Update: Make or Break Time
March 26, 2007 by John in Weightloss
In reference to this previous post of mine, I did manage to go to the health club on Sunday and use a treadmill. I stayed on it for a half-hour, with my heart rate in the “fat burning zone,” hovering around 118-120. Most people take walking for granted. I used to love to walk all over the place. Today, if I walk much farther than six doors down to the Fenske’s house or the length of the parking lot at work, I start to experience all sorts of aches and pains, not the least of which is my lower back.
As I suspected, however, I was able to keep walking on the treadmill because A) I didn’t push it too hard, and B) I was able to support my lower back with the hand rails on the machine. That’s not to say it didn’t cause me any discomfort, but it is doable. I’m not completely crippled. I plan on going back Tuesday night, the last day of the freebie week, for another half-hour jaunt.
I don’t want to clutter my house with more exercise equipment; my elliptical coat rack takes up enough valuable space as it is. I don’t want to pay $42/month for Crossroads membership; I won’t use most of the amenities they have to offer. Truth is I hate health clubs. I’ve been a member of three of them since 1989, and while one of them had a great atmosphere and nice people, it was the exception, not the rule, in my opinion. I don’t like to exercise at home; I like to chill and be lazy at home. So that leaves me, essentially, at the new 24hr Fitness place that just opened up. Reportedly they only have machines, no pool, no hot tub, not even any locker rooms. They also cost somewhere in the mid-$25/mo range. That’s definitely doable.