Soon you’ll be calling me a gym rat

My boss, Amy, and my friend Becky and I have started going to the gym together from time to time. I got them to take a yoga class with me, and they didn’t hate it, so we’re going to do that on Thursday nights. Tonight Amy and I (Becky was busy with far more important matters like going to see Death Cab for Cutie) were going to try a class called Body Sculpting, but when we got in there, they were setting up double steps and getting out all sorts of complicated exercise accessories. She and I both had the same oh, hell, no reaction to that. I can barely handle one step, and that’s in a home environment where I can watch the video a few times so I can get the order right. There is no way I’m not going to wipe out in spectacular fashion with two steps, because I am wildly uncoordinated. And because there is this little thing working against me called gravity.

So instead we went and did the treadmills, which was nice because we could chat the whole time. And then Amy showed me how to use the elliptical machine. I’ve been terrified of the elliptical – it just looked intimidating. Plus, I was sure I would end up like Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, losing control of the machine while it shouted commands at me. But it turns out that it isn’t really hard to use, and I actually kind of liked it. Know what I didn’t like? The weight machines. I have my little free weights I use at home, and I like those fine. I think the weight machines are supposed to make using weights easier, but I just find them complicated. It may be because I am on the short side. They are probably geared toward people who are taller than me (read: just about everyone.) There are too many levers to deal with and adjustments to make before you can even get started, and then you have to study the diagrams to see if you have your feet in the right place or you risk losing a limb or something. No, I am not a fan of the weight machines. Still, I’m going to the gym, which is a good start. The variety between that and exercising at home and yoga classes should help keep me focused. And conquering my admittedly irrational fear of the elliptical machine is a bonus. Go me.