Did We Just Buy A Really Heavy Coatrack...?

 We pulled the trigger on an exercise system. As you can see, it was not the most expensive one available on the used exercise equipment market. That was a huge selling point in our decision. That, and the fact that the seller was located in an obscure little northern Utah town.

Over the weekend, my son and I climbed into the van, drove the half hour to our destination, and loaded it up. Now it's set up in our garage/home gym. The one-hundred thousand dollar question is...

Will it get used?

And if it does, will it get used in the manner for which it was designed?

We've had a home gym set up for a couple of years. We decided to not sell our treadmill when we moved and we brought it along. We found a free stationary bike on the side of the road and we bought an elliptical machine. Part of my daily work routine is to take a break and use the equipment. And, had I not stepped on the power cord of the elliptical machine, I'd continue to use all three.

One thing we didn't have was a weight system. Granted, the elastic system we bought is not optimum, but it's something. Since we moved it into place, I've used it twice, yesterday and today. I only used one of the systems. I'm glad to say it wore me out a little, which is the only reason to have these machines in the first place.

There are days that I don't make it to the gym. Sometimes we have staff meetings during the time I usually work out, and now that summer's inching closer, I can only work out in the mornings because it gets too hot otherwise.

So far, so good. So far, the machines are being used for exercise and not a place to hang clothing. We'll just have to keep it that way.

It Was Only A Mile And A Half...But It Was A Mile And A Half

 Yesterday, I attended a staff meeting for work. It was the first time since December, 2019 that I attended any group activity with my work...very unusual. In the past, we used to gather monthly and we'd have  large meetings quarterly.

The Public Health Emergency we've all experienced changed that, too.

At noon, we broke for lunch. I hoofed it up a small hill to the building where the cafeteria was located. I was trying to catch up with co-workers who had a slight lead. I caught up to them, but I experienced something new...a shortness of breath.

Now, I understand I'm a fifty-six year old man who works out a few times a week, but not vigorously, so not being in the best shape is something I know about myself. Still...I've been able to run almost effortlessly most of my life. Having to catch my breath was a foreign experience, something I did not like.

Almost every morning when I work, I take a fifteen minute break and spend it on a stationary bike, an elliptical machine, and a treadmill (five minutes on each machine...). I know it's not much, but at least I get to leave work and do something else--almost more a health break for my mind as much as anything else. Last year I spent a lot of time walking after work, mostly on the hill next to our house. I'm hoping to resume that this year. What surprised me about the shortness of breath yesterday is that I can walk for a half hour, an hour at a time without issue. That little jog took it out of me.

This morning I returned to the treadmill and walked for thirty minutes covering one and a half miles. I know it's not much, but it's a start and I know I need to walk before I can run. Hopefully one day soon, I can run and breath at the same time.

You Can't Take The...Gym...From Me

 When I worked in an office building there were times when I took advantage of the gyms located on the premises. I wasn't an everyday gym user, mostly because it involved changing clothes, working out, showering (when they had showers...), and all those things took time.

Amazing what a change of venue can do.

Our little gym is nowhere near as nice as the gyms in those office buildings. We have three machines, a mini-trampoline, and a yoga ball. We do, however, have a TV and a library of DVDs. I've been spending at least fifteen minutes in our gym every workday. I chose, for my workout entertainment, the 1994 miniseries, The Stand. I finished that last week. This week, it's Joss Whedon's, Firefly.

I'd forgotten how good it is.

I've watched the movie from the series, Serenity, several times. Great show, but I didn't watch the series when it was on years ago, and when I did watch the series after buying it, I liked it, but like most Firefly fans, I wanted more. Unfortunately, no more were made.

I know many people who work out to music--not a bad choice, something I can definitely get behind. But, when I watch part of a show, it helps me want to come back and keep watching. It's like the opposite of bing-watching. It's slow-watching.

There's multiple Firefly DVDs. If I continue to work out in our little gym (which I totally plan on doing...), I'll get through the entire series probably next month. Then, as I was the first time I watched the series, I'll be sad it's over.

Week One...So Far, So Good

 My wife envisioned the space first. I saw the extra long garage on the north side of the house and thought it would make a great place for a classic VW beetle, complete with several pans underneath to collect all the dripping oil.

But, no...the wife thought we would be better served to put in a home gym. She's right, of course. And so, we maneuvered the treadmill we've owned for years onto some astroturf (thanks mom-in-law...), put up a TV my son picked up at the D.I., complete with burned in circles at the bottom, and once we found the treadmill key stuffed in one of a thousand boxes, we were in business. This week I spend four work breaks on the treadmill, not running, not jogging, but walking, and it's been fantastic.

I'd like to be jogging or running, but you've got to start somewhere.

We've never had a place specifically for our work-out equipment. I suppose--had I wanted to--I could have worked out even if we didn't have a specific place for the equipment. Heck, you can work out in a space no larger than Rose's plank doing sit-ups, push-ups, yoga. There's really no excuse to not working out.

We're hoping to expand, but for now, walking for fifteen minutes, watching Mal and the gang fight evil, pringing Alliance baddies on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots is wonderful.

One week done...almost. Only two-thousand to go ;)

New Year's Resolutions...One We Might Just Do

 Many make new year's resolutions, myself included. Many have failed to follow through on those resolutions, myself included. There are several things that I do on a regular basis I would describe as positive. I suppose at some point--either consciously or subconsciously--I made a resolution to do these things (I wonder if the same could be said for the negative things I do...). 

In my fifty-five years on this planet, I know that making resolutions in no way guarantees success. In order for me to adopt a positive habit, I need to want to do it, want to make it part of me, want me to be a better person by doing it.

This morning we set up the beginnings of a home gym. We found a house that has a HUGE garage, something we're unaccustomed to having. This thing could house multiple VW beetles, or four normal-sized cars. One section of the garage is deep, more than the width of the house. When my wife first saw it, she envisioned that space to be perfect for a home gym.

I agreed.

We're starting small. We have a not-overly-used treadmill and I have a stationary bike apparatus that allows me to convert and use a normal bike inside. We're looking for an elliptical machine (if you have one that works and you would like it gone from your house, let us know...). We're even going to set up a Nintendo Wii unit and pretend to play tennis and such.

For the past week, we've been de-cluttering and organizing. We have a ways to go until we're finished, but little by little, things are coming together. We've worn ourselves out by all the work we've put in. Interestingly enough, we'll now try and wear ourselves out in other ways. I hope this resolution sticks. After all, we've already done a lot of work to get this far--might as well keep it going.

Hence, one way to make a resolution successful.