Jenna huffs and puffs right next to me, we are committed. We lift the bars over our heads, check our stances, and squat, 2, 3, 4. She is my first friend outside of the Get Fit Club. I'm not competing with her, instead I use her example to make sure my stance is correct or if I heard the instructor correctly and I'm really supposed to bend my leg that way. Jenna's a stay-at-home mom too, and I'm grateful to know her because she is my resource to which classes all the Phoenixville moms take, the best times for childcare,which swim classes are the most fun, and I have visions of swapping recipes in the near future.
As we dutifully attempt to reflect the instructor's actions and tune into the directions shouted from the front of the room, my other new friend, Chuck moves around the room. He chats, and tells stories, and motivates people to keep going. He is the social director for our cruise towards healthier living. He's the guy everyone knows, and if you don't know him, you don't go to the gym enough. His mannerisms remind me of my father-in-law, so I am immediately comfortable with joking around with him and the guy working out in front of me. Chuck is going to be one of those people who hold me accountable, someone who'll ask me where I've been if I miss a class, or who will tell me not to get discouraged. I'm thankful to have him on my side!
As I look to the instructor across the room, I make a conscience effort not to look at him as one might look at the man running the torture chamber or the mad-scientist about to dissect the victim's muscles for fun-filled research. He has us do more push-ups. After class, the instructor, Joe comes up to me, and asks me how I liked my first class. I make a joke about it, and he laughs. Chuck and Jenna come up and join the conversation, and once again I feel amazing and energized. I feel confident about this decision to put myself first for the first time in seven years where I am committed to doing something for myself, for my health, for my new life.
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