Friday, October 13, 2006

Exercise. Shop. Eat. Repeat.


I'm a Curves gal. Not that I have any of my own that bear much attention, but I'm a paying member of Curves, seeking some nice curves to call my own.

Before I was a Curves gal, I was a Women's Fitness Club gal.

Before that, I was a Jewish Community Center gal.

Before that, I was an active kid.

So let's start at square one: active kid. What does that mean, or rather, what did it mean for me? It meant I ran, I walked, I rode my bike, I ice skated, I sort of swam. Nothing physically demanding, just basic.

And probably after coming inside the house from doing that basic running or riding of my bike, I'd have a snack. I'd drink some juice. I refueled, so to speak.

When I was a Jewish Community Center gal, aside from several years of volunteering with special needs adults in a social-recreational program, I used to go to fitness classes. And I used to jog a bit or power walk. And I used to swim a bit.

And after finishing my volunteering session or my workout session, what did I do? I went into the cafeteria and bought a snack. And bought some juice. I refueled, so to speak.

Now the Women's Fitness Club is situated in a large, suburban shopping mall. The few times I went to the club, I'd do fitness classes, or work out on the different circuit machines.

And what did I often do before or after my session at the club? I'd parade around that mall, step in and out of stores, finding bargains and making purchases. Here I was, supposedly going to lose a few pounds, instead picking up pounds of purchases along the way. Is that considered a good workout?

These days, my workout locale is a strip mall. Curves is located near a wonderful Kosher bakery and a gourmet chocolate store. Mmmm.... But I stay at my end of the mall, making sure my path doesn't cross with those two wonderful specialty food emporiums.

But also nearby my workout is a large supermarket. I often work out, then drive (not walk) over to the next strip mall where the supermarket is located, go in and load my buggy up with essentials, and often some not-so-essential essentials! It is funny when I pass a woman who'd just been in the Curves working out when I was. Her buggy is just as full as mine.

Nonchalantly, I strain to look what no-no's she's hoarding in that aluminum-and-steel cart. Who am I to talk, though? I've just done a 30 minute circuit, a five-minute warm-down, and I'm buying junk food!?

Oh, not for me, you should know. Never for me. Always for my three kids. That's right (WINK, WINK!) -- JUST for my three kids.

So over the years I've noticed a trend re. my exercise habits -- either I'm exercising opening and closing my wallet after exercising, or I'm exercising opening and closing my mouth....when I eat the junk food that I BOUGHT FOR MY THREE KIDS!

Hey, I discovered a new and improved form of physical exercise: SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP!

But I think I ought to get over my work-out-then-shop-or-eat habits and try this ideal form of exercise: RESISTANCE TRAINING!

4 comments:

Sarah Likes Green said...

shopping is good exercise! think aerobics instructor voice: "life those bags, lift those bags, open that wallet, open that wallet, and reach, and reach, reach for the chocolate..."

;)

cruisin-mom said...

Sarah, you are my kinda gal. You know, I might consider joining a gym, if I could reach for chocolate...Pearl, great post (and yeah, I know that trick of buying junk food only for your kids...but here's a question, why do we buy junk food for our kids, rather than healthy snacks?...just FOOD for thought.)

Anonymous said...

Oh, tell me about Curves. I'm thinking about it. I need to add strength-training to my "routine." (Ahem, the routine I haven't actually done since last week.)

torontopearl said...

Sarah: Direct me to THOSE classes!

CM: Food for thought indeed. Of course it's just an excuse. When they're at school, munching on at least one junk food snack, I'm at home munching on more than one junk food snack!

Miriam: Curves is truly just 30 minutes out of your schedule, as you do the circuit, and perhaps another 5 minutes for cooling down. Not too demanding on one's life.

Mia: Okay, reward me...with a huge Toblerone bar.

Tuesday: Good to know about the pool, but I'm barely a swimmer. Like your junk food hiding plan. I often feel guilty, though. When I buy a special nosh for the kids, and end up not telling them about it and eating it myself, I always fell as if I'm "stealing candy from a baby."