I once shared with you my considerations for joining a health club. I followed through and decided the frequent fitness discount through my health insurance would be just the motivation I needed to stay healthy and justify the expense. (Keep in mind, I'm not chasing kids around like most of my friends, so I actually need the exercise.) Problem: In the last 20 months, I have met my 12-visits-per-month discount requirement exactly one time. (But I’ve been so close many times!)
I’ve found plenty of reasons to not get to the gym three times a week. And most of them are legit. But there’s always a little bit of guilt when I look at that membership payment on my credit card statement each month. Even so, I’m not ready to admit defeat when it comes to the gym.
At work this last week, there was a discussion about what physical activity we would try if we had no fear or physical limitations. (Think about it!) I realized that perhaps my commitment to exercise sometimes fails simply because I haven’t found a health club activity that really excites me. Yet I can watch an Olympic gymnast (can’t wait for London!) or an episode of So You Think You Can Dance and be inspired to do (or make a sad attempt at doing) split leaps across my living room.
Oh well. If and when I need to tighten my budget, the gym membership may be the first thing to go, but it has definitely had value for me too. I’ve met some important goals along the way, learned some new fitness routines and am reminded after every single workout how fantastic it feels to have completed it.
I have some of the same feelings about my gym membership. I have a weekly racquetball game that I play, though because of so many reasons we miss weeks here and there. Like you, not ready to give up. LA Fitness can use the cash, right?
ReplyDeleteI think you need to give yourself much more credit. You do a good job of staying active...whether it's hitting the gym or getting outdoors. And that's quite impressive in our family of non-athletic, indoor people! There is another member of my household (who shall remain nameless) with a gym membership, and he (or she) is lucky if he/she makes it to the gym once a month.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, I don't want to start any marital disputes for you, Jen! :) And Tim, sometimes I justify my health club expense as financially supporting good health and fitness. I figure that's a noble cause, even if I'm not supporting MY health and fitness!
ReplyDelete