Yesterday, I wanted very much to write another blog, and share some of the fun I had hanging out with my friend Connor. We went and hung out all day since it was his day off, ran a few errand, worked on our birthday wish list (the birthdays are within 6 days of each other) and chatted about everything and everything. The only problem was that after all the fun and running around, after Pat (hubby) came home from work, it was time to hit the ground running. It was time to cook dinner, go to the book fair for the kids, run to half-priced books because the cost of the books at the book fair were outrageously expensive, get them to bed and by that time, I was ready to drop as well! But it was a great day, and I was determined to follow yesterdays greatness with a trip to the gym with Mom.
The gym has everything a fitness center should and more! Fully equipped with all the body torturing machines and the indoor/outdoor walking track, personal trainers, and 2 swimming pools (one an olympic style and the other a warm arthritis pool) and a jacuzzi it is pure heaven!
Here lately, every time Mom and I wanted to go, there have been issues going on and we were unable to go work out. So, both of us were dressed in our workout clothes and shoes (for those who know me personally, yes I wore sneakers to the gym - now please pick up your jaw, I don't want it to hurt later) Anyhow, so in our wonderful conquer that world attitude, we started up the stairs to head up to the indoor track. Almost immediately, me knee said "Oh heck no!" and after 2 measly laps, we headed to the pool to work out the angry muscles. After crawling into the locker room and forcing ourselves into our swim suits and trying to cram all our things into an itty bitty locker, it was finally time for something easy.
The olympic pool was full of people working on a water aerobics class, so eying the almost empty arthritis pool we made a beeline to the wonderful hot water. The arthritis pool is kept at a wonderful 84 degrees at all times. This is great for all sorts of aches and pains, so we started walking the pool and chatting about how wonderful it was to be able to be in the pool. Once again we were in our happy place and enjoying how things were going.
Slowly, some elder members started entering the pool, and we found that there was only 10 mins till the coveted arthritis class began. Since both of us have major back issues we have been wanting to try the class, but you have to fill out an application and be placed into the class. Thinking that we were about to be booted, we worked to keep moving and get all we could out of todays swim because once we had to leave the warm haven of the 84 degrees we were getting into the colder olympic pool. It simply was not happening!
Fortunately, the instructor was a very nice older gentleman who invited us to join in. What luck! Finally a chance to try a water aerobics class. Since I am only 31, I am very easily the youngest in the pool. Most are in their 50's and there was a group of ladies in their early 70's that loved to gossip while working out.
Mom and I were watching from the sidelines for the past few years, and have been trying to mimic the movements on our own. So the first thought was "This should be fun and easy" OMG....the joke was on us!
We started of walking in circles and just as everything was going well and we were easily moving, the direction of the circle changed and suddenly we were fighting a currant. For the next 45 minutes, we found that everything we tried to mimic we did wrong and found there were muscles all over that we never knew existed!
The older ladies just kept moving easily and while talking and ignoring the instructor. I have no idea how they were able to keep up when everything in my body was protesting it's very existence! There was even an exersize for rotating your thumbs. So as mom and I try desperately to keep going and keep up, the older ladies were busy discussing us (since we were knew they were curious) and how we were slowing down. Just as I thought the torment couldn't get any worse, at the end after everyone had left and the pool was empty, we thought we would soak some of the sore out in the jacuzzi.
Excited to go sit in the bubbling 104 degree water and really get some pain relief from torture, we quickly tried to exit the pool. As soon as both feet were out of the water, gravity kicked in and suddenly even little things like walking and carrying the towels were hard. I swear we carried off 300 lbs of water :/
It did take 25 minutes in the jacuzzi to convince our legs that they wanted to carry us, and 40 minutes of fighting our clothes to get out of the gym and out the door.
So, todays lesson was this..... NEVER be fooled by age! The older ladies kicked our butts in the water aerobics and when they left the pool there was no hitch or hint there was any issues. I wonder how they do it......
OH the visual! I soo woulda paid to see it!
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