Do you have a workout buddy–you know someone who goes to the gym with you and pushes you when you feel like quitting? I used to. But that was three years and twenty-five pounds ago when I lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My friend Pauline and I would go to the YMCA every morning at 5 a.m. We took turns driving and we got to know each other pretty well. So well in fact, that she knew that there was no talking to me before I had at least three large sips of my coffee! (To say I’m not a morning person is an understatement!!) But, Pauline and I grew accostomed to each other’s early morning habits and we became great workout buddies.
Once we arrived at the Y, Pauline and I would head downstairs to the group fitness room. Once inside we’d grab exercise steps for our step class or our kick bags and weighted gloves for kick-boxing sessions.
Alas, since moving back to Wisconsin in June of 2005, I haven’t had a workout buddy quite like Pauline. At first I blamed it on my 3 hour round trip commute into Madison from my home in Sullivan each day. Then, seven months ago I took a job much closer to home. And, while my one way commute has gone from 75 minutes to 25 minutes, and there is a workout facility right across the road from my new office, I have yet to visit it or attend a fitness class there (or anywhere else for that matter).
Seeing my recent struggle to lose the nagging pounds that have plagued me this thirtysix plus months, my husband offered to be my new workout buddy. Well, that’s went okay for awhile. Then one of use would have a stressful day at work and instead of exercising, we’d grab a libation of one sort or another and head for the easy chairs in front of our fireplace. We were beginning to settle into a routine alright, but it wasn’t one that promoted weight loss!
Then, something happened three weeks ago. The Wisconsin weather turned for the better, and my new workout buddy and I renewed our exercise committment to each other. Now, we either walk or bicycle everyday (weather permitting). My new workout buddy and I are feeling better and we’re enjoying this new found time together to be invigorating.
Yeah, I still miss Pauline and the girls from my step class a lot. (I wonder what my husband would look like in pink spandex doing Jazzercise moves? LOL!)
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