If you know anything about me, you know that fitness is my medicine. It is what lifts me up and brings me down when I’m stressed. That said, the title is true; I just let my gym membership expire. Did the world just end? Am I dying? Surprisingly, no and no.
Last year for a 3-year wedding anniversary gift, my wonderful family gave Noah and me an all paid year’s membership to a local gym in town. Don’t get me wrong, we used the heck out of that membership. We loved being able to get to the gym in less than 5 minutes, and there is something so motivating about being in an environment full of people bettering themselves and working hard. Struggling for that last rep feels sometimes just a tad more rewarding when you know you look strong doing it. I know that sounds self-centered, but I have to admit that it’s true.
For all of the good things about a public gym, there are downsides to working out with other people. Problems come in when there are too many people in one area. There’s a fine balance between feeling a gym vibe and not being able to get any of the equipment that you planned on using. The best time for Noah and I to work out happened to be one of the busiest times, and I would have to find whatever little corner that I could to do a few dumbbell movements.
This doesn’t mean that I am going to stop working out. I may have mentioned this before, but I am super blessed to have grown up in a family that values fitness as much as I do. In this, my mom and dad have a little private gym in their backyard that I have the opportunity to train in. Over the past few months, I kept noticing that my workouts at their place were more intense and more enjoyable overall. I mean who wouldn’t rather jam to music with a speaker system than silently tap your foot to the music from earbuds. I get to literally dance like no one is watching. I also feel like I get more done in less amount of time, because I don’t have to wait for any equipment, and half of my cardio is in between sets (oh the beauty of dancing).
I am very much still working on getting my hormones and my period back. In a way, having the gym be a little farther away keeps me from going more than I need to. If I lift 4 times a week, I’m happy. My 2017 self would have literally thought that was craziness, but now I have no idea how I got myself to the gym 6-7 days a week. Really, it wasn’t healthy for me mentally, emotionally, or even physically.
If doing yoga videos on Youtube is what brings you joy, then do that (Yoga With Adriene is great by the way). If going to a public gym 5 times per week makes you happy, then that’s awesome. I guess what I am trying to say is that you don’t have to have a gym membership to live an active lifestyle. It is fine (and more than normal) to enjoy fitness without it overruling your identity and life. Fitness is about being the best version of yourself rather than being the best at fitness.
So yes, I let my gym membership expire, but I see it as a new beginning.
