I am a budgeter. I haven’t always been a saver, but marriage totally
changed me, and now I love the game of trying to see how much money I
can save. I have a math degree and a business degree, and I love
playing with numbers. I can happily get lost in spreadsheets for
hours. I know, I’m a total nerd. But don’t quit on me yet! You just
have to know that I don’t like to spend money on unnecessary things.
And gym memberships are COMPLETELY unnecessary….right?
I mean, there are tons of free workout videos on YouTube. Do you
enjoy yoga, tae bo, pilates, or even Zumba? I can rent just about any
kind of workout DVD from the library for free. I have two legs of my
own, that can run wherever they want, whenever they want. I even had a
treadmill at home, so I could run or walk when the weather was bad. Who
needs a gym?! They are expensive and don’t offer anything I can’t
find for free by myself, thank you very much.
There was only one tiny problem. I NEVER did any of those things by
myself. I would finish one DVD session (maybe…or maybe I wouldn’t
finish, since no one was stopping me from quitting, and I was already
really tired anyway), and then never use it again. I would try to run,
but then quit after feeling some knee pain, or maybe just because it was
hard. But who needs to workout that hard, anyway? I’m not training
for anything, and I have kids to chase every day! “My kids are my
cardio!” I used to be confused by the question on the form at the
doctor’s office that asked if I exercised regularly. Surely no one
normal actually does that, right? Carrying laundry baskets up and down
stairs must count, so “Yes.”
I’m not exactly sure how anyone twisted my arm enough to actually try
going to the gym. My crazy sister-in-law said she goes to classes at
the gym sometimes and loves it, but she is a do-er. I’m more of a
chill-at-home-er. Pack up all the kids, put on spandex, and make a fool
out of myself in front of a bunch of strangers, all while I’m not
allowed to quit because there is an instructor in the room? No,
thanks. BUT, she had a guest pass. A FREE one. And since I love free,
and I love my sister-in-law, and I honestly wasn’t getting anywhere
fast on my own, I decided to try it.
Can you guess what happened? I fell in LOVE. I mean, head over
heels. So, here is my list of fitness lies I used to believe,
including, “Gym memberships are a waste of money!”
-
Gym memberships are a waste of money
They totally aren’t! They are completely worth every penny, and
more. I get FREE childcare. EVERY.SINGLE.DAY if I want. It’s like
they are handing out sanity cards. I have accountability, access to
amazing facilities, and a ton of class options I LOVE that I could never
have gotten on my own for free – hot yoga? Amazing, but can’t do that
at home. TRX? Body Pump? Power Cardio? All amazing classes that
utilize extra equipment that you can bet I would have never spent my
hard-earned money on to have at home.
-
I will look like a fool and everyone will be judging me
Okay, you might look like a fool. But you know what? Everyone will
be loving you. Chances are, you will all look like fools together, and
you will all be more confident and loving because of it. In my group
exercise classes, we celebrate looking like fools together. We laugh.
We make sexy faces. We pose. We dance. We have FUN. If you are an
introvert like me, those things might scare you a little bit. But
believe me, you won’t be alone, and it really isn’t scary. It really is
actually awesome.
-
I’m too fat/weak to go to the gym
Um, that is the dumbest thing ever. That is WHY you NEED the gym,
and that is why EVERYONE ELSE is there too!! I think I had this image
in my mind that everyone at the gym would be perfectly sculpted and
well-proportioned. Well-proportioned doesn’t even have anything to do
with going to the gym, but in my mind, all the bodies were
perfect.
I was so wrong. Sure, you will meet a few of those (but here’s a
secret: they are normal people just like you). But the majority will be
perfectly imperfect, just like you. Your instructor might even have a
little extra around the belly area, just like you. But you will all
learn to work hard together, and get stronger and healthier together.
It really is beautiful.
-
I’ll be alone and it will be awkward
I hope you’ve realized by now that the gym doesn’t have to be like
this. I never feel awkward at my gym. On the contrary, it has taught
me to be more secure and confident in the me God has created and
beautifully designed.
-
I’m being selfish by joining a gym and leaving my kids with total strangers
Being an active participant at my gym has been one of the BEST things
I could have done for my kids. They love the child watch area, where
trained professionals care for and teach them in love while I work out.
They see momma making health a priority, and that is so important. My
gym offers kid’s classes, so they actually get to participate in things
like Kid’s Yoga, and build healthy habits now! There is also a splash
pad and kid’s swimming pool at my gym, and this has contributed to
momma’s sanity and unending fun for my kids more times than I can
count. Plus, our gym offers all sorts of sports and lessons for kiddos,
which we get a discount on since we are members. The gym is NOT just
for me – it is for my entire family.
-
The only reason to join a gym is to lose weight
That was my original reason for joining. I have GOT to lose this
extra baby weight, amirght?! 1.5 years later, I have lost ZERO pounds.
I’ve really started to believe that weight is ONLY a number, and
doesn’t matter as much as I thought it did. I have less fat, and more
muscle, and I just try to ignore the scale. But it has been more than
that. I work out to literally
feel better – endorphins,
anyone??? Yes, please!!! I am healthier, more confident, and have more
friendships because I go to the gym.
Are you convinced yet?? If not, I have FREE guest passes!
We love our Y!!!!
What are some fitness lies that YOU are working to overcome?
No comments:
Post a Comment