Nancy at week 8

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I finally got to convince my very stubborn self that I needed to go to the gym. Not to watch people exercise and marvel at the equipment in the gym then lie to the instructor that I will be back the following day after being scared by all the sweat and funny noises from people working out.

I had it all planned in my head: Arrive at the gym, say hi to the instructor, make use of all the machines are available and later show the aerobics class what being serious really means. All I managed to do right was arrive at the gym and say hi to the instructor. Somewhere in the back of my head, the gym is meant for big people. In all honesty if I was small, I am sure I would never step in the gym. I would be out there sampling all the pizzas and ice cream available and leave the sweating to the people who need to. Probably explains my current predicament, but my ‘if it is not broken do not fix it’ remains strong. The gym is right in my hood. It has been there for a while only that my attitude towards gyms had prevented me from visiting it.

When I got at the door, I kept pushing the door and it could not open only for one of the attendants to swipe a card at the door and viola! The door opened. The first thing that came into my mind was that this gym had witnessed many like me, who would come to just look around and promise to come back the following day, hence they had devised a way of making everyone, including those who think running on the treadmill for five minutes is a proper workout, stay until all the unwanted calories had been shed. I was very determined to work out so that did not scare me one bit. I made a mental note to ask them later if they could add a second door to discourage all the jokers.

Being a very curious being, I decided to first take a tour of the place before starting my planned 5 hours nonstop work out. At the reception, I was advised to start on my left. I turned and when I got there, I realized it was like the women section of the gym. There was a treadmill which nobody was using, one lady was on the bicycle but she was on her phone chatting and once in a while taking selfies. Most of the ladies in the room were lying down on the mats doing sit ups and a few were skipping rope. I am not lying; I was the biggest one of them all in the room. The thought that this is what the gym was going to do to my body, wanted me to cancel the tour and immediately hit the treadmill. Just as I was gaining psyche one of the ladies stood up from the mat and addressed the lady on the bicycle “Just look at my tummy, aki si it has grown big! And I told my husband in the morning that eating the two mandazis was not a good idea.”

The said lady was in a top that allowed you to see the abs. I tried to look for the big stomach but all I could see was a firm stomach; abs and all. I hang my head in shame as I looked at my bulging stomach which could not even be hidden by the baggy t shirt. Does this lady know what it means to have a big tummy? Has she ever tried to tuck in her stomach in her skirt or trouser then hold her breath the whole day to avoid the tucked contents from falling out? Does she know I can kill for such a body?

I kept asking myself these questions in my head over and over again as I stared at her. The other friend stood from the bicycle and turned to show her friend her ass “Don’t talk my dear, just look at my ass, it is becoming too wobbly, I did not know that missing squats for three days was this dangerous.” If it is not for my confidence, I could have sworn that the two were mocking me. These two will commit suicide if I gave them my body, I thought to myself. I left them taking more selfies and went on with my tour.

The right side of the gym had all the machines that I do not know their names and the aerobics room. Naturally, adrenaline was full in the room. Men running on the treadmills, lifting weights, boxing and other things. There were a number of ladies in the room too. Some of the men vitambis made me feel like a super model and I immediately hit the treadmill with all the determination I could gather. Five minutes on the treadmill felt like eternity and the fact that no one else in the room seemed to tire was not helping either. I immediately missed my friends on the left side of the gym. Thirty minutes into trying all the available machines and failing miserably in some, I saw all the ladies going to the aerobics room and I stepped off the bicycle to join them. My friend with abs also was not left behind but before going for aerobics she came to rant to a man, whom I later realized was the husband, about how the mandazis he forced down her throat has made her stomach so big. The man apologized and promised to join her for T25 exercises the whole week.

The aerobics class had awesome music at the beginning as we warmed out, but by the 15th minute, everyone in class had an idea of how to step except Nancy. The instructor yelled some instructions every time I was getting to learn the steps and I was left looking all lost and confused, my determination and I quickly retreated to the back of the class and after ten minutes of looking like I had two left feet, I quietly left the class. I think what made everything worse was the fact that the men could clearly see everything that was going on in the aerobics class and my ego cannot stand anyone thinking that I am a bad dancer. I quietly left the gym and was glad when I found the door open.

