Defining Daniel | Equinox Fitness Club: Bay St. Week 2
“It’s Not Fitness. It’s Life.”
Week # 2
Alright, week two is under way and I’m feeling great! Finding a bit more balance in my schedule helps to keep me motivated to get to the gym on a regular basis. I’m by no means an early morning person and most people who know me know not to mess with me before I have my coffee. I try my best to get to the gym on my lunch break from the office, and this week is going to focus more and more on the diverse and amazing classes offered at Equinox Fitness Club Bay St.
One of these classes that I’ve tried is the one-on-one Pilates program. Now, I am the kind of person who can at times be slightly skeptic when it comes to fitness routines that are outside of my comfort zone. Pilates, in my mind, was just a bunch of ropes and resistance training. I mean, how hard could this be? Well let me tell you, I have a new found respect for people who use this fitness regime to stay lean and mean. The trainers at Equinox are calm and patient and work with you at your pace without taking it easy on you. I was pushed to my limits and learnt a lot about my physical strengths and weakness.
All members receive a complimentary class and this is one of those things you have to try! A huge thank you to Dima Alakhras for being so patient and making me laugh through the struggles I faced! For more information on the Pilates classes offered at Equinox Fitness Club Bay St, click here.
My strength lies in running and it has for quite some time. So when I reached a pace today during my lunch time workout that reminded me of myself a year ago, I have to say I felt proud. In finding balance in my daily routine to focus on me, I’m finding myself all over again. And that’s one of the best feelings you can experience in the journey you face when you take on getting healthy, but the important part is to step outside my comfort zone and push myself to new levels. Being compliant is your worst enemy in the gym, I can tell you that much. It’s those days when I don’t want to or don’t feel like working out that I am most proud of myself for going. It is easy to avoid fitness and in the end it is only yourself you have to answer to if you don’t give it your all.
So that is what week #2 is all about. Giving this my all.
I’m feeling more confident. I have a fitness plan in place thanks to my personal training session with the talented and motivating, Carmen McDonald. And I’m well on my way to trying new things and reaching new heights. Do I have my six pack back yet? Absolutely not, and the hardest reality to face is that getting fit is not instantaneous. But I do feel muscles coming back to life that I haven’t felt in a very long time. As though my body is waking up from a long sleep and craving it more and more each day.
Focus of the week:
Trying new things. Am I comfortable in a class after my last experience? Absolutely not. My ego is still bruised and my doubts race through my head when I think about it. I get anxious and worry I won’t be able to complete the class yet again, resulting in an embarrassing exit all over again. I think that these are common fears we all face when we start out in a fitness regime and change in lifestyle. But as mentioned above, you are the only person you have to answer to at the end of the day and you’re your own enemy.
I’m going to try a yoga class that I’m sure is more challenging than ones I’ve tried in the past. How will I ever know that I can do it if I don’t try? So I’m scanning the class schedule as I write this post and will try as many classes as I can this week to see what I really can do and not dwell on what I can’t.
Secret Weapon:
The staff. I know that may seem like a given, but you’d be shocked at some of the staff at other gyms. At many of the big box gyms you’re just a membership fee that comes through the doors; that’s not the case at Equinox Fitness Club Bay Street. Don’t be fooled by the fact that the majority of the staff are stunning and look like they workout in their sleep because each and every one of them is there to help you and have offered support and kind words on every visit. My personal training has even led to weekly recipes for healthy snacks courtesy of “Mama Bear,” Carmen McDonald
And this is all free of charge with my membership. I’m still shocked to have all of these tools at my disposal thanks to the helpful staff at Equinox. From the friendly smile when I arrive to the “Have a good day” when I leave, I know that they care about me. Add state of the art equipment and facilities and you have the best gym I’ve ever been to. Hands down, without a doubt.
I haven’t measured my body fat. I haven’t gone back into the weights room. I haven’t stepped foot in a group class. But all of these things and more lay ahead of me because I know that I deserve it. If I don’t put my all into this process, what would be the point of going to @Equinox #BaySt? I wouldn’t be #DefiningDaniel both mentally and physically at all.
Luckily, I am and I will. Why not follow me as I head on my journey and see what happens to this stubborn man learning what it means to be healthy all over again?
Photos: Equinox
