The Gym Quitter
I’m one of those people.
The people I saw other people complain about on Facebook. The people I overheard other people whine about in the locker room. The people who quit their gym membership after only three months.
I have lots of excuses for why I quit: My trainer, who worked me out till I puked (and then some) my first day–I only worked out with him once, gave me weird looks while I was running around the track (pathetic, sad looks that said simultaneously “I’m so sorry” and “You’re such a weakling”); I didn’t know anyone at that gym and I would go more if I knew people (not necessarily true though); I feel self-conscious at the gym and would rather TurboJam it up in my unfinished basement; The weather’s getting warmer and a 3-mile nature walk followed by a 3-minute sprint seems much more appealing than a sweaty, smelly, mirror-filled building.
I was so determined that I was not going to be one of these people that I almost just kept paying the bill but never showing up. But then I realized I would become one of those people: someone who keeps paying the bill, but never shows up.
When I go to the gym I’m convinced that everyone in the place knows exactly when my last workout was, how little I’ve done since then, how far I’ve deterred from my weight loss goals, and how pathetically out of shape I really am. No matter the ridiculousness of these thoughts, I can’t shake them, so I usually just convince myself of the lie that I would say if someone actually confronted me with the problem: I’ve been so busy I haven’t made it back; I was sick, I couldn’t handle the chest phlegm and the running; I actually have been working out at home.
Regardless of my excuses and insecurities about the gym, I was determined to keep going. Until I realized that it would be cheaper in both the short-term and long-run to just buy myself a new set of Turbo workout videos. The night I realized that was the night I wrote up my cancellation letter.
My TurboFire DVDs are in the mail.
I’ll let you know how this system goes…
Filed under: journey | 4 Comments
Tags: Chalene Johnson, quitter, the gym, Turbo Fire, working out
Why didn’t you stop me when I was selling you on Lifetime! Joe’s going to be disappointed in me. The animals can cheer you on while you’re jamming :)
Well, I’m not sure that I’m not sold on Lifetime. It sounds like a really good deal. :)
Also, I have friends to trying to sell me on LA Fitness.
Maybe I can go in for a free workout and meet Joe anyways. ;)
Also, I didn’t think you’d read this.
I was considering quitting my gym, then they hired me. Now I get paid to workout (fitness instructor) and a free membership. However, I do Turbo Fire at home on my off days so I have the best of both.