Mamas In Training

Adjust for winter? Not so much.

With the exception of my Triathlon training, my workouts have always revolved around a Gym. From a fitness standpoint I’ve always enjoyed weight training…and climate control.  I’d rather walk across hot coals than run around my neighborhood…I hate running on principle and all those teenagers driving and texting doesn’t add to my love for the open road. So, adjusting my workouts for winter simply means that I wear a coat in and out of the Gym.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand the value of cardio in my workout; I just prefer to use the stationary bike or elliptical machine to get my heart rate going. But, at 6 ½ months pregnant the stationary bike requires that I bend at an uncomfortable angle (my unborn child reacts to this bending by flailing around in my belly, which I’m going to go ahead and take as a sign to STOP) and as a card-carrying member of the clumsy club, I’m way too off balance now to be on the elliptical machine (I’ve almost fallen off that sucker before I was pregnant).

So where does that leave me? Cruising around one of the most ingenious Gym amenities – the indoor track. On the indoor track I’m able to waddle at my own pace and enjoy my iPod tunes without worrying about someone running me over AND without bundling up to brave the Utah cold.

My boss tells me that I need to start adding water-aerobics to my workout schedule. Am I the only one that thinks that’s a silly idea? Anyone out there ever had a great water aerobics experience?

Erin

Welcome to the germ factory…I mean the Gym.

I rang in the New Year with a goal of losing 50 pounds by this July, so when I agreed to do this Triathlon I was already in the work-out mindset. Since we haven’t yet “officially” started working with Trainer Dave, I’ve been working out on my own. Or I should say that I was working out on my own until I was sidelined by a killer case of Streph Throat. No one in my family has been ill and since I work at home in relative isolation, I’ve come to the conclusion that I contracted this ickyness at the germ-factory that you and I know as “The Gym”.

When I returned to the gym this week I noticed something interesting. I, like everyone else there, observes the customary gym etiquette by spraying and wiping down the machine with disinfectant after I’m done using it. But what I noticed post-Strep is that everyone (including myself) sprays off the pads of the machine (where you sit, lay or lean when you’re doing that exercise) no one sprays off the HANDLES! 

I wish you could have seen my face when this occurred to me – I was working on the a machine and was facing a woman that was using the Chest Press. In between her set she coughed and politely covered her mouth with her hand…and then placed her hands back on the handles of the machine and continued the set. I’m pretty sure that my mouth was hanging open as I watched her and that an actual light bulb appeared over my head.

I’ve started spraying and wiping down the handles of the machines when I’m done using them, but that doesn’t really help much with free weights. I dare you to cruise over to the free weight rack and start spraying away while the big hulky men flex in the mirror. 

My tip – wash your hands between your weight training workout and your cardio workout and then again before you leave the gym. If you think you have a tough time motivating yourself to work out NOW, try talking yourself into running with a stuffy head. ;)

Erin