Time to get moving

J and I are going to take a fencing course! I’m very excited.

I had my yearly physical last week, and when I pulled up my sleeve so that the physician’s assistant could take my blood pressure, he exclaimed, “That really shows off your muscles! Do you lift weights?” I laughed and informed him that the only weights I lift are the water cooler bottles at work, because no one else will change them.

But, I’ve been thinking about his comment ever since, and how fun it would be to be “buff.” I’d always been on the scrawny side, weighing in at around 100 pounds. However, more recently--right around my 33rd birthday, in fact--my metabolism shifted to a lower gear, and I now weigh 114. I like where most of the weight has settled—for starters, I now have (modest) hips and legs that don’t resemble a chicken’s—but I do have a little belly. Can I keep the hips and lose the belly?

I’ve never been very interested in team sports, preferring activities I can do on my own or with one other person. Stamina is not my strong point. I tried running a few years ago and enjoyed it, but could never run more than 2 miles at a stretch, even after months of training (and I promptly quit when the summer grew humid). J pays for a gym membership, and is really good about going 3-4 times a week. I’m not sure I’d be so disciplined. I also know I’d feel guilty about leaving the dog alone again when he’s already been by himself all day.

I spent several days trying to think of activities that a) don’t cost an arm and a leg; and b) that I could do with the dog if possible. I know he enjoys running—in fact, that’s when I really see the Greyhound in him come out. I ordered one of these; hopefully I can train him to run at a more manageable trot. I also tried signing up for a sports assessment, but they’re not holding the physical tests in my area until August. However, based on the questionnaire I answered on the website, it appeared I would enjoy an activity that required good reflexes, flexibility, and a need for strategy. I’ve often thought fencing looked like fun (even if the uniforms kind of give me the willies), and J said he would be interested in taking the course with me. We start next week! Hopefully, I really won’t lose an arm and/or a leg…