Last month Deb and I joined a gym. Again.

We belonged to one before COVID. And after COVID, we never went back.

But we’re getting to an age where we need to be in shape so that we can stay in healthy. Not only for our kids, but for our grandkids.

Deb has a trainer to help her get started on her fitness journey. She wants to have someone there to show her how to use the equipment and what to do.

I’m figuring it out on my own. I had a trainer a few years ago. I found it helpful but — dang — it’s so expensive.

I don’t have problems doing my cardio. My favourite thing to do at the gym is run on the treadmill. Next favourite is to sit in the sauna.

But I must do weight-bearing exercises. And I hate them.

It’s funny. I don’t mind the “burn” of a running workout. I don’t mind pushing myself to run a bit further or a bit faster.

But I don’t like the “burn” of pushing my muscles with weights. I find it so hard to get into it. I hate the sore muscle feeling in my arms afterwards.

Mentally, I know that it’s important to do these kinds of exercises. Weight-bearing exercises help prevent osteoporosis. They help with your metabolism. They help with weight loss. They help prevent fractures. They help with your balance.

Emotionally? I don’t want to do them. They hurt. And they’re boring in a way that cardio isn’t.

For cardio, I can go into a meditative state. I love letting my mind wander as I run.

With weights, you must count reps. I never feel like I get into a zone where it’s fun. It’s work.

I’m in a minority, though. It seems that most people prefer weights to cardio.

And does it matter? I need to find a way to get myself to do the weights.

It needs to be part of my health regimen. Maybe I’ll try dedicating my weight workouts to my kids and grandkids?

Maybe if I focus on the “why” more than the “what”?

Let’s see if that helps.