the dreaded GYM

Last night I finally got up the courage to put my gym membership to use. I signed up at the gym on my second day in Fritzlar, but until now had only been once to check it out. I put it off and put it off, making myself nervous with images of flocks of fit Germans leaping around and of me not understanding a word of what the instructor was saying. Of course, that guilty feeling had been plaguing me: the one that comes when you're a) effectively throwing your money away for nothing and b) being incredibly lazy. However, 6pm rolled around last night and I mustered the courage to crank out my gym shoes. I got to the gym (which is located in a beautiful fachwerk building - you would never know it was a gym from the outside!), and found the room. To my genuine surprise, once inside I felt less 'obvious' than I usually do just walking down the street. There were about 8 of us in total; all women, apart from one older guy. At home I went to a girls-only gym and had been worried about myriads of fit men, but turns out this wasn't an issue! Phew! I managed to get myself 'stuck' in the front row, but by this stage I'd done the hardest work of the night (walking in the door) so I was feeling reasonably confident. The room where the class took place was like a ballet studio - all mirrors, and there were disco lights! Ha. Seriously cool.

The instructor was really nice, AND my concerns about language were unfounded:

• "Laufen!" (run)
• "Marschieren!" (march)
• "Hoch" und "Tief" (high and low)
• "Einmal, zweimal, dreimal..." (once, twice, three times)

The moves were all exactly the same as at my old gym, including "step-touch". When the instructor yelled out "step-touch" (in English) I almost burst out laughing. What was I worried about? The gym class was DEFINITELY the best thing I've done in Fritzlar so far; I felt absolutely elated afterwards. I did NOT shower in the communal showers afterwards, instead walked home and felt totally justified in eating 'vollkorn' (mixed grain) bread, egg and fresh mozzarella for dinner, haha. I can't wait to go to the gym again tonight. Honestly, living in a town like Fritzlar where the most exciting thing is the gym (!!) - might make my fitness goals a reality. Then again (cheese... mmm...)... who knows?