Back in the Gym

Back in the Gym

Now that I’m into my workout regime, I’ve been sore daily for the last two weeks.  As you know, each time a muscle group gets complacent it hurts like crazy getting those muscles back in tune with fitness.  Every time I get up from the couch, out of the bed, up from my desk and out of the car, I groan at the aching soreness that comes with every movement.  Ninety-nine year olds would probably be the only class of people who could relate to how I feel at this very moment.

Yet there’s something that feels so good about this aching soreness.  Unlike a headache or toothache that torments it's victim with torturing throbs, muscle pain is a deep penetrating ache that is only experienced with more movement of the effected muscles.  Maybe its knowing that the pain is causing reformation of those muscles, or that the pain is burning away the access belly fat that makes muscle soreness tolerable.  I've decided to endure the pain and forego the crying and complaining, which is for the weak.  My husband often tells me, “If getting in shape was easy, then everybody would be in shape!” 

Those who walk the beach with bikinis that reveal a sculpted, toned body, have endured the pain.  They’ve paid the price for their tight abdomen and continue to pay it on a daily basis with running and strength training.  Our bodies are amazing creations, crafted and formed with pure genius intelligence.  One thing about these extraordinary forms is they were made to move move, move!  Whenever a muscle sits for periods of time without strength training or cardio, it become extremely sore once its been introduced to movement again.  This discomfort doesn't discourage me though.  The soreness only lasts until the muscles are acclimated again; then, my once sore body craves the weight of the barbells and the push of the leg presses.  I welcome the soreness.  I wear it like a superhero wear her cape.  My husband tells me to take glutamine to help ease the soreness.  I tell him no thank you.  Nothing that's worth having comes cheap.  Becoming healthy can be painful sometimes, but its so worth it.

Tennis

Tennis

This past summer, I wanted to steal some extra cardio time and venture away from the usually walking or jogging to nowhere, so I signed up for tennis lessons and I am loving it!  Tennis would offer me a goal at the end of my cardio of having played a game instead of walking the neighborhood or treadmill which leads me to no real destination other than having said I've completed my cardio for the day.  I had so much fun laughing at myself as I swung at a balls I totally missed or at the on ball I managed to send flying clear out of the tennis courts into a parked car through the open sun-roof. 

The local college kids from Grand Blanc Parks and Rec were the instructors.  They were patient with us old-timers and great to work with. One of the other students was also a college professor who had never played tennis.  

As I reflect back on the endeavor, I think about the irony of being in the position of student and having teenagers as my teachers.  It was a little embarrassing but at the same time, hilarious.    The students explained and demonstrated how we must angle the racket, swing the racket, make sure it goes over our shoulders, the correct position of our feet , where we should hit the ball, and on and on.  Somewhere in the middle of about the 6th directions, the other professor begged, “Can we please focus on one direction at time?" We’ve got too much going on and we can’t focus on learning just one thing.”  I had to agree with her.  It was a little overwhelming.  In that moment I felt so out of place and incompetent.  Its funny how we can be experts in one area and dumb-dumbs in another. 

With tennis, you don’t realize how many rules and techniques this sport has until you try to learn and play it.  There are different governing principles for when you have four players verses two, How you aim the ball when serving, when to use one hand or two.

And finally, another lesson I learned first-hand, is that tennis really, really works the muscles in the forearm.  Ask me how I know.