I have a friend who decided to "splurge" on herself by joining a gym that involved working out with a person trainer three times a week. So, can anyone remember their first trip to the gym and what it was like?

I entered a gym for the first time in my life when I was 41 years old. I weighed about 220 pounds and decided I had lost enough weight (200 pounds at that time) to safely begin a formal exercise program. So, into the gym I went and got talked into a 3 day a week program with a personal trainer. I looked around and saw most of the women were a size 5 and most of the men had about 3% body fat. Hmmmm....

I was given a form to fill out that contained questions such as, "What gyms have you belonged to?" I asked why there was no check-off for "none" and was met with a wide-eyed look of surprise and the response, "YOU'RE a gym VIRGIN?" At this point, I am getting the impression that I might have bargained for more than I intended.

Next came the orientation. My trainer, Satan, had me mount a machine called an elliptical work-out. He set it for ten minutes. At two minutes I was ready for oxygen and at three minutes I told him to get ready to do CPR. As a crawled off the ellipital device, Satan was calling for me to "hurry up" so my "heart rate stayed up." I gasped that I was an RN and that if my heart rate rose anymore I would end up in the morgue.

The half hour of torture moved onto more machines designed to induce pain. I was very happy when I got to sit on one machine where I was instructed to place my legs straight out on a cushioned cradle. This joy quickly faded when Satan turned some lever and I found my legs spread further apart than when I have a GYN exam. Instinctively, I told Satan to put my legs back together. He informed me I needed to use my leg muscles to FORCE my legs to come together. Hello!!! I don't have muscles, I have fat! I informed Satan that I had never done a split in my life and NOW was not the time to begin. This pattern of abuse continued as he ran, and I staggered, to one machine after another and then another.

When I got home, I showered and collapsed in a chair. I went to bed early that evening but when I woke up the following morning, I was sure I had some horrible disease because it hurt to move the covers off my body and standing was torture. Every part of my body ached! I contemplated calling an ambulance but realized it was too late to call into work. I tried to fall onto the toilet so I would not have to bend my legs and would have welcomed a continuous IV infusion of morphine. As I began to dread my next session with Satan, I wondered why I was deprived the experience of an endorphin release. I surmised this was nothing more than some lie made up by a thin person to get fat people to sign up for 3 days a week of torture with a personal trainer.

Now five years older and 90 pounds heavier, I am wiser. At present, a walking program is all I can handle with severe knee arthritis. I still develop nausea when I pass a gym!

What was your experience like?

Yeah, but was he CUTE?

... My trainer was a body builder named Steve who intimidated the hell out of me as soon as I saw him... quote]

LOL I would have done better with that too I think! The air head I had was just to perky and full of info I didn't need to know. As far as the elipical I did get up to 40 min. before I gave it up. It just seems to be spread eagle facing the whole gym. The would not face it towards the huge window that looked out over the dasert and mountians. So I said bye bye to that.

I think you need that intimidation in the begining but if it continues it can drive you away too

LOL!!! that was a great post, so funny!!! but remember, if you have not exercised for a long time, or is your first time, like you said elisabthsew, introduce your body with a 10-15 minute exercise that you enjoy doing. Let´s say for example, walk, run slowly, etc.. begining with 10-15 min. a day for the first week, then increase that time to 20 minutes, and more...until you reach 45-60 minute exercise, i´m planning on going to the gym next week, i´m really excited about going, good luck to all of you who are planning on getting involved in an exercise program, the most important thing...ENJOY IT!!!

I didn't spring for a PT but I did join Curves. It is great because you only do what you can and guess what? You can do more and more each day! It is working for me and I really enjoy it.

They call my trainer the "Exercise Nazi" in the office I visit for post-ops. They all go to her so they know what I'm going through. After the first couple the aching went away, and the workout high started happening. I feel a ton better after working out, even though I still ache occasionally. (she works me out until my muscles are just about to give out)