’s Fitness World.” During the next two years I dedicated myself to fitness more than ever. I had never been so focused on anything in my entire life. Having a membership at a women’s health club had its benefits. For starters, the exercise equipment is generally designed for smaller users making it easier to get in and out of the machines. Another advantage is that it’s typically not as crowded during peak hours compared to co-ed health clubs. And of course the obvious advantage is if you feel uncomfortable with your body image; not having to worry about men being present can be helpful.

You could say I’m a regular at my local co-ed gym today. I’m there at least 4-5 times a week. I normally run on the treadmill for about 35 minutes, then lift weights for an additional 25, and finish off by stretching and working abs for 10 minutes. I also enjoy running outdoors with my two youngest girls on the jogging stroller during the week. On weekends I tend to do something that includes my oldest daughter such as an afternoon hike. I try to vary it up as much as possible. I’ve noticed that variety has made the difference.

So whether you find a gym setting works for you or you prefer to work out at home, it’s critical that you choose the location that works BEST for you! Since I know working out from home poses MANY distractions I feel more confident getting into my car, driving to the gym, and getting it out of the way early morning. Since I developed my passion for fitness in a gym setting, I tend to gravitate back to that. I developed a deep passion and a hobby for the first time in my adult life in my early 20’s - exercise. Fitness wasn’t really a part of my family life growing up. But now, I appreciate how exercising daily not only changed my body but my entire life.