I’ve battled the scale for the very last time. Yesterday was the first day in a gym in probably seventeen years. Thank God I have a friend in the same boat as me or I might not have gone. We both could think of a hundred things we would have much rather been doing on this cold, snowy morning. But, there we were.

We joined Planet Fitness because of their tag line. They are a self-proclaimed “No Judgement Zone”. The fact that we can go there with our muffin tops rolling over our tres chic spandex leggings (carefully camouflaged by our slightly oversized t-shirts) and glow in front of others without some skinny little plastic Barbie doll looking at us with veiled disgust is a huge relief. Gosh, that first trip in, that first look at all these intimidating machines, that first awkward round of reps doing things in front of others that honestly should never be given the light of day, that first 10 minutes on the elliptical when you have no rhythm or sense of balance….that is an act of great bravery. That is pure strength right there. Anyone who does that, and stays, is a hero in my eyes!

And stay we did! Our cute little personal trainer, with the tight little bubble butt I have no memory of ever having, went over our fitness goals (ummmm, I’d like to lift my groceries into my car without feeling like I just bench pressed a Buick!) then showed us each machine and how to use it. My friend and I looked at each other and said “Let’s DO this!” (Or maybe it was “You wanna get ice cream after?” I don’t remember.) Anyway, we headed off for our cardio warmup, then did a circuit on the machines and another cardio cool down.

Feeling pretty smug, we headed into the locker room and there….right out in front of us…was the dreaded S-C-A-L-E!!! This is an instrument of the devil himself! Ok, we got on. I am brave. I am fearless. I demonstrate 190 pounds of gravitational pull. That’s cool. That’s not who I am. I am powerful. Now, to get strong! Follow along on an entirely NEW adventure as I reshape my vessel!

❤