Monday, February 04, 2008

"Young Man, There's No Need to Feel Down..."

I did it, y'all. I finally did it. Tonight, I went to the gym for the first time in well over a year.

And not just any gym, but my new gym. And my neighborhood's new gym - - The Lakeview Athletic Club.

It's directly across the street from my old gym and I feel like a big ole' gay Benedict Arnold, but LVAC is quite possibly the nicest and best gym in the city right now.

Everything is state of the art, the men's locker room is a religious experience (and for once, not just because of all the hot naked guys inside, but because of the actual DESIGN), there are two - - count 'em TWO!! - - pools (one indoor and one outdoor) and they have a KILLER discount for theatre artists that brought my monthly membership fee to EXACTLY the same price I was paying across the street.

Everyone told me that once you get out of the habit of going to the gym, it's very hard to get back IN the habit...

...I wonder if the same is true for nuns and their wimples. I mean, once those gals are allowed to take off the habit, I'll bet it's hard to get 'em back IN the habit, wouldn't you think?...

...and I hadn't been in a long friggin' time. But I waited until a little before 9:00 p.m., so that I wouldn't be intimidated with that huge after-work "workout boy" crowd and so that I could get myself acquainted with the machines and the general layout of this four story gym.

And when I put on my favorite A&F tank top, I realized that the last time it had been worn was at the beach this July at Hilton Head. It smelled EXACTLY like suntan lotion and sunshine and sand.

Nope, I hadn't washed it and thank the Lord that I hadn't, because it put me in a fantastic mood. "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows." You know, all that and Lesley Gore, too.

The workout felt great. And just like when I was in my old routine, I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Wednesday. 'Cause you know this bitch is gonna be sore tomorrow morning.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats! btw...was the tank top the ONLY item of clothing that you hadn't washed since the summer? *grin*

Aaron said...

Good for you! I've been a gigantic (literally) sloth for the last three days...all my good intentions of going to the gym have blown all over tarnation...I'm going to try to go back today. For me, it's not the activity that makes it hard, it's the other people. I hate dealing with more than one other person when I'm panting and sweating. (Unless it's a special occasion.)

Michael said...

Good for you!!!!. I went to my gay gym again yesterday. And as an experiment, I counted calories too. Very interesting.......Keep up the good work!

Project Christopher said...

Good luck! I knew from Keith Elliott that they were giving performers (even comics!) a discount, isn't that nice! Speaking of Comics, i'm clipping a corner of your funny card for dipping SOOO low to resort to "back in the habit"... Honestly.... LOL

Stephen R. said...

mc2cool - Yes. At least, I think so!!! :)

aaron - Thank God LVAC is open till 11pm on weeknights. It was pretty empty and there weren't many other people watching me panting. Although, there were guys heading for the shower at 10pm. I'm sure they just wanted to get clean before heading home for the night, right?

michael - Let's keep each other going, baby. I'm afraid Emerald City might make the Genie shirtless and I don't want to look like Britney at the VMA's!

chris - Baby, if Sondheim can use that "habit" joke, I can use it! From I NEVER DO ANYTHING TWICE...

"As I said to the abbot,
I'll get in the habit,
but not in the habit!"

Come on! That's funny!!

Anonymous said...

I'm so pleased for you! Now that you're twenty-five, you have to think of your health!

dirk.mancuso said...

Congrats. Perhaps I shall use your buff form as an inspiration to me.

Unknown said...

The gym...isn't that where you go to torture yourself with many varied machines? Yes, I've been there, it was back during the time when Lincoln was president...

I must congratulate you on your determination. I hope its catching..

Mark in DE said...

Good for you! It makes you feel good to know you're doing something good for your health.

But that sun screen laden tank top should be washed, dude! Nobody wants to smell Hawaiian Tropic when they're working out. They want to smell MAN SWEAT mixed with deoderant!

Mark :-)

Stephen R. said...

master aaron - Bless you! Twenty-five. Bless you!!!

dirk - As soon as my form gets buff, I'll inspire you any way you like! :)

just me - Thanks!! I hope I can keep up the determination long enough to shed a few pounds so that when I take off my shirt, I look like Matthew McConaughey. Wish me luck!

mark - Trust me, I'm sure the sun screen is preferable to any other smell that might come from me. Not that I'm "farty," but still...

Anonymous said...

Hey! LVAC is great, isn't it? I have been going there since it opened. Our schedules are about 12 hrs apart, however. I have been going in the mornings. Maybe sometime I'll see you in the steam room ;) Keep up the good work!