I now have more reasons why I am yet and probably will never love the gym. I now fully embrace the walks and occasional morning runs. I should probably run more; I might end up in the Olympics and win more money. I am on the right track though, I cannot complain. I just need something really awesome to make the experience I had at the gym. I am thinking of going out to prove that I can still dance, attend a funny play that will make me laugh and forget everything I know (Ikenia Arts have me covered on that) and find me a good waist trainer.

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34 Comments
  1. Nancy! You get yourself back to that gym…right after you dance yourself back to confidence. Tell your new friend a maandazi or two won’t kill her…that one had me in giggles.
    I love that you’re always finding new & creative ways to shed off the weight. You have my support!

  2. A frd said to me the other day, “The only reason you’ve started to go the gym is so you can find yourself a nice young girl.”

    I said “I’ve found one, the only reason I’m going the gym is so I can catch her.”

  3. U n me both when it comes to aerobics Nancy. Soo darn frustrating then after 2 weeks u get the hang of it n front row Ndio zako watching the new dummies through the mirror n saying “yap that was me swiry” 🙂 keep on keeping on.

  4. Nancy’s posts always give me hopes in life. That however rough and dreary the road may seem to be, keep going. I don’t know whether there’s someone else who looks at these posts at this angle though.
    keep up with the spirit girl.

  5. Hi, I too consider myself kinda fit, so, one day decided to try out the aerobics part of the gym. Shock on me and my three left feet. No sooner than I learnt a step, than the instructor would yell something else. Had to hepa chap chap. Decided to stick to my lane and do cardio. I only ask you join me in that. The psyche in the gym beats walking or running alone, unless you have a partner you run with?

  6. Would it help if i told you the first day of aerobics is always about two left feet? But good thing is you get the hang of it by the third class or so….Whatever works for you Nancy, keep it up!

  7. The Aerobics part is so real, last saturday i stood at the front since i thought i was fit, was ok till the steps were introduced and i made a fool of myself. Had to take a water break….only to run away

  8. you know I admire your zeal and your efforts to lose weight but today all I read was an excuse. An excuse of someone who is not willing to go that extra mile to achieve. This is like someone who goes to church meets hypocrites then condemns Christianity. Why not look for a gym that you feel you fit in. There’s a reason why you felt that a gym was needed.
    When you encounter a hill or a mountain..climb it. Don’t take the easy way around it. All the best Chero.

    1. Au contraire dear judgemental person. Not everyone likes gyms ( personally find them boring monotonous places full of narcissists) . I didnt see anything in the article about quitting. chero,do whatever you enjoy, if you hate the gym, ditch it if fitness is tp become part of your lifestyle, it should be something you enjoy, not endure.

  9. Haha if maandazis made one fat, the skinny me would swallow eight everyday but huyo dem alikua anakuenjoi. I hope her mandazi abs would last long.

  10. Lovely post Nancy.And please dont give up on the gym,its very helpful. I would advise you get a training partner who you will be hitting the gym with and develop your training style that will be fun to both of you. One should find a way of having fun while exercising else it becomes something you dread every time you think about it. with your zeal i have no doubt you will achieve the figure you desire Nancy,all the best.

  11. Gym is not the best place for peope who want just a healthy body. Gym is for models and flexers. Stick to your routine of outside run; it is not only interesting [a compared to the sme gym routines and ticking in the same boring room] but also economical.

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  12. a personal trainer would help you Nancy! I don’t even like the gym stuff despite being a sport graduate! don’t be discouraged!

  13. I am a gym fan. i do those aerobics steps better than the trainer. However these steps took me 2weeks or so to learn. And since like you i love dancing, once i got the hang of it, i modified the steps and danced away for 45minutes. Gal, the weight just SHED OFF. Tafadhali go to tht gym, head held high and be determined. You know your goals…achieve them. Make friends, they will show you the steps after class. Go for it mresh. Don’t give up now.

