Jun. 9, 2008
Exercise Epiphany
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So, speaking of pilates...... This past weekend, I ordered a pilates reformer. You know one of those things that has the tension cords and all for you. I ordered it from Home Shopping Network. It's called Pilates Power Gym. I'm really excited about it but nervous too. Here's my deal.... I'm not a beginner at exercise. I exercise a lot and a lot of the newer things that come on the market for exercise, tend to be geared toward beginners. Like this other thing that I went hunting last weekend that I'd been hearing about. I did some research on it and decided not to spend the $170 that it would cost because it didn't look like it had enough resistance for anyone other than a beginner. I do a lot of things, but one of the things that I do is -- I have one of those little stair steppers - you know the kind that just has the base and you can slide it under a bed if you need to. Well, I started using that several years ago and have since worked my way up to the highest resistance level (level 12) and can do an hour+ on it easily. A lot of things on the market today don't seem to have any resistance or if they do, they tend to be too easy for me. Our neighborhood has a yard sale every year and we walk around the neighborhood looking at everyone's junk every year. Well, this year, someone was selling a gazelle, and my husband bought it for me for $20. Well, we get the thing home and honestly, it feels like a toy to me. Definitely not made for someone who is not a beginner. My kids love it though. They've been playing on it ever since. So, it occurs to me that it's time for me to get grown-up exercise stuff. Last week, my husband got a new computer. And because he is skilled and no beginner with computer stuff and this is his livelihood, of course, he got a computer that was not made for a novice. He got a much more expensive computer than the basic model. No big deal. It's what he needs for where he is. So, this epiphany that I had the other day is that --- why am I still trying to use basic exercise equipment when I'm not a beginner? I know I'm slow, but this was a light bulb kind of moment for me. It was a good moment for me to have though because it allowed me to give myself permission to buy what I need without all of the guilt. I've always wanted something that was more gym quality. But, I've never been willing to pay for it. This pilates reformer that I bought - it wasn't terribly expensive (although, definitely not cheap). But, for someone who loves pilates but has just been way too bored with the mat stuff....it'll be a good change for me. Apparently you get a much better workout with the reformer than you do with a mat class. I know that the whole term pilates can be intimidating, but if you haven't tried it...give it a try. It's not fru-fru like it sounds. And, it really does lengthen you. Ever since I started doing pilates -- I've gained a half inch in height. I doubt that I'd be able to gain any more; it's not a miracle worker. It's not a huge difference. But, I was 5'1" and now I'm 5' 1 1/2 inches. As you can see....I'm short, so I'll take it! I'm not one of those people who buys exercise equipment and lets it sit around and gather dust. If it works for me, I'll use it. If it doesn't, I"ll get rid of it. So, I'm not too nervous that I spent good money on something that I won't use. I'm pretty good about keeping my commitment to exercise. And I'm also not one of those people who goes to the gym. I'm not opposed to going to a gym, but at this point in my life, with homeschooling and housekeeping and other commitments, I'd never get to the gym, so it'd be a waste of money and I'd still be out of shape. For life as I know it right now....I have to exercise at home. So wish me luck....and maybe I'll be able to look good in a swimsuit again.....by winter, lol. :) |