Saturday, September 6, 2008

THE ONGOING QUEST FOR FITNESS

I overslept this morning. Without an alarm clock, I usually will wake between 6:00 and 7:00am on weekends. I don't always get my lazy butt out of bed then but I'm awake. Last night before going to bed, I decided that I would once again try try to make the IRON BODIES class at 8:30am. I didn't bother to set my alarm. I knew that I would wake in time to make it there. Best laid plans.... So when I awoke at 8:10am (it's a 15-20 minute drive to the gym depending on traffic lights), I decided I would try the 9:30am spinning class.

Some of my friends and D1 have all told me that I should try the spinning class but to date, I've been intimidated. I am often trudging along on the elliptical machine which is located just outside of the spinning room. It's dark in there. It's loud. People come out of there looking like roadkill. I guess I was feeling a little adventurous today. Or maybe I just lost my mind!

I arrived a few minutes late. I checked with the very friendly woman at the front desk to see if the instructor is OK with late comers. She said, "oh, yeah, she's fine. Just go on in." With water bottle and towel in hand, I entered the classroom. Class was already in progress so it was dark. In my rush to get out of the house, I neglected to put in my contacts. (No animals or Palm Beachers were harmed on my journey to the gym. My eyesight isn't that bad. It's just the little compact cars that I have trouble seeing.) As I looked around my eyes began to adjust to the darkness. There were several stationery bikes (obviously), a disco ball, mirrors on the walls and the instructor was on a platform shouting out commands into her headset. I was able to make out a few empty bikes and immediately saw that the class was divided into groups. The Palm Beach Barbies were all in front with short shorts and sports bras showing off their beautiful bodies and even in the darkness, I could see they had great tans. The young and athletic group was in the middle. They looked very intense. The old broads were in the back. I quickly determined my place in the class, walked right up to the front, stripped off my tshirt, showing off my 6pack (ok, 12pack) abs and began to peddle like nobody's business. Just call me Barbie's friend, Midge. NOT!

I chose the bike in the back closest to me so that I could make a quick exit if necessary. A voice in the dark told me that bike was fine but the one on the other side of her had a cupholder for my waterbottle. Cupholders are a big thing with me. I will buy a car based on how many cupholders it has. Where was I, again? Oh yeah. Obviously I chose the bike with the cupholder but was quick to notice it was near the fire exit in case things got rough. Now, I don't know if you've ever been to a spinning class before but it is WOW! Like I said the class was already in progress so I just jumped on the bike and tried to keep up. I always wondered what the big deal was just riding a bike. Well, you stand up, sit down, do push ups, punch, row, dance all while you are peddling. The music is very motivating. It was a great mix of hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. At one point, there was an AC/DC song that's chorus sounded a lot like "f___ you, f___ you?" I didn't think that was really necessary. Afterall, I was doing my best. We went on to peddle with one leg at a time, then went back to the stand up, sit down, pushup only faster and in a combo. I like choreography. I can work with that.

The instructor, Robin, was great. I think she is near my age, give or take a few years but she looks FABULOUS! She is my new fitness role model! It was a great work-out. I think I actually enjoyed it. I worked really hard and really hope that I can walk tomorrow. I didn't keep up with the Barbies. I didn't keep up with the young athletes. I didn't really even keep up with the old broads (but it wasn't their first class) But I stayed to the end and worked my tail off. (I hope) I almost had fun. I thanked Robin for the class and walked out feeling like a new woman.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so proud of you! I have heard that class was intense but I never knew that they did stuff like that.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Anonymous aka D2 - Thank you for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

I wish I had some place like that to go workout but the closest place I have (when in OK) is 45 miles away and ther are no classes, just machines. It's inspiring, what you did, and makes me want to get a bike and ride around town. Maybe I will. Thanks for telling that story in a way that made me laugh. I'm proud of you.

Lori said...

Sounds intense and fun...nothing like that around here. My daughter in Idaho goes to these kinds of classes and says she loves it and now my daughter in Florida just went to her first spin class last week and said it was great but she was wringing wet when it was over. I didn't realize they did all these other things while riding a bike.

I have been working out here at home though...thanks to you! Thanks for the making me smile and inspiring me to keep working out!

Anonymous said...

Spin class...with the right instructor and music can be a blast...with the wrong ones not so fun...i find myself thinking 'unkind' thoughts about them, to be diplomatic about it....and didn't you find that certain parts became a bit...uhh.. numb?...which is easily remedied by wearing the padded cycling shorts, by the way...

qtpie said...

You're my idle... I may even go back to the gym that I've been paying for for almost year and haven't been back to since sometime in July....

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Midlife Slices - If you get the bike, make sure you do the up, down, pushup while riding around town. Oh and take video. LOL

Smiles - You should see me when I came out of there....it's wasn't pretty.

Thistle - I have nothing to compare it to but I think it's my new favorite form of exercise. But yeah, there are some numb parts. And some parts that aren't numb but I wish were. I went to try it again to day but instead opted to talk on my phone to a dear friend for a 90 minute verbal work-out and I feel great!

qtpie - awwww shucks! ain't you sweet!

Bear Naked said...

This post just made me laugh!
Thanks.

Bear((( )))

Anonymous said...

Wow...You go girl!!!

I try to avoid the gym. We have a fitness center here at the office, but I know that if my coworkers ever caught a glimpse of me in my workout gear with all my stuff jiggling and sagging and bouncing all over the place, they would no longer have an ounce of respect for me (nor could they look me in the eye without laughing). So, for the sake of my company, my employment and my ego...I steer clear of the gym.

And also...I hate to sweat. LOL