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stephbg ([personal profile] stephbg) wrote2010-08-13 04:20 pm
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Guilt tax begone!

I have achieved one of my "before 40" resolutions: I have quit the gym.

To be more precise, I have quit paying for a service I haven't used in a very long time due to ill health. It was hard, for all sorts of reasons. But I had to face the fact that I was throwing money away for absolutely no benefit, except the vague reassurance in the back of my head that I could walk in any time. Always assuming it was one of those days in which I could walk.

Riding for the Disabled gave me the courage to cut the traces, because I get all the non-housework exercise I can possibly handle at the stables, so the idea of having any spare seemed ludicrous. Shovelling poo is also much more fun than doing weights.

And there's nothing quite like the end of the financial year to realise that I have had the income of a penniless pensioner for a couple of years now and should really pay more attention to the financials.

I am kind of hoping that the universe will laugh at my decision and suddenly decide to gift me with huge (i.e. normal) amounts of energy. If that happens I am more than prepared to pay the joining fee again. I will have more of *everything*.

[identity profile] rabbit1080.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
congratulations :)

i quit my gym a few months back, cos i wasn't using it. i prefer bike-riding these days. even in the rain.

also, with all the gym membership money i've saved in the last 3 months, i've bought a new pair of running-shoes. or in my case, walking-on-the-grass shoes.

[identity profile] stephbg.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 09:31 am (UTC)(link)
The shoes look very interesting indeed.

[identity profile] rabbit1080.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 09:35 am (UTC)(link)
am building up my new shoe usage very slowly and carefully. i like being able to spread out my toes when i walk, but am discovering lots of little under-used muscles in my feet.

(i thought they looked a bit too odd to wear to your talk on wednesday :)

[identity profile] bunny-m.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 12:20 pm (UTC)(link)
A US friend of mine has posted for some time about how she adores these 'shoes', for running, training* and just general walking about it.

(*) In this case this means practising assorted martial arts, but mostly Chen Taijii and Shaolin Gongfu, so it's not exactly the usual sort of training.

Gotta admit, they do intrigue the hell out of me, but it's a not-inconsequential amount of money for a radically unusual pair of footwear. I'm definitely interested in your thoughts on these as you get more experience with them.
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[identity profile] leecetheartist.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I think I saw some of these in Mountain Designs, they do look cool!

[identity profile] rdmasters.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
They look super-cool for climbing in...

[identity profile] ratfan.livejournal.com 2010-08-14 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you, you make me feel better about myself! I've been struggling with gym-guilt for some weeks, especially since I've been sick with a virus/cold/whatever for over two weeks and have barely gone! I've resolved to instead get myself a mat and some weights and TRY to stay fit on my own. I like the gym, I like the people there, but my finances really can't cope!

[identity profile] stephbg.livejournal.com 2010-08-14 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
You are most welcome. Can I help you with any other filthy habits?

[identity profile] ratfan.livejournal.com 2010-08-14 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Nah, I'll keep 'em for now. I don't think I could really do well trying to give up chocolate, for instance. :-)

[identity profile] stephbg.livejournal.com 2010-08-14 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I have a fridge magnet of which I am very fond that says "I'd give up chocolate but I'm no quitter."