Day 8: In the Double Digits

I have a tendency to make impulse purchases: I buy something I think I might really like or need, only to use it once in a blue moon. Such has been the case with my elliptical machine.

I spent the evening at my favorite restaurant, with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Amy. We went to Bricco, and I had my usual: calamari, baked rigatoni, nutella pie, and two glasses of riesling. I'm a creature of habit... same appetizer, entree, drink, and dessert every time I go there (which is often). I had a blast, catching up and gossiping with someone I've known more than half my life. I intended on being semi-healthy by skipping dessert... but I couldn't, because the nutella pie at Bricco is easily the best dessert known to man.

So, I decided to exercise when I got home from dinner. Veggie burger yesterday, workout today... crazy, I know. Anyway, I bought an elliptical machine early last year. While most people join a gym to stay fit and keep their New Year's Resolution, I decided to go to the store and buy an elliptical. Similar to my story about the golf clubs, I'd never used an elliptical machine before, but I remembered a friend talking about using one at her gym. But, instead of joining a gym to use an elliptical, I figured it would be easier for me to just buy and assemble one. So I did. My first time on it, I lasted all of 2 or 3 minutes, before tuckering out. I waited a few days before I went on it again... I didn't want to overexert myself. I probably used it 1-2 times a week, 5 minutes at a time, for a period of 3 months (up until my girlfriend's wedding). I remember my friend, Denise, calling me while I was exercising the night before Risa's wedding; she could hear the strain in my voice. "Are you ok?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "No, you're not. What's wrong?" "Nothing." "Are you crying?" "No, I'm exercising on the elliptical." "Ohhh, gotcha." Well, today I went on the elliptical for 15 minutes, without stopping or taking any kind of break in between! My goal was to hit the 10-minute mark to make the double digits, but I far exceeded it. To most people, this isn't a great feat. Most might think it's laughable. But, to the world's least athletic person... it was kind of a big deal.

15:52