Trying it a different way

Today I walked into the gym and both of the stationary bikes (my usual machine to use) were taken, so I went and did my weights first. To stall even longer because the bikes were still being used, I did more reps than usual.

After stalling as long as I could, I decided to go and workout on the treadmill instead of the bike. Now all of us have seen the videos of the dork that falls on the treadmill and shoots across the room or ends up tumbling around like a sack of laundry while the moving part still runs. I have always been afraid that I would be just the dork to do that in public. So I have avoided the treadmill with great skill. I wasn't even sure how to start the dang thing! Regardless, I was going to try it today. I stepped up to the big bad machine and pressed start. It didn't move. OK....Then I pressed calorie burner (like I do on the bike) and entered in all the information it asked and it slowly started moving. Cool, I have started it! It was moving a little slow and there was someone from church in the gym today, so I didn't want to look like I didn't know what I was doing. So I pressed the speed up button. I pressed it about 5 times. I didn't realize that it needed to build up, I thought it didn't know I pressed the button the first 4 times. HOLY CRAP!!! I sped up alright! I was almost that dork that falls and gets shot across the room. Thank goodness I had enough sense to jump to the edges and press the slow down button! So far, not so good. Once it slowed down, I was able to get back on and I decided that the speed the treadmill had picked for me originally was just fine.

I have a very hard time actually sweating. I usually put off a lot of heat and turn bright red (my Irish German heritage). I may bead sweat, but not drip it like some do. Well today, I could feel that drip sweat coming on! I walked for 20 minutes and then decided that since the bikes were free, I would bike another 10 minutes. As soon as my legs turned the pedals, there it was, the drip sweat. I felt so accomplished! Yes, my legs were about to give out on me and my breathing was so deep, but I knew I had really worked! I still can't say that it felt great. But I had a smile on my face! I probably looked like the biggest idiot anyone had ever seen. Smiling and sweating all over the place. I was proud of myself. It was over for the day and I walked out confident that what I had just done was so good for my body. I still felt weak legged for about 2 hours afterwards, but it was still worth it.

Compared to many, it wasn't that great of a workout. Only 200 calories, 1/2 mile on the treadmill and 2 miles on the bike, but for me, a woman who believed exercise was the devils work just a month ago, That is a big deal. Don't get me wrong, I still think it is Satan's work. He invented it, God just found a good use for it.

So for today, the dork was not me. Well, at least not all the way. I learned, trust the machine, it probably knows better than I do!