Selfportraits on film (Patreon)

Few posts ago, I was complaining about one of my biggest problems here - not being able to simply leave the house and walk wherever I want. Because there might be a sidewalk. Then suddenly there isn't. Then it might magically reappear on the other side of the road. And then you're just standing there thinking: Okay... so where exactly am I supposed to go now?)))

Well.

Apparently, Gary had already gotten me a membership at the same gym he hasn't actually been to himself yet... but really wants to.)))

And most importantly - it's only about a 15 minute walk from our house.

One of our friends even told me that one of the reasons he likes this place is because you can actually walk there from where we live, and he showed me the route. There's only one place where I have to cross the road without a traffic light, but there aren't that many cars, so my chances of arriving alive are pretty high......practically a pedestrian paradise.

So I finally went.

It's a huge complex with the actual gym on one floor, group classes on another, Pilates, yoga, cycling, all kinds of fitness classes, a pool, a spa, and even a place to get healthy food. Basically, you can walk in in the morning and apparently never leave again.

I signed up for Pilates and decided that since I was already there, I might as well do some cardio, walk a little, and maybe finally start doing something about my arms and upper back. I've developed this little obsession lately - I want to learn how to properly hang.))) Not do pull-ups....Let's not set unrealistic goals here 😂 Just hang.

My arms and upper back are probably the weakest parts of my body, plus I spend a lot of time sitting at a computer and constantly feel like I want to stretch myself out. So I've decided that a dead hang is going to be my new little goal.

Right now my record is around 20 seconds.....So maybe in a year I'll be able to hang professionally)))

But the funniest part started before I even got to the gym.

After about 15 minutes of walking, my Apple Watch suddenly came alive. Like: WOW. ARE WE... EXERCISING?! And started recording my walk as a workout. Thank you, Apple Watch. Very nice to know that my physical decline is now obvious even to electronics.)))

Then, for the first time in my life, I got on a treadmill.

I've always looked at people running on treadmills at the gym and thought: why? Outside is free. Then I moved to Texas. That's it. No more questions. Air conditioning is reason enough.)))

But I still don't understand how people actually run on these things. All I managed to do was walk.)))

You can choose these beautiful virtual routes to walk through - Portugal, France, Australia, different places in America. So I chose some beautiful beaches in Portugal and peacefully started walking. Every five minutes, I increased the speed. Then again. And again. At some point I was walking really fast. Like, really, really fast. But I never actually got to running.)))

I don't understand at what point people start running. Do you just immediately set some crazy speed so you have no choice and either start running or fly off the treadmill?

It somehow felt awkward. Weird. Basically, I didn't get it.)))

But then I realized I didn't actually need to run.

I spent an entire hour walking really fast. And I LOVE walking fast. I barely get to do that here, so I genuinely enjoyed the hell out of it. I listened to music, sang along, danced a little, waved my arms around, even got slightly sweaty - basically, I had an amazing time.

My Apple Watch was counting my calories, heart rate, steps, and basically praising me the entire time. Finally, our relationship has become healthy.)))

Pilates was wonderful too. And I left the place with only one question: Why the fuck haven't I been coming here before?

The only thing I still didn't have the courage to do was properly approach the dumbbells and the machines for arms and upper body. Because everyone there looks so serious. Serious men. Serious women. Everyone clearly knows exactly what to pull, where to put what, and which body part is supposed to be doing the work. Meanwhile, the last time I properly worked out at a gym was probably ten years ago, when my friend, who was a trainer, showed me a few things. So today I just did my 20-second hang and quietly moved on.))) I really don't want to immediately end up in some TikTok or Reel called: "People at the gym who have absolutely no idea what they're doing"....I've watched those videos. I know what happens. I'm not ready to become content.)))

But it's okay.

Next time I'll slowly start embarrassing myself.

Then embarrassment will turn into confidence.

And confidence will hopefully, eventually, turn into muscles.

So... stay tuned.)))