Just getting to the gym makes a big difference.

The journey from my desk or couch to the gym seems to be getting longer and more difficult.

And it isn’t.

I know that once I arrive at the gym, the fun begins. Literally.

Yes, I said fun.

I love going to the gym. As I have shared in other stories, the gym is 50% getting and staying fit and 50% social for me.

I love chatting with my gym friends. For those who love the gym to just work out and get in and out, don’t worry. I’m always honorable with people’s time and after a brief hello I’ll say something to acknowledge I’ll let them go so they can continue working out.

I don’t have a set system of working out once I’m at the gym. My goal is to lift so I can become stronger (and stay strong!) and to do some type of cardio.

Lifting has been difficult this year. After surgery in February, my ribs are still healing. This means I must be patient (ha!) and go easy with the amount of weight I use. I’ve gotten used to this and do more reps rather than more weight and it all works out.

I have created a community at my gym. This means when I have questions about anything fitness/working out, I have people I can ask, people who know a lot more than I do when it comes to fitness.

After my lifting is completed, I go to the cardio area. Some days I do 30 minutes on the treadmill, focusing on a Zone 2 workout (I do this to maintain my weight), and others I do the stair climber.

I love the stair climber! I use this machine to get my heart rate to the highest level, then go down and up over 10 minutes. I have friends at the gym who are on the stair climber for 30 minutes!

Between lifting and cardio, I go to an area of my gym where I can stretch. Stretching rocks for me and is something I am always learning more about.

At the gym, I typically listen to a podcast. This is especially helpful when doing cardio and I can focus on the podcast and not the discomfort that I may be experiencing.

I’m not retired yet, although I try to live financially as if I am. Gyms and fitness centers can be expensive. Mine is $39.00 a month, and that’s for me and Mike, even though he goes to a different gym. You don’t have to break the bank to work on your fitness journey.

Speaking of Mike and his gym, I want to add that he goes to another gym because his gym offers a ton of different classes and that’s what he loves about the gym. He’s much more of a class guy than a lifting guy.

Keep this in mind when considering a gym.

If you love a good cardio or Zumba class, some gyms have classes like that.

On days I don’t go to the gym I try to run or do a long walk.

Getting started and getting to the gym are the toughest parts for me.

Once I get going, it’s all gravy!

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Go vegan. Vote. Be kind.