Ode to the Gym

Oh Exercise Facility, how I love thee...

You take my flabby body and make it less flabby.

Your treadmills and ellipticals are my best friends and worst enemies. Some days I fly gracefully along, others I slog and drip sweat - yet you are always there the next day, ready for me. Let me count off your delights.

The well-muscled arms of the one cute guy.

Mr. Short T-Shirt's soft, blindingly white belly, sparsely covered in long black hair...glimpsed as he does ackward back stretches for no apparent reason.

Me, snuggled up to the air purifier for my crunches on busy days. Oh, the aroma of sweaty men!

And my favorite, the bulging arm veins of Mr Yoga - you can actually watch them expand as he does handstands in the center of the room. Best appetite suppressant I've ever had.

Today I was lucky enough to experience 3 of these delights at once! (The cute guy wasn't there)

How do I keep myself away from you? The call of the book must be so strong...yet I keep returning to you, my dearest. I shall always return...

...until I can live off just celery.

There's Still Time to Join

The 12-week Fitness for the Rest of Us Challenge!

Compete against YOURSELF in measures of fitness (strength, stamina, flexibility). Watch your progress week by week, and enjoy the support and friendship of other less-than-perfect exercisers along the way.

This challenge is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. (However, if you have never exercised before, please consult a doctor first) There is no fee or obligation to join - it's totally free, and run by me.

For those who complete the 12 week challenge, there will be a "Most Improved" prize at the end!

This week is "Intake Week" - you do an initial measure to the tests, and report that information to me. This is also the week to set any custom goals you have. So head over to the Fitness4Us challenge site now!

Fitness Challenge for "The Rest of Us"

As some of you know (but most don't)...I've been working on losing weight and exercising more for the past year or so. I've chronicled my struggles and triumphs on a personal blog - not here, since it doesn't really seem to relate to this one. However, I'm making an exception this time, because so many of my bloggy friends have mentioned wanting to improve their physical health.

Well, here's your chance! I'm creating a 12 week Fitness Challenge For the Rest of Us.

What kind of exercise you get is up to you - bike, run, walk, swim, I don't care. (I'm happy to provide links to resources if you want however) This challenge will measure the outcomes of good exercise - endurance, strength, flexibility, and speed. Here's what you do to participate:

1. Sign up at my challenge website, and pledge to earn 7 APs (or burn 700 calories exercising, non WWers) per week. Be sure to provide the baseline information requested.
2. Visit the challenge website AT LEAST once every 2 weeks to report your latest 'scores'.
3. Watch a chart of your progress versus other participants!
4. At the end of 12 weeks, the participant with the greatest overall improvement will get a prize!

So what do you say...up for a challenge?