It's all about that goal lately and we have been so dedicated to this new lifestyle that we have almost become obsessed with it. It's a routine to get to the gym, down our preworkout in the locker room all while giggling about cute front desk guys and why our past boyfriends were the ones that got away (or my goodness WHAT was I thinking). We then make our way upstairs and plan out our workout, hoping we didn't waste too much time because if we do, the pre workout kicks in and I resemble a three year old in a toy store and we just don't get anywhere. Then we go kill our workouts-together. The dynamic duo, there to support one another, push each other to do more reps, to do more weight, "Quit buckling your knees Anna!" and always there to give each other a pat on the back because we did it. We are almost to where we want to be-together. But what about without each other? What do we do when we get lives? Boyfriends? Jobs that require more than just your attention from 8-5? Can we do this by ourselves? Will Anna watch her own form and finally remember how many reps are in the last set of pyramid abs? Will I have my own motivation to actually do my cardio if Anna isn't forcing me to up the resistance on the elliptical. Life is finally starting to become an issue in our routine and last week I was forced to go without Anna, without my partner in crime, and one month ago I am almost positive I would have just decided to not go, but last week was my defining moment, alone, by myself with no one else there to hold me accountable, and at the end of my workout the feeling I had was an amazing one.
Last Thursday I walked in the gym in a somber mood, ready to get in, get out, and be done with it. I punched in my code, quickly got my things in a locker and went straight to the stationary bike for a small warm up before I started my workout. I sat on the bike by myself thinking "Is this what people really do by themselves? This is so boring! What am I supposed to do without Anna to talk to? Just watch the screen? What is this?" As I walked over to the weight area, I had my defining moment when I decided against a boring hour of cardio machines and decided maybe I didn't need her to rock my arm workout...maybe, just maybe, this was something I could do by myself and I did. I did a full hour of free weights and just when I was almost done I decided that I didn't need Anna to finish off this amazing high with some bench press. I usually don't need a spot with her unless I put more than 10lbs plates on, so I put on some small 5lb plates and sat down. As I set my music to some Ke$ha (homegirl keeps my blood pumping), I noticed some stares from the heavily male populated area and I felt a rush. I was about to show all these men that I know what I am doing, that I belong here. And that is exactly what I did. I pumped out my reps, reracked my weights, because by golly I'm a lady and I follow the rules, and I walked over to stretch with a whole new attitude. This is me, this is the new Sheridan that I've always wanted to be. The gym doesn't define me, but it is part who I am. 2 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, this is part of my life, and I love it. I got a few head nods from some of the biggest guys up there, and one even pointed his finger at me like "I see you"! It was the moment I saw myself in a whole new light, and it was like I had gained some street cred of the Iron Gang of 24 hour fitness. I wasn't seen as the little blonde girl lost amongst men, I am now one of them. I'm not sure if that entails any weird gang related initiation period or if I have to pay different dues, but as long as I don't have to behead a chicken or anything I am proud to be officially part of this lifestyle. Now, I just need to figure out if that head nod included Anna or not because she's my homie too, you know?
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