Well, it's done. I've officially turned in my thirty day notice to the tiny all-female gym I've belonged to since joining Weight Watchers last June. Quite frankly, it nearly broke my heart when I handed my "Dear John" letter to the cheery blonde behind the desk and was secretly hoping she'd throw herself at my feet, begging me to stay with an emphatic, "How will we make it without you!" After all, I highly suspect they're struggling to not only obtain new members but maintain current ones given that I was the only person working out there most mornings. But I digress and alas, Blondie simply smiled and gave me a chirpy little thank-you as I thrust the letter I agonized over at her. Humph. Where's the love, I ask you?!?
In any case, I will always adore that little gym. It truly was a lifesaver cast to me as I was treading in some very ominous water and I spent many happy, albeit sweaty, hours there these past ten months. Unfortunately like all the women fitness centers in my lovely town, it's sorely lacking in amenities and I outgrew what it had to offer long ago. I quickly realized that it was important to explore other options before boredom had a chance to creep in.
For several months now I've been obsessed with taking a spin class and in an effort to find a place to do so, I've been touring a few local "non-meat market" gyms. Up until last Thursday, I've been seriously unimpressed and was beginning to think that my little girly gym was as good as it was going to get, until I walked through the doors of a nearby hospital run fitness center....
(cue the chorus)
Wow...just wow. I was completely blown away! It had everything I was looking for...spin classes, tons of daytime group classes, an indoor track, lots of cardio equipment and, yes, even multiple TVs so that I would never have to miss Ellen. Even the atmosphere had me at hello and while it's rumored to be very busy during lunch and after work when the hospital employees take advantage of their free memberships, the morning hours are blissfully slow and full of older non-threatening [Read: Won't judge my chunky body...mostly because they can't see me through their cataracts] folk.
While it's usually difficult for me to switch up my routine and enter new situations, my excitement over all the wonderful new experiences this new gym has to offer easily trumps my normal trepidation. Breaking up is indeed hard to do, but the sorrow is certainly dampened when you know something better is awaiting you just over the horizon.
