Earlier this week I mentioned I joined a gym. I’m not a gym person. I always feel so out of place and wimpy when I’m surrounded by people who can pick me up with one finger. However, we are in the midst of planning an adventure, which involves hiking a mountain. Since we are still in the planning stages of this trip, I’m going to wait to tell you where. Keep an eye out for the big reveal. I will say don’t expect too much. I won’t be climbing Everest and the mountain experience is only part of the trip.
Many of you may remember my adventure in Guatemala when I climbed a volcano.
The volcano that nearly killed me.
It wasn’t pretty. I was completely out of shape and I paid for it. I don’t want to repeat that. Even though the trip isn’t finalized, I thought it’s time for me to get ready. We hope to leave for our trip in the spring. Not sure that the actual mountain experience will happen, but spring isn’t that far off so I don’t want to put off my training. And if we have to make changes to our plans, at least I may (I’m already doubting myself folks) be in shape. Let’s hope I am. Everyone else in the group is. I don’t want to be that one who ruins the fun and has to be airlifted to a hospital.
From what I’ve read about the mountain experience it will be amazing. I really hope we get everything finalized soon so I can firm up the final countdown. Please feel free to badger me about exercising. I’m going to need help staying focused. Fortunately my better half has signed up to be my workout buddy. It’s easier to do it together. Now, time for a cookie—I mean the gym.
50 Year Project 
a partner always makes it easier–I wish you a lot of stamina and good luck
I have a walking partner and if I didn’t I would not get much exercise as I spend a lot of my day at my computer writing or at my desk doing bookwork–I would never be a mountain climber, but I will live vicariously through you
Miles, my dog, is my walking buddy. Every day, unless it’s raining, he drags me out for a few miles. And I mean he drags me. For such a small dog, he’s quite strong. Happy walking!
I tried to take my cat for a walk once–people do not takes cats for a walk for a reason! ha ha
I had a cat that used to follow me when I took the dogs for a walk. But he hid, or tried to, the entire time. I was amazed he always found his way home. My cat now can’t get past all the smells outside the door. Just keeps sniffing and doesn’t budge
It is hard to start working out, but do not stop. I did not like it when I started, and I still have a long way to go. I now love it when I get done with a work out, I love the way my body is starting to respond, I love the looks I get from people who have not seen me in a few months.
There is one big downside to this for me. I hate spending money on myself and the only things that I have now that fit me are shoes and socks. I am going to have to break down and get some pants that fit.
Good for you! thanks for the inspiration. How exciting to have to get new pants? I wish you continued success and keep up the good work. I need to learn by your example.
argh – the gym – good luck!
I’ll need it, trust me.
Don’t worry about the grunters and groaners. They aren’t paying attention to you anyone. The one they are looking at is the man/woman in the mirror.
That is a very good point. Why are there so many mirrors in gyms? It makes me dizzy
When I did hillwalking I had targeted exercises at the gym and they definitely helped. Good luck!
I probably should fit in some rambles to round out my exercise 🙂
Exercise does help us feel fit and the added bonus of looking good and feeling good. I too have my ups and downs with the gym but I try atleast 2-3 times a week. Holidays makes me eat more thus I need to balance it with cardio. I bet the mountain activity will be awesome. Happy Holidays.
We are aiming for 3-4 times a week. I don’t want to go overboard and it’s hard to find the time for everything. I wish all of you a wonderful holiday!
My doctor challenged me if I will ever get to step inside our fitness center in my apartment complex and I haven’t. You see I hate exercise too other than walking aimlessly. LOL But if you know that you will be needing your strength and stamina for your trip, better be prepared than sorry.
I’m not big into lifting weights and such so this will be a different experience for me. thanks for the encouragement! Happy walking aimlessly.
Exercise? What is this strange thing you refer to?? Exercise takes too much time away from reading, blogging, photography and movie watching LOL!!! You are so lucky (yes, I’m whining) that you get to go on so many amazing trips. How about you take me with you on this one, and if you fall down and go boom I will piggyback you ok? Yes, I’m laughing as I picture it in my head!! Seriously though, good luck with the gym. I wish I had one closer to me because I could certainly use it. I was going to a place with vibration machines which are really good for circulation etc. and I absolutely loved it, but they recently closed and now I don’t know what I am going to do :(.
Now will you drop me–if yes, you can’t go! It will be interesting finding time to fit the gym in with everything. Hopefully I can get into a routine and it will be easy. I’m sorry to hear about your gym closing. Ours is close–it’s tiny, but seems to work for my needs. Maybe you can start a gym
I promise I won’t drop you!!! Please take me with you :).
You also promised the picture would be easy this week. Liar!
Oh my, are you whining again?? LOL. Just keep trying – you will get it!!
Oh it sounds like a great adventure. My husband and I both need to shed some pounds. We did really well for a while and now have slipped back into our sedentary sloth-like life. Time to take a cue from you. Good luck good luck good luck!!!
Why is it so easy to get out of shape and so hard to get back into shape? I wish you two luck
It’s just a matter of time for fitting in going to the gym! I wish you all the best, and make sure you stick at it because it’ll make the mountain experience so much better if you’re fit.
Yes, I’ve learned that the hard way. I’m not in my 20s anymore–now I have to work to stay in shape and to enjoy the things I want to do in life. Thanks!
Get after it so you can enjoy and conquer the mountain experience.
I like your encouragement. Keep reminding me!
