Fitness

New Year – New Me – New GYM!

The time has come to get back into shape! Well after 2020, I realized I have gained about 15 lbs. Pounds that I took off about two year ago has made its way back to my stomach, love handles, face and thighs. Oh my! Took years to take off but seconds to come back. So to the gym we go.

Most New Years resolution lists are created at the end of the year and for some reason the word “gym” always makes it on mine. Usually coming in as one of the top three items. Yes, year after year. So I am telling myself that with this change in mentality, working out will be part of my daily life and become a habit. Fingers crossed! I will no longer need to fight with myself to workout. It will just happen. Easier said than done, but I am up for the challenge.

So Why Workout….

Well, the reason I need to hop back into working out is that it gave me more energy and clarity. I felt better and wasn’t sluggish. I got more done, felt healthy and had a sense of purpose in my life. They say consistency is key, but sometimes a girl falls off the bandwagon. So I am ready to get back up and get on that high horse.

Before COVID I was in LA, but now I am in Wappinger Falls, NY. Surrounded by hiking trails, deer and the Hudson River. You may think how did she gain all this weight back if all she needs to do is go outside and do an outdoor activity. But once again, that is easier said than done. Lets just say with more nature comes more land and with more land comes wineries. And with more wineries, comes WINE tours! So instead of burning the calories away I was drinking, eating and tasting them away [via socially distancing myself].

As you can see, I have a thing for food and wine. Although my appetite and drinking increased, my daily jogs and runs came to a halt. It was getting colder outside and I was slowly realizing that I loved the warmth of my covers over a jog. So as my activity decreased and my appetite did not follow suit. I became lazier, put more hours into work, became more confined to the 4 walls of my bedroom and seldom left the house. Next thing you know, my glances at the mirror revealed extra weight in areas that I had not seen in a while. And that’s when I knew it was time to take out the S-C-A-L-E.

Gym Selection

I think we all have been there, standing on a scale and saying: WTF…JEEZ. How did this happen? And If you have not, I must say: Please share your secrets! Anyways, I had to brainstorm how I was going to get back to where I was. So I told myself, lets come up with a plan. We got this!

I have brought various workout plans in the past, so I thought it would be easier to recycle them. It saves money and they haven proven to work before, so why deviate from something that works. The next item to tackle was: What gym am I going to? Being situated in Wappingers Falls, NY doesn’t have have many gym options.

I have been that person who probably has been a member of more gyms or studios than I can count or should be allowed to be. But what the heck, a girl should be able to try everything, no. I have tried the budget-friendly Blink, the infamous high-end Equinox, the west coast Bay Club, and the majestic New York Sports Club, to name a few, but the list goes on. However, I didn’t have a laundry list of options to choose from this time around. If you have ever lived in NYC, you know that the gym options are endless. In Wappingers, well that’s a different story.

My top three options were: Orangetheory, Planet Fitness or Gold’s Gym. I had already tried Orangetheory and Planet Fitness, so I quickly opted to go with Golds Gym in Newburg, NY. Aside from not being part of Gold’s Gym in the past, lets just say that this gyms’ amenities were more than expected. It was a 2-step process. I called and inquired about the price which came down to a ~$70 enrollment fee and a $49/monthly fee to be a member. The next day, I drove to the gym, signed all the corresponding paperwork and became a Gold’s Member!

Now that was easy! Now on to making sure I actually keep it up. So the plan is to go to the gym 5x/week. Challenge Accepted!

What about everyone else? What gym challenges have you put into drive?