Fitness First

I joined Fitness First in December 2004, and in the time since then I have gained a net of 11 kilos. That's a lot of weight for someone who invested money in a gym membership. No, I'm not holding Fitness First responsible.

I spent a month working out at Gold's Gym last year too. Humor aside, it's my lack of commitment to working out as well as a lack of discipline in eating (fatty food, salty food, sweets, and junk food) that led to all this weight gain.

The truth is, I work out like a fiend in the gym. On cardio I don't stop until I've clocked at least 300 k/cal on the machines, I do at least 150 reps of crunches in various forms per workout. Fitness First has been a great place for me to just kick it and grind out a workout. I originally registered at the Alabang Westgate branch. Since I worked in Makati the past 2 years I've spent the most time at the Ayala (JG Summit Tower) branch, and now that I live in Pasig and hold office in Cubao, QC, I'll be going to the Libis branch.

In fact I just got out of Libis from a workout and am blogging from a taxicab on the way home. One thing I won't be able to do when I start bringing a car - unless traffic is at a near standstill.

Despite working real hard when I do work out, it's the habits I have outside the gym that really do me in. Too much carbs, too much eating after dinner, exceessive junk food snacking, and the killer: blowing off gym appointments and then dining out with friends. Of course I don't regret meeting up with friends. Last year was a real coup for me in terms of building and re-building relationships. I simply wasn't responsible with making up the missed gym appointments.

Well, I've worked out with success outside of the gym (it was only until 2 years ago that I've been truly able to afford it), so why don't I work out in other ways when I can't make it to the gym? Well, since I've experienced the conveniences Fitness First offers, it's hard to get back to the habit of running/hiking around the suburbs. Maybe it's all psychological. The fact is now I only work out in the gym.

Now I've again resolved to crank out at least 4 workouts a week this February and March, all cardio. I'll start doing high-rep sets on the machines starting April, provided that I've shed most of my retained water and some of my bodyfat. I don't know how it'll all fit in my schedule, but I'm resolved to build my schedule around my workouts and not the other way around. I had just turned 30, so there is a sense of urgency.