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The idea that I would like weight training is as bizarre to me as it is to the people who know me well.  While I love taking walks, playing at the park, and enduring the sit-ups that hurt my neck, I’ve always regarded weight-training equipment as something of phallic expression of masculine strength ;)

The husband and I joined our local YMCA.  I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time, and it’s working out well.  I had gone to another gym, and it wasn’t for me.  There were a lot of large muscular men there who freaked me out a little bit, as big men have a tendency to do to me.  At the Y, it’s an entirely different dynamic.  During the day, when I go, it’s just me and the older gentlemen and ladies.  Apparently, weight training is popular for older people who need rehab for injuries or just to build their strength.  Well, I fit right in with them, and I don’t feel self-conscious at all, which is what I was primarily worried about.

The equipment is amazing, because so far - I haven’t hurt myself.  I was in three car accidents almost in a row as a teenage gal between myself and gal friends learning to drive.  I have a tendency to hurt my back, neck, and shoulders often and painfully.  The equipment doesn’t hurt me, which I thought it would.  I love it.  In fact, it seems designed to avoid injury.  The extremely built gentleman who showed me how to use the equipment promised me it wouldn’t make me big and bulky, but leaner and stronger.  He also said that it would make my metabolism sky-rocket, and I’d loose weight as I went along.

After I work out there, I have this incredible high.  I had no idea that exercise did this to you, but it’s this wonderful feeling of strength and accomplishment that blend into the whole day.  I want to go everyday of the week.  Who knew?

The best part is that they have an amazing children’s center where Buttercup can play while I work out.  She’s been doing pretty well with being away from me, and she’s lasted about an hour and a half both times until she told the teacher to come and get me, which I told her to do when she wanted me.  I’m totally impressed with her for handling being away from me.  I can see the window of the play room from the weight room, and I think this might be a really good way to ease her into being apart from me without any painful issues.

I’m really hopeful this will not only make me stronger and leaner, but that little beauty will benefit as well.  They also have a Mommy and Me swim class that I want to get us into…I went ahead and bought bathing suits today for it.  Here’s hoping my mommy weight training at the YMCA turns into a positive thing for the whole family.

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