It’s time for stocktaking… 8 months since my divorce. I have money, nice clothes, nice car, nice friends, nice house, nice dog…. nice …everything… and still gatvol .. grumpy.. dissatisfied… therapy weekly… enough!!! This shit must now stop!!! Right now!!! TODAY.Friend Google – no zest for life after divorce?? Serotonin levels low….. Exercise more…

outdoors… participate in sporting activities…. No way!!! Definitely not tennis, hockey, cycling at my age… For the birds!!! Maybe gym not bad idea… will check out Virgin…interesting name… Makes me long back to my high school… STOP IT!! Life is not about sex!! Get your head together and focus!!!

“Appointment… Yes, I consider joining- Want to check out first.”
Gee Whiz the entire Helderberg at the gym… no parking for a soul. Overwhelming. From the very thin to the extreme overweight… exercising as if there’s no tomorrow… treadmills, spinning bikes, weights, rowing machines, pool, sauna, steam bath.. Disco dancing… Something for everyone…surely for me too!!!

Sign the forms, pay the money, get my card, follow the tour, look at the trainer…. joined. Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life. “No thanks, not necessary to show me how the stuff works… I will find my way…”

Now for the fitness gear… Mann!!! I love shopping… two piece… bra top to match the skinny pants…Ag, the few extra kilos bulging over the pants I’ll lose in no time… brand new tekkies to match the colour of the outfit … and don’t forget the socks… and the head band…it mustn’t look as if I’ve just joined… I know the ropes!!!

Now for the electronics. Words like headphones, wireless, Bluetooth, WiFi, iPod… don’t look stupid… You can google later!!! Thousands later and not a clue what I’ve bought…. or how to use it for that matter….As long as I look funky, fit and sexy…..

Next morning 05H00…Alarm!!! Gym… maybe start tomorrow….. NO!! GET UP!! Get into your new gear… pretty pink clothes… colourful pink tekkies… pink headband, pink socks… Think about the SIX PACKS!!! G-E-T    U-P!!!

20 minutes flat…. parked, grand entrance all in PINK…… no one noticing… spinning bike first… easy peazy…  fokkol resistance. It’s my first day. Who wants to be so sore tomorrow that you can’t move??? 15 minutes of sloooowww cycling… no sweating… don’t want to ruin my outfit.

Next the Treadmill… Nice that they’ve actually put the treadmill right in the middle of the gym!!! Now you can see everybody and everything!!!  Slowly getting up, no hurry… Cannot seem to find the “ON” button… screen dead… pressing everywhere… Suddenly all lights flicker at once!!! Nothing’s moving… Pressing, Pressing, Pressing… With the speed of light the treadmill starts moving… Faster, Faster, Faster… Cannot find the stop button!!! I’m running… running, sprinting… Fok I’m going to break my neck….. struggling to keep balance… full speed now… panicking….cannot get off… consider jumping… No, too fast… Calling for help… No one hearing…Screaming, Yelling!!! Someone pulling the plug… sudden stop. Dead quiet. In shock.
Lying down, nauseous… humiliated, embarrassed.  Staff at Kaua offering tee, coffee, sugar water. I’m  hiding in the team bath, too ashamed to show my face…. and then nearly died a second time…. had to crawl out to safety!!!

First day disastrous… But I never give up. I Booked a proper session with a professional trainer for the next day… he showed me the ins and outs of all the equipment… and worked out a program to start off with…

I’m now a regular VIRGIN ACTIVE member … AND LOVING IT!!!!

In Not-So-Pink-Gear….anymore

And a lot has happened since I joined…..

for another day…..

(to be continued)