I joined Lifestyle Family Fitness today

I was running errands with the boys today and decided to stop at the fitness club to check it out today.  They are only in Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio.  But they are opening up several new ones over the next 18 months. I can bring the boys to work out there while I do.  I hope this will be one of the solutions for me where I can get back into exercising without worrying about the boys.  I loved Curves, but I couldn't leave the boys home before hubby got home.  Then they closed so early that I couldn't always get there in time to do my workout. I paid for 3 months today.  I can go ahead and pay for the year if I want to freeze the rate I have.  I can quit any time I want to without a long contract. They have lots of machines there so I will have no problem getting my workout if I come in during the daytime.  Membership comes with three free personal trainer sessions. There is also a 30 day money back guarantee where I can get all of my money back if  don't like it. I usually don't jump out and do something this quickly.  But I have been looking at their  flyers for a while.  So I just went with it. 

YAY LOrettA!  I belonged to lifestyles in Florida after they closed the Gold's there.  It's a great place.. well kept.. clean.. well maintained equipment.  The place in Florida also had a circuit area (similar to Curves).   This sounds great....   it'll let the boys burn off that energy and help keep them fit while you're getting what YOU need.  The exercise is great for not only our bodies, but our minds. I applaud you for taking this step.  I hope your first session is very productive (and hopefully not so painful the next day).. lol God Bless!!!! Lori

The place was immaculate when I went there today.  It even smells clean!  I couldn't believe the number of machines they have available.  They are definitely prepared for peak hours.  I also feel good about the location.  Besides being close to my home, I feel the area is a safe one. I was surprised to see a tanning booth and sauna there as well.  A pool would be the only thing that would make things better.  But it has most of what we would want.  (Our community pool will open Memorial Day weekend.) The man asked me why I didn't stay with Curves.  I honestly told him that I loved going to Curves.  But I couldn't leave our sons home alone in the afternoon before my husband arrived home.  (They are 13 and 17 years old, but they are developmentally delayed.)  When I waited for hubby to arrive home, sometimes I didn't get there in time to work out because Curves closes so early. My appointment is at 11:00 Friday morning.  I plan to warn them that I don't want to be so sore that I dread returning!  My new membership inclues 3 free training sessions. I saw a list of classes for the month.  Do you think I should start out with the silver sneakers class?  That might be about right for my beginning speed.  Seriously.  I have COPD (which seems to be under control right now) and I am just beginning to feel so much better now since I just got off several medications that made me feel horrible for over a year.  I really hope I will begin to have even more energy like what I am finally beginning to feel returning.  It would be great to have everything to finally come together for our family. 

I'm so excited for you!  I've spent probably the better portion of my life in a gym so this is an area that really perks me up! I don't know anything about the classes unfortunately.  Whenever I join a new gym... I ask them to put me in touch with a personal trainer.  I find one who can work with someone like me..  at first it was damage to my joints from gymnastics.. various injuries.. surgeries, and I too have c.o.p.d. w/emphysema but I find my lung function greatly improved with the cardio.  It forces me to BREATHE and stretch my lungs!  At first it felt like I was gonna die.. lol  seriously but I figured.. well.. do it or die tryin'!  lol  I havent used the combivent in a while. Curves turns me off .. and I'll explain why I feel that way.  When I checked them out, the machines were hydraulic.  The only way to add weight was to pump faster and faster makes no sense when trying to tone and build.  Faster is just silly..  I'm just so excited you have a place to train and your boys can do it WITH you!  I'm hoping for great comfort for you and your boys in this!!

Our budget will not allow for me to have a personal trainer.  But that is okay.  If the boys can exercise and burn off some energy and allow me to get some exercise too.  That will be great. I can understand your feelings about Curves.  There is something out there for everyone.  Curves meets the needs of women who probably would not be exercising anywhere if it wasn't available for them.  I really liked the atmosphere there too.  They were so friendly and encouraging there.  They had weekly Mad Gabs and Tri-Bond questions.  They had other games going on daily.  We had food drives and participated in walking for the cure of breast cancer.  I also enjoyed being around adults!  But it wasn't as close to home as this club is.  I plan to still wear the comfortable tee shirts and cotton knit pants.  I don't have the confidence to wear the other clothes.  But I no longer feel I have to "conform" to the way others dress.  I dress for comfort in shoes and clothes.  I try to find clothes that look flattering on me.  But shoes and clothes must also be comfortable.  Maybe I will feel more comfortable in more types of clothes as the weight goes down. I hope I don't sound like I am not excited about this new club.  Because I really am excited.  It will be wonderful if the boys and I can get a healthy workout. As far as the breathing goes, I have onlybeen unable to do what I wanted to do once recently.  That was when I was at the CHADD conference in Washington, DC early in November.  The people in the hotel room next to ours were smoking.  It compromised my health and the health of the other ladies in my room.  I was not able to keep up with everyone the day we walked on Capitol Hill to visit our elected officials.  Each of us had appointments and we were able to share with them what it was like to live with AD/HD.  I made it in time for my appointments, but I felt "disabled" for the first time in my life. I have decided to faithfully take my vitamins, CoQ10, vitamin C, vitamin D, etc.  I also plan to faithfully use the prescribed Advair Diskus and Spiriva to prevent breathing problems.  I prefer that over the medication I would need to take again if the Sarcoidosis progresses between now and June when I go back to the pulmonary doctor.  I think allergies and breathing problems can make a person tired whithout the person even being aware that the medical condition is causing it.  Basically the body is attacking itself, thinking it is fighting off bacteria or a virus.  We all know how tired we can be when we are ill.

Wow Loretta, that sounds like the perfect solution for you and your boys!  Hope you enjoy it.  I'm thinking of joining our local Y here in May when I get back from vacation.  I've joined in the past and enjoy it for a while and then don't go.  I need to join and GO!  Exercise is just not my thing, but need the use of the pool for these old arthritic knees.

Sherrie, We will all make a deal with you.  You join and we will encourage you to go.  There is nothing wrong with going at your own pace.  Just make the goal to be there three times a week.  Then make specific goals for progress.  Baby steps. Have you ever heard of FlyLady?  She is always telling people th do things with baby steps.  She has a website at www.flylady.net.  She has a free service where she encourages people to organize their homes, their meal planning, and even their exercise.  Check it out when you have the time.  I have been on her list since a friend told me about her.  Then I share it with other friends.  I guess this means I am telling all of you that you are my friends.  I am so glad I learned about this site.  It is a wonderful place to receive and give encouragement to one another.

WTG Loretta! How cool is that!? And including the boys to boot! CONGRATS!!!! Great idea!!!!

Please keep your fingers crossed that it really will work.  I think it really is a great idea.  I just pray it really will work for the boys and for me.

Oh cool, you found something.  I hope it works out for you.  Hopefully they have even a gym inside there for the boys to play basketball.  Heck you could walk or jog laps while they did it.  Good for you, I'm jealous!