Women in Comfortable Shoes

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07/14/2003: "Justification is Music to My Ears"

We did it. Finally.

For six months we have been walking outside, braving the cold, rain, heat, humidity, and the little yappy chihuahua that lives down the street that likes to attack from the rear. With temperatures in the mid-90s every day now, we decided we were foolish to continue the torture. We joined a fitness club.

We didn't join a gym back in January because we were afraid that, like so many others at the Yearly Resolution time, we would go for a couple of weeks and then never go back. So we decided to test ourselves first by walking for six months and, if we were successful, put out the bucks for a gym membership.

Our dedication started to wane late in June, when the heat and humidity became unbearable, even at 6 a.m. So we signed the dotted line and paid our dues over the Fourth of July break.

I know we've only been at it for a week, but you know what? It doesn't suck. In fact, I think I like it. All of it -- the machines, the treadmill, everything. The place we picked is a women-only gym about a half mile from home. There are PLENTY of women in my shape (or lack of shape, rather), so I feel very comfortable there. The machines are sized for women, too, so I can actually use them without straining.

No new membership to the gym is complete without a shopping trip to prepare. We had to buy lots of new stuff -- shorts, socks, shoes, towels, combination locks -- the whole nine yards.

Naturally, I also had to get a new MP3 player to help relieve the monotony of the treadmill. After feature- and price-comparison shopping for, oh, about 2 seconds, I bought one of the new iPods from Apple. I also signed up for a trial subscription on Audible.com to download recorded books. I've never been a big fan of listening to books on tape, but I can't read while walking or riding because of motion sickness tendencies and I might as well learn something while I walk. My first selection? The Vagina Monologues.

The damage:
- Gym stuff, including clothes and other accessories: $60 per each
- Membership to fitness club: Approximately $16 a month per each
- Membership on audible.com: First month free, $15 per month after that
- 15 GB iPod: $399
- Best-ever justification for buying an iPod: Priceless