Time for a change- a "lifetime" change

We are not getting any younger. And neither are our bodies. My body has changed more in the past few years than it has in my entire life combined, and not just because I went through a pregnancy. My metabolism has slowed down. My used-to-be muscles, kind of hang now, along with other body parts that "hang" as well, if you get my drift. Jesse and I tried the P90X program last fall, and it was okay, but we never really saw results, and it was hard to stay motivated without seeing results. In the same breath, Jesse has trained for marathons and bikes on his road bike for hours at a time, and his body has not "changed" back to its youthful state either. So, we have both been bummed and frustrated.

Living in Houston, you cannot just "go for a run" around the neighborhood or park during the summer, unless you wake up at 5:00 in the morning, or wait until about 8:00 at night. The heat is just too much, and with the added humidity, your body simply cannot handle all the moisture. It is miserable to say the least. So, we knew we needed a gym membership somewhere to work out during these miserably hot summer months.

Jesse has had a membership to the YMCA for the past year, and has maybe gone up there a total of 15 times. I was frustrated the two times I tried to go with him, being overwhelmed with people, fighting for cardio machines, and a crazy childcare center that I refused to leave Ryleigh in.

Jesse's brother and sister-in-law suggested Lifetime Fitness. They have been members up in Dallas, and love it. I was leery, considering how nice the outside of the building is, convinced we would be spending an arm and a leg to join. We went and checked out, and immediately were sold. With over 400 cardio equipment machines, tons of weight machines, free weights, an 'ab and core' section, two studios for round-the-clock fitness classes, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, basketball and racquetball courts, an indoor rock climbing wall, AND an amazing childcare center...well, I'll say it again: we were sold!

We have been pretty consistent with our workouts now. I try to go on my lunch break, and have done a few fitness classes (Core, Fitness Pilates, Core&More) as well as several different cardio machines and weight machines. We also both did a body analysis test, to see where we are and help get us where we want to be. According to the test, we are both in "average" shape, with our body ages close to our actual ages. For example, I am actually 25, but according to the test, my body is the age of a 22 year-old. We have also met with a trainer who is trying to help us change up our routine and hopefully see some real results in the weeks and months to come. Of course, nutrition will play a role too, and they have an on-site nutritionist, if we have questions or would like a specialized meal plan to help us out.
All in all, we are very excited. Lately, we have gone up there and done our workouts while Ryleigh plays in the childcare center. Then once we are finished, we all change into our swimsuits, and go play together in the outside pool. She is not nearly big enough for the slides yet, but she has fun splashing and kicking back and forth between Mommy and Daddy.

I know this has to be a lifestyle change. Who knows how long our dedication will last. The good thing about this place, is it really is a fun place to go. It is not over-crowded, but there are a lot of families, and several friends and family members are also members, so we can all hang out together, while we sweat off calories! So far, we are really excited, and hope to continue to enjoy this new part of our lives.