Prequel #1: The Gym Membership

My quest to walk fast started out as a more mundane desire: lose some weight, get more fit, and not waste yet another year-long gym membership. I've been in fitness programs before and never systematically attended.

Last December, local gyms advertised competing New Year's membership campaigns. I was susceptible. I had recently joined occasional informal lunch-time walks with work colleagues and enjoyed the camaraderie and mental break. I also looked at my 220 lbs, 5' 8" non-athletic frame in the mirror and, well, thought that there could be some improvement.

One day, after running errands nearby, I wandered over to one of the gyms for their tour. Rows and rows of machines, all with individual TV sets and heartbeat monitors, clean locker rooms, and free classes. The fact that my personal physician was on one of the ellipticals and was surprised (but happy) to see me in a gym had absolutely no bearing in my pulling out my credit card.

When I returned home, I received bemused smiles....though the low yearly fee meant I was jeopardizing less of the family income than past endeavors.

The "before" picture on this post was taken a couple of days after the gym membership was signed. No, I'm not blogging....probably just web surfing while someone was testing my digital SLR.