Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow!

We haven't found a gym yet here in New York.  That wouldn't be so surprising for me as I pretty much hate to exercise.  I only do it because of the not wanting to die early thing, otherwise I would probably skip it all together.  But Chizz loves to exercise.  It is a stress reliever for him.  He enjoys working out and has done it pretty regularly since. . . . forever.   But ever since we have moved here, we haven't yet found a gym for a few reasons. 

First, the gym has to be in close proximity.  For Chizz that would be within 20 or 30 blocks, he will walk pretty far - truth be told.  For me, our living room.  Well, okay, the lobby of my building would be nice but I could settle for 10 blocks or so.  It is really a matter of what I would be willing to walk in the rain or -15 degrees.  I would most likely work out in the morning or afternoon.  Chizz likes to work out in the evening after work.  So there is our second requirement, the gym can't be too crowded after 7:30 p.m.  There is nothing worse than trying to get a quick work out in and have to wait for every machine.  And I am counting it as 3 but it really could be requirement 2B since it is a timing thing but we would like it to be open past 10:00 p.m., ideally 11:00 p.m. or so.  That is mainly for Chizz.  He often doesn't get home until 7:00 p.m. or may have an early work dinner and he would still like to get a workout in.  It doesn't leave much time if you get home at 7:00, eat dinner, digest, walk 30 blocks and still get your work out in before 10:00 p.m.

Lastly, the monthly charge cannot be more than our rent.  I jest but only a little. It is surprising how expensive gyms are here on the east coast.  In California we each paid $29.99 per month for 24 Hour Fitness.   Here the two closest gyms to us are $90 and $153 each per month!!!  And really nothing special, just normal work out places.  So we go from paying $60 for the gym to either $180 or $306 per month.  Because Chizz has been travelling so much and has had so many after work obligations, we just haven't motivated to making a commitment.  I don't mind paying $180 a month (but I really do) if we are using the facilities regularly.  But if Chizz can only go 1 time or so per week, it doesn't really seem worth the cost.  I am hoping that his schedule will calm down or they will build a 24 Hour Fitness closer to us.

So for exercise I have been walking around the reservoir pretty regularly.  I like it, it is pretty, I usually see something interesting and I can easily do two laps or 3 miles in about 45 minutes or so.  But lately I have been realizing that this is not challenging enough cardiovascularly for me.  In order to the prolong the dying early thing, your heart rate needs to race a bit on a regular basis.  So I have been trying to figure out what I can do to accomplish this goal.  Yesterday, it dawned on me.  I used to enjoy the various stair climbing machines at our old gym.  I have stairs in our apartment building.  Perhaps I could use those some how to pump it up a bit.  So yesterday, I put on my tennis shoes and walked down the 24 floors to the lobby.  Since I have one surgical knee, I thought I should take it easy my first day and see how it went.  I went down pretty fast, my heart was going, my knees seemed to hang in there and it went pretty well.  The stairs led right out the back door of the building and I went on to run my errands.

Since it went so well yesterday, this morning I decided to add on.  I went down, up, then down again.  The equivalent of 78 floors.  Again, it went pretty well.  I worked up a sweat pretty well, got the heart pumping and think I provided some entertainment for the doorman as I think the stairwells all have surveillance camers in them.  That is a bit comforting in case I have cardiac arrest, I am hoping it won't be too long until someone gets to me. 

I was feeling pretty good.  Until about 3 hours ago.  I was sitting on the subway coming home and realized when I got up, my legs hurt.  Then when I climbed up the stairs from the subway my legs hurt, a lot.  Now they are pretty much hurting all the time, moving or sitting.  I find it helps to moan or exclaim, "ow" everytime I move my legs and feel the pain.  I think Chizz finds it endearing.  Not.  But it reminds me of the running gag on Spongebob.  Whenever there is some kind of catastrophe scene, someone screams out "my leg" whether it applies or not.  A few weeks ago, Snake posted it on Auntie K's wall.  I found it too and I am putting it in below.  Each time you hear it, just imagine me saying "my legs".  I am sure you will find it endearing too.