The Benefits of Getting Your Ass Kicked At The Gym

Ok, so if you want to lose weight quickly and easily, what can you do?

The answer is one I’ve been dodging forever, but I’m on a new route to kick my own ass into gear on every level, particularly things I’m afraid.

The answer is:

You have to get your ass kicked.

As I progress through my 50s, it’s become harder and harder to lose weight, and easier to up a quarter of a pound or quarter of an inch! Once comfy clothes now squeeze my innards and no amount of “real food” eating has helped. It’s time for something more drastic, and on Monday I found the answer.

You see, my husband asked me to join a boot camp type gym, I jumped on it right?

AW HELL NO! I hate boot camp type stuff!! I suck at it and all that pressure and yelling, augh. I can’t, I can’t, I CAN’T.

I WON’T. NO. NONONO.

Except..the easy peasy gym didn’t really work. Treadmilling 3x a week didn’t do a thing.

Except…I want all the benefits of a workout, not just the “elusive” slimmer waist.

Except… my husband really really wanted me to, and he needs it for not just physical health but for stress reduction. His stress levels are off the charts, probably like most dads raising kids with disabilities.

Or rather, TWO GIRLS with disabilities. He’s a Christian, but that’s a big burden for any loving, protective father.

So, I did the “good wife” thing said yes.

What had I gotten myself into?? I was terrified, and the gym owner reassured me when he saw my Facebook post.

The gym is called Soldier Fit and it’s a new franchise. This is the first (only?) Pennsylvania location but it’s convenient for us. We were both “tested” for tightness/looseness of muscles and other such measurements. I got a 54 out of 100 but if it was a good score, I wouldn’t need the gym, now would I?

Monday was day one. We showed up and were the only participants in the noon class – which was a relief. Chris and I were our little troop of one and I did embarrassingly horrible. I couldn’t make it through one circuit and you’re supposed to do two of them! I was really worried when I went home. Did I make a mistake signing up for this?

Getting my ass kicked is just not my thing, right?

Sure enough, when I got home, I felt awful. I stood in my kitchen and was actually eating and making broccoli slaw at the same time. (The slaw was cut and packaged, thank God for Whole Foods!) I literally inhaled it, my body jumping at the vegetable goodness. Then I took the World’s Longest Shower to detox my muscles. And when I came out…

…I felt amazing! My body was in hell, true, but my mind was clearer than it’s been in a long time. I felt really positive and productive. It was hard to move, so I couldn’t accomplish too much, but I could work. I got some really bad news about a canceled event I had been planning – and I was not even upset!

At night, I put some Boiron Arnicare Gel on my sore muscles. The downside, though, was that my mind was wide awake. Relaxed, not stress, not going over things, just up.

Around the house, I figured that my gym nausea was due to improper breathing. That’s always a struggle for me, so I spent some time doing yoga breathing: 8-second inhale, 8-second hold, 8-second exhale. Ugh, I was rusty at it! No wonder I struggled.

The next day, we went back and this time there were other people there, including the owner’s wife.

Oh no. This was a real chance to humiliate myself! I took a deep breath, said a short prayer and dived in.

To my amazement, this was much easier! It was hard, don’t get me wrong, but I did both circuits and only a few times did I have to stop earlier. I even responded when the instructor encouraged me to push through. Every time I felt a hint of agony, I corrected my breathing.

I also know I gulped water on day 1. This time, short, tiny sips of warm water were all I did, and not that often.

At the end, before the cool down, we ran up a short hill three times. I did NOT want to go that last time – everything was on fire. But I’m proud to say I did it! At my own pace, not the best but much better than Monday and like I said, I did everything, if not perfectly, certainly as much as possible.

Mentally, I didn’t feel the same as on Day 1, but still good. The body was MUCH more sore this day, but I felt the comfort of pride in knowing I could do it! I’m so excited and cannot wait to continue to share my journey at this gym! Only a few weeks to start really noticing a difference, so we are told.

Do you have a great or surprising gym experience you’d like to share? Please let me know!

Check out some of these great herbal remedies and salves from my company, NYR Organic, to soothe muscles!

If you love Arnicare, go to their site and get a coupon here: