The Southwest Voice

By: Caroline Reid

Description: Columnist Caroline Reid writes about life as a "gym rat"

One of my younger friends has been particularly encouraging to me as I sweat it out at the gym. She suggested that I increase my stamina day by day and do a variety of speeds, inclines and minutes on the treadmill. She also said to vary my weight routine so my muscles don’t get used to it and get lazy. 

 

“Surprise, muscles, I’m doing something different today!”   

 

I spend an hour on the treadmill, varying my speed and incline. About the time I think I might die at 5 mph on a 5 incline, I slow down to 2 mph on a 1 incline. Moving on to the weights, I do three sets of 20 reps, starting out heavy and ending a little lighter. After this, my muscles feel a bit like jello and the sweat crawls down my back like something alive, taking up residence between my shirt and my skin.  

 

I weighed this morning and made the thrilling discovery of a ¼ lb.weight loss! My self-described coach repeated the usual mantra of the fit and skinny. “It’s not the weight you lose. It’s the muscle you gain. Muscle weighs more than fat.” She went on to say, “Keep this up for nine months and you are going to see real results.” 

 

“NINE MONTHS!” I yelled at her. “That’s how long it took to percolate my kids and look what that got me! Dirty diapers, vomit on the new carpet, headaches, backaches, colds, flu, trips to emergency and dental bills. I may have to rethink this whole gym thing.” 

 

The variety of determined “gym rats” where I work out is really interesting. Age varies, including the disgustingly skinny teenagers, with no inch to pinch, to the overweight of all ages trying to gain muscle and lose fat! My hat goes off to anyone over 65 who exercises regularly and there are several at my gym. Statistics say that 60% of the people over 60 in Kern County report “doing nothing” all day so this hardy little group of “elders” at the gym deserves a pat on the back. So what if it takes nine months. Wasn’t that little bundle of joy worth it? And you don’t have to take anything home and take care of it after you lose the weight and gain the muscle. Just your gorgeous, strong body! Exercise stays with you a lifetime. Kids move out!