I had SO much anxiety last night over going today that I nearly talked myself out of it before today even started. What would be different? What would be the same? Would it be overcrowded? Could I use a locker? Was the staff all going to be masked? 

I hardly slept last night and woke up in such pain that I had to take Advil and applied some Tiger Balm. My lower back/hips have so many issues I’m honestly surprised I can walk let alone do anything else. However, I wasn’t about to let that stop me from sticking to my plan of getting back to the gym starting June 1st. 

Even though I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, I put on my favorite workout clothes, topped off my water bottle with a Rainbow Unicorn Bang, grabbed a protein bar and banana for the road and took my butt to the gym. 

To answer my anxiety questions…

They are practicing “social fitnessing” so every other cardio machine is blocked off. The 30 minute room is exactly the same as it was. The abs room is rearranged which REALLY threw me off and old me would have ran away, but new me said “We got this!” and even though all the machines were in the wrong place AND facing the wrong direction, I managed to do a few sets on what I wanted. I didn’t do as much as I’d have liked to because it just felt wrong and really freaked me out. I’m sure this will get better with time. The other room looked the same when I walked past, but I did not go in. 

There are no drinking fountains/water bottle filling stations, no showers, and plenty of hand sanitizer available. We are asked to clean machines before and after.

It was not at all overcrowded. It looked about the same as usual. 

I could use a locker if I wanted to (I did not today), but most of them are blocked off. They ask to tell them when you leave which one you used so they can clean it.

The staff were all masked which also really freaks me out. I can’t really place why, but when people are wearing a mask it makes me feel like they are not real people. Also, it’s very difficult for me to process what they are saying. I have no hearing issues (in fact, my hearing is better than the average person’s) but the way my brain processes things, I need to see facial expressions and lip movements to understand speech. 

My favorite worker was there to greet me at the desk and he made everything totally better. He explained everything that was different, answered my dozen questions very kindly and patiently and even complimented me on my shirt. Had he not been there, I may not have got past the desk today. 

Elliptical  0.5 mile 
Leg press 2 sets of 20 reps @ 95lbs
Lat pulldown 3 sets of 10 reps @ 75lbs, 60lbs, and 45lbs
Seated row 3 sets of 5 reps @ 75lbs, 60lbs, and 45lbs
Abdominal 10 reps @ 90lbs, 80lbs, and 70lbs
Glutes 10 reps each side @ 70lbs and 55lbs

A little post workout selfie of me trying not to suffocate in my hot black car. I can’t even imagine how this is going to feel when summer really kicks in. It was only in the 60s this morning.