Today I did battle w/the elliptical machine and all I can say is holy moly, I bow down to those of you who can wrestle w/that thingamabob for an hour.
It was my first day @ Golds. I wanted to be there on time, as soon as it opened the doors @ 9 AM, I'm such a teacher's pet. The goal was originally to get in a solid 60 mins on the treadmill, but when I woke up this AM I decided to use today to test out the cardio machines, doing enough mins on each machine they have so that I can end the morning w/60 mins from all.
There were about 5 other people ahead of me, and I got there @ 9:05, showoffs!, in Cardio Alley, I climb aboard the elliptical. A girl was behind me. I observed her gait and gave it a go.
Nothing.
Ohhhh…gotta turn it on first.
Um…it was already on.
Back of neck is getting hot…cheeks feel warm.
Stepping on it made the lights come on.
Whew.
I went for Fat Burn, entered my weight (ugh!), minutes and age. Lippy told me my target ♥ rate is 122. Obakaybee and we were off.
Except that we weren't.
I fumbled around w/it.
Nothing.
The minutes would tick by, but then the machine would pause itself.
What the deuce?
Finally I gave up, @ this point, I'm sure if I were any other color but dark brown, the back of my neck and cheeks would be bright red.
I go up to get the girl @ the front desk to show me how to work it.
This time we went over to Cardio Alley Part Duex, ie, across the gym. She was sweet to tell me it took her a week to figure it out. When she showed and explained I treat it like I'm running, the cobwebs cleared from my head.
I set that bad boy for 20 mins and I was off.
But I wanted to die @ 5 mins.
Holy shit.
My heart rate was in the 160's the poor machine tried to get me to slow down but my legs had a mind of their own.
10 mins go by, the sweatdrops that usually start @ the 20 mins mark, started to pour. Keep in mind, not only is the gym icy cold, but I am directly under a ceiling fan.
Zeus help me.
15 mins.
Not. Gonna. Make It.
18 mins
Here comes the tears.
19:45 mins.
Kill. Me.
20 mins done
1.25 miles 200 calories burned.
Who's next?
By this point, gym has about 15 peeps.
Another machine I never used before and just winged it. When it took me 30 grueling seconds to climb 2 flights, I knew I couldn't do that for 20 mins. I opted for 5 and ended doing 10 flights. I think. I blanked out.
Next.
15 mins on the good ole' safe treadmill.
Same routine, asked me my goal, Fat Burning All Day baby!, told me 122 target ♥ rate and asked how fast I wanted to go. Show off that I can be, I said 3.0 mph. Which is my norm, I am a very fast walker, but my ♥ rate was already in the upper 130's so Tready decided to slow me down to almost 2.3 mph. I'm sure dude behind me was like WTF? She is dripping w/sweat strolling?!?!
*sigh*
.61 miles later…
Next.
Two bikes ahead, itching to try out the recumbent, clueless as to which it was, I decided to do my last 20 mins splitting them in ½, opting to go on the one that looked like my old gym first. 10 minutes done, heart rate in the high 120's/low 130's
3.26 miles later…
Next.
Some contraption that appears to be a bike but was really an upper thigh torture device. No back on the chair, a hard ass seat that hurt my girly bits and no way to get comfy.
Committed to doing the final 10 mins, I leaned forward, pretended my name was Lance and rode strong.
8 mins later, girly bits gone numb, no water to moisten my throat, no towel to wipe my brow, no Geenee to pass the time, I was spent. I closed my eyes and listened to the music from above.
3.6 miles later…stick a fork in me.
I hobble to the locker room, wash my face, get to the front desk to make an appt w/a personal trainer. The first session is free. We meet tomorrow @ 5.
For the next 6 weeks, since the machines are a bit diff't than I'm used to, I'm only going to track miles and minutes, I didn't take my ♥ rate monitor today, I really went in bare bones just to feel the gym out. Until I get used to the set up, for now, everything will be level 1. In the AM I will do a min breakdown of either 20/20/20 or 30/30 on a variety of machines, all in Fat Burning Mode. There'll be no running for the next 6 weeks, frankly, I'm to damn big, not that 195lb women, can't run, but I won't be. In the PM, I'll do the same breakdown, provided it's not too crowded. In that case I'll do a solid 45 or 60 mins in Cardio Mode.
When I left the gym, I felt great. Got that clear headed, I can breath feeling. I was happy to see all the other gym rats, in all shapes and sizes and I dunno…I left there feeling like I was home.
Oh, last thing, in what must be a reneegetfit.com first, today, my wrists and elbows got sweaty. Hallelujah.
