I Went to a Gym–And I Liked It!

Some time ago, I thought about joining a gym. I looked around at the options, but the only ones close to me had a lot of reviews with variations of “only for the beautiful people” or “expensive!” or “constant pressure to upgrade membership.” Planet Fitness and Chuze sounded good–affordable, supportive, maybe even fun–but there were no locations of either near my work or my home. I resigned myself to just walking around the lake a lot more. Which–I love the lake. But it’s going to be a HUNDRED AND NINE this weekend. Walking anywhere seems kind of stupid.†

I could always haul out the mini-trampoline, but as much as I love it, I can only use it a day or two, and then my plantar fasciitis makes my life really not fun.

You can just imagine my joy when I discovered they were building a Chuze a mile from my house. It’s right across the street from my supermarket! Opening in early June!

…early…June…

I would like to categorically deny that I’ve been practically stalking a gym. I’d like to, but I’d be lying. I check the website multiple times a day. Sometimes I call. I’m excited to announce that today the phone number was finally answered by a human! Who still told me “early June.” >.<

The app won’t let me in because I’m not a member yet. I can’t join till there’s actually a gym, you see.

Someone had the brilliant idea to have staff in a tent in the parking lot, selling memberships. They know my car now.

So anyway. Last night the kid and I went to a far-off Chuze location, so at least I wouldn’t be buying my membership completely sight-unseen when I go breaking down the door at my new gym. Chuze lets you have a free visit to check them out, so check we did.

I liked the treadmill. Really liked it. While I enjoy going around the lake, it was lovely to walk on a flat surface, at a good pace, and then to incline it a bit…it’s weird, but I just feel fantastic, walking up just the right amount of hill at a good pace. I feel alive.

So yeah. Enjoyed the treadmill. I liked the sign-in system for classes, the rules against attitude or phone conversations on the floor, the clean and sturdy equipment, the set-your-own-combination lockers, the hydro-massage–

Oh, the hydro-massage…

Today I’m back to stalking my gym. Is it creepy to just cruise slowly by to see if they have the stairclimbers set up yet?

† Seriously. We’ve been told to stay indoors.