It’s time for another post about exercise. This time I am not giving any advice or talking about my latest routines and practices. I am talking about the perils of being a middle aged woman (I think that is what I am) making a valid attempt to stay in shape, mostly in an exercise class. It isn’t always pretty.
Before getting into it, I have to give a shout out to 163 Fitness. The trainers there are great! They have classes for varying abilities and capabilities. They love new faces and long time members. My personal challenges have nothing to do with their facility, but more to do with my age and exercise in general.
First of all, getting to a fitness class. I usually leave about 7 minutes before class starts so I have enough time to sign in and get my stuff together but not enough time to have to chat or make eye contact with fellow class goers. When I arrive, I am “in the zone.” Ready to work and a little nervous about trying to keep up.
Every Day Exercise Class Worries
There are routine and regular exercise concerns of course. Will this be the day when my foot on the floor gets pulled out from under me while trying to kick the bag? Will I breathe so hard that I will hyperventilate and lose consciousness? Does my not so fresh breath fill the room? Can people see my underwear through my stretchy shorts? Will the closest fan blow my body odor toward innocent classmates?
One challenge is hearing what the instructor instructs. She has a microphone but this doesn’t entirely help me. I still don’t always understand what she says. And even when I understand her words, at times I don’t know the meaning of her terms. What does she mean by the term “round”? Same as crescent? There are times when I am doing something entirely different because I don’t know her terms.
Much of the time I look around and copy whatever those around me do. But sometimes that doesn’t even keep me up to speed. When I can’t even discern the activity by actively watching the others, I just make up my own activity. I tell myself it doesn’t matter if the instructor comes over and corrects me. I figure if I am moving I am exercising. Me do me. If everyone else jumps off a cliff, would I follow? Why not be my own person here too? Pep talks sometimes motivate me and sometimes don’t.
The Occasional Surprise
As opposed to common exercise concerns, some days the unexpected occurs. Once while everyone else was doing a simple stretch, for whatever reason my middle aged brain told me to do burpees. If you aren’t familiar with burpees, count your blessings. They are terrible. A curse on the innocent exerciser. I don’t know why I would think it ever is time to do these. Anyway, they include a jump, a quick plank, and back up. They are not a calm and subtle activity.
While I engage in these atrocities, the instructor comes over and quietly says, “I didn’t ask you to do burpees. If you want to go above and beyond, by all means do. But they aren’t required at the moment.” I answer with a quick and winded “Oh we aren’t doing these?” I look around to see everyone else doing a calm and easy exercise. Why do I bother.
On another occasion, I had given my teenage daughter my vehicle for the day. I realize this about 20 minutes before class time. Not only do I not have transportation, I don’t have my boxing gloves which I keep in my van. I go out to the garage to see my own bike hanging from the rafters, so I am forced to take my son’s bike, one he rode when he was about 13 years old. Now I am not a big person, but even I have high knees and a fast gear all the way across town. I arrive as class begins, winded and worn out in my middle-agedness. Thankfully the fitness center has a basket of extra gloves I borrow for the class. A great start to exercise- fatigued and ill prepared.
How Hard Do I Have To Work To Make A Difference?
I can’t quite figure it out, but for all my exercising, I don’t seem to be in any better shape. I go to class twice a week and try to jog on my treadmill on the weekends. So why do I only seem to be getting flabbier? When I took these same exercise classes 4 years ago, it only took a couple of weeks and I was noticing toned arms and thinner tummy and thighs. Now after 3 plus months of classes, nothing on my body has changed and except things seem to hang a little lower and flub when I walk. Wow, what would happen if I didn’t do this bare minimum of exercising? I would be in a terrible predicament.
Last week I went to a class that is slightly faster paced and more difficult than my usual class. I use my usual weights but the many reps make things more difficult. I go home feeling no more tired than usual, but as the day went along, my neck tightens and my head hurts. Things became so sore that my stomach becomes borderline queasy.
Is this what has become of me? I push myself to work hard, only to feel slightly sick and see no physical results?
Well, the queasiness and neck pain subsided, and guess what…I am going back tonight. I still have hope of tightening things up and feeling less flub when I walk. Guess I just have to be smart about how hard I push.
The Big Picture
Again, can’t imagine my shape if I did nothing. I don’t think I am one that can get by with that. So, onward with attempting to be my best middle aged self. My doctor told me that a strong core will help ward off disease and disorders that come with age. Who knows what it will take to build a strong core, but I am making a well intentioned attempt.
And as I read over this post, I realize that some of my concerns don’t have to do with my age. Instead they are just part of exercising in a group setting. Sure it can be awkward and embarrassing at times, but I have to give myself props here. Good for me for putting my self out there for the good of myself. Especially my middle age self. 🙂
More posts like this one:
Vary Exercise. Don’t Stick To It. (Sort of).
Never Pictured Yourself A Jogger? Two Tips For Your Very First Jog
