Could I Be a Gym Person?

Confession:  I joined a gym.

Hillarious as this is, it is actually not a joke.

So here is how I,  "Not a Gym Person" Caroline, came to this striking act...

Step 1:  I got a job, and one of the perks of this job is a steeply discounted corporate gym membership at one of the swankiest gyms in Chicago, right next door to my place of work.  I still have to pay part of it, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to pay even a cent toward something that may be a complete waste of money.  I loathe wasting money.  Even though I am now securely employed, it gives me physical pain to waste even a dime.  I honestly didn't even pay attention to this new perk, believing there was no way I would take advantage, until...

Step 2:  March and April were/are MISERABLE in Chicago.  I mean the worst weather ever.  My genius "being active" plan of biking to work has been put on hold for far longer than I wanted.  It has rained/snowed/blustered/been too cold every single weekday, so I have been unable to hop on the bike bandwagon, or do any kind of good "routine" activity that I would like.  I've been itching to do something, but have been completely (and almost literally) frozen in my tracks.  Then I realize, this is not going to be the last time this happens.  Bad weather happens all the time.  I mean, half the year in Chicago, right?  So what am I going to do to solve this for the long term?  AND, even if weather IS perfect...

Step 3:  I realized that, umm, hello...I need a freaking shower after a bike ride!  Especially since I no longer work at a place where it's okay to roll out of bed and wear sweats to work. (::Sigh::)  Even when I DO carry out my brilliant biking plan, it is SO worth the money just for a place to shower.  Why not kill two birds with one stone, and solve the "what do I do when it rains for week?" question AND the shower questions all in one?  I can be pretty cheap, but even I see the value in the shower.  And the value of the free Kiel's shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion.  Think of how much money I could save in shampoo!  (Told you I was cheap.)

Step 4: As I have said, this is my month of Romance.  Well, one of the things I have determined I need to work on in this department is my own feelings about my looks.  Particularly, do I think of myself as being "sexy", and how does this relate to my sexuality?  The answer is--closely.  (Big surprise, I know.)  So, as I will elaborate on in my next blog post, improving my view of myself is a big plus in the Romance department.  Taking care of myself--doing everything I can to stay healthy and vibrant and see myself as beautiful--is part of keeping up my end of the Romance bargain.  (More on that next time.)

And THAT, my friends, is how someone who loathes spending money AND gyms joined the chi-chi-iest gym in Chicago.

I'll keep you posted.