It’s sounds like something exciting, so just think about your trip and it will motivate you! And having a workout buddy always makes it better – my husband and I recently starting doing our exercise routine together, and it really helps to do that together! Good luck and you’ll be in shape before you know it! 🙂
I’m glad you have a workout buddy. It does help things. Have fun getting in shape!
How exciting! You definitely don’t want to be carried down the mountain, so it’s great that you have a workout partner. It’s so much easier when you do that together. Good luck!
Thanks. I’m really hoping this experience will be fun with a fantastic ending–not being carried down a mountain.
WOW!
🙂
I have always hated exercise. I recently joined a gym and I actually love the classes. Exercising with a group of people to music is actually fun. I love Zumba. It is just a matter of finding something you enjoy! Good luck!
I’m not much of a dancer so Zumba might be a challenge for me. Have fun!
wanna know where you goin !!!!!
Ah the GYM. Lots of peoples nightmare place .
Good for you TBM- and yes if you have a gym bunny yes ?? to encourage you it will work well
especially with a mountain mission ahead 😉
I was there last night and tried not to be intimidated. Some of those guys are huge and there aren’t many girls there.
Sounds great! It’s always more important to do some training when you actually have a set goal. This post was lots of fun for me because at the moment I am running and training at the gym because of a mountain climb which I’ll be completing in Borneo (Malaysia) in January! Good luck with the training, I’m sure it will be worth it in the end when it all pays off.
Good luck. I hope you share your experience when you get back!
You will love the gym and it is always better with someone to work out with!
Yes. I forgot my ipod last night and it was nice to have someone distract me from watching the timer on the stair climber.
Having a workout buddy should help. Can’t wait to see where you’re headed next!
Hopefully soon I can reveal
Oh this is exciting – the journey not the gym!
I’m pretty excited about it. Can’t wait for it all to be finalized.
You are no doubt doing the right thing. So important to get yourself ready so that you can actually have fun with this vs. being miserable and reconsidering your choices when the time comes. I will give you all the badgering you need if you want it, lol!
Please, I need it! I did some ab work last night and boy I’ve discovered a few new muscles I didn’t know I have. I really hope I don’t have to sneeze today.
Hope you enjoyed the cookies…er…gym!
I’m doing my best, hobnobs are tasty
This is a funny post. Thanks for the chuckle. I’m totally not a gym person either. I feel like the regular t-shirt and sweatpants attire aren’t upscale enough for the gyms out here. T-shirts and sweats! I swear I thought that was the uniform 🙂 Good luck with the workouts…sometimes the Great Outdoors are better.
yeah, I don’t fit in with my Pearl Jam t shirt and soccer shorts. Oh well. I put my head down and get it done.
There’s no shame in being carried off a mountain…I hurt my ankle on Kili and got a piggy back ride the rest of the way…just saying
I’m so sorry to hear about your ankle. did a hot guy carry you done?
Good luck with the training, TBM 🙂
In college, I often went mountain hiking…I miss those days
Me too. I lived in a mountain town in college and I do miss the freedom of disappearing for a day for a hike. I don’t have many mountain opportunities now. Thanks for the luck. I’ll need it.
I’m just catching up on my reading after a crazy week and I’m happy to see that you’re back from Prague. It looks like you had a wonderful time!
About preparing for your volcano hike, I recently read a short piece by Sloane Crosley about a similar hike she did in Equador. She was woefully unprepared both with her gear and physical stamina. It must have been a crazy trip for her but made for some hilarious reading. I think your trip has a lot in common with hers. 🙂
I’m hoping I can avoid the hilarious reading for this upcoming trip. We get many laughs about the Guatemala experience, at the time though, I wasn’t having any fun. I went for a run on Saturday and when I wanted to stop I kept saying, “I don’t want to repeat Guatemala in my head.” I ended running further. I’ll have to look for her writings on Ecuador. Maybe that’s another chant I can do in my head for encouragement.
Dramatic about the mountain killing you! haha. I love it. I have to force myself to the gym but once I get there… or am nearly finished, I love it!
As soon as I’m done with my workout, I love the gym 🙂
I wouldn’t be able to climb any mountains.
I’m one of those people with super speedy metabolism, meaning, I’m skinny no matter how lazy I am BUT it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be doing something. I
I used to have a fast metabolism–it’s still pretty fast, but I’m not as skinny as I once was. And I’m not as active as I used to be. Hopefully I’ll be prepared this spring.
It does slow down occasionally as well. I haven’t really found out why but working out has nothing to do with it in my case. It would be healthy if it had. I’d be one of those who have to be carried up and down. 🙂
My metabolism used to be scary fast, but I have Graves Disease. I’ve been in remission for almost ten years. At least it would be easy to carry you down 🙂
Lucky you’re in remission. It’s not that funny to have that.
It wasn’t a fun time, especially for years doctors wouldn’t take me seriously that I was sick. It was a difficult and frustrating journey
It sounds like you are in for a big adventure. I look forward to reading all about it.
I can’t wait to finalize it all so I can start sharing and plan more. thanks!
My mountain home in the front range (Morrison) was 8500 feet altitude and then I sold it for a condo in Denver (mile high). Consequently, when I visited Quito last year, which is 9000 feet altitude, I had no problem walking around the many hills that they have there. Of course, I saw other tourists who seemed to be on the verge of blowing a heart gasket and keeling over. Many of them were in good shape, but not acclimated to the high altitude. Good Post TBM!