  14. I can relate about the talk of women at the gym…. trust me it was not about you…. but about them and their insecurities. I always wear my headphones while working out/walking around the gym so that I don’t hear the chatter…. the ridiculous things people who aren’t big actually say….

    Secondly, I have found hitting the gym helps me to stay fit because I get new challenges that require me to work harder… and my gym has a pretty amazing set of instructors. Though the ultimate test is always a test against yourself… so whether you are in the gym/out running always compete against yourself. And stay consistent. Oh the step classes get better. Thank you for sharing your story!

  15. Go for walks, run if you can! Personally I stay away from the local gym coz nì zile zinakaa kama utakuwa na muscles side moja ya mwili. You’re flexible (I guess coz you love to dance), you could try Zumba or Yoga. Sio meditation sijui open your mind bla bla bla, just the exercises. All the best!

  16. “These two will commit suicide if I gave them my body” LOL!
    You can try swimming two hours everyday..helps much!
    Be encouraged.

  17. Hi, go back to the gym and confidently stand right up in front….yup right next to the instructor!! No one learns something new by running away..confront it head on. You will learn the ropes at no time. Ignore the mandazi-muncher and squator..(lol). Take your time and do it at YOUR PACE. Cheers.

  18. u and i have a craze in common u with your gym me and my post.your gym is there for if u just make up your mind.me i am chasing shadows with my mail.i get to him thru a mutual friend never thru my post however hard i try but i think at the end of the day we shall both have our way.u your weight and me my post

  19. Hey Nancy. The first day or rather the first week can be pretty hard when it comes to the gym, especially aerobics. Please go back and talk to the gym instructor. Discuss your fitness goals and the best way for you to achieve them. You can discuss your fears about the gym and I’m sure he’ll help you come up with a plan. Having a trainer gives you support, makes ypu accountable and he/she knows better.
    Also the gym is where you’ll find very supportive people. Guys are more concerned with their own workouts than the new lady with two left feet. People are too busy sweating and counting reps to be concerned with you and some of them have been where you are so they know what you’re going through. Let that motivate you. Focus on where you want to be lady.
    You can do this.

  20. Nancy, get your a!* back in that gym.I have been where you are very recently (June this year). I felt like i had two left feet in that aerobics class but now i have become a pro and i am always at the front of the class.To tell you the truth, everyone is too busy trying to push themselves to finish that class to even realize that you don’t know the moves.What worked for me at first was making sure that i was never at the back of the class. I always placed myself in at least the second row and always behind a person who i had observed and who knew the moves fairly well. This way, i could hear and observe the instructor clearly while aping the person in front of me whenever i got lost.I also quickly realized that once you learn the moves that accompany the instructions from the trainer, aping becomes a thing of the past. I trained myself to always listen out for the next move he calls out to ensure that i was always on top of the game.

    Pro or not, i still have my fair share of confusion and mistakes whenever i let my mind escape the class so its normal to have those moments.

    You can do it,no one was born knowing those moves, everyone fumbled at some point…POSITIVITY 🙂

  21. Nancy, keep going. Slowly but surely you are making progress. Got me tickled about your thought that the gym should have an extra door to discourage jokers 🙂

  22. Hi Chero,
    Maybe getting a personal trainer would be a good idea. I was never a gym too. I find Personal Trainer to be the best for beginners since this person walks with you all the way (shows you the moves for aerobics and Taebo, sets targets which you change with time as you progress. The PT also advises on meals, diet, supplements and stuff that will benefit you in the weight loss and fitness journey. Nice thing about this is you can look for a venue where you can be training (away from people ogling et al.) Mine helped me loose 14 kgs withing 4 months. We are now on toning. I can always hook you up.

  23. ooh dude again..have been cracking my ribs but this one….the ladies on the bicycle and others lying down..treadmill had none..taking selfies..waah..