Cardio Challenge. Yogalates. Zumba. Group Power. These are just a few of the classes my gym offers on weekday mornings. As I wrote here a couple of weeks ago, I recently decided to get back to the gym after more than four years away. It has been exactly 6 days since I signed on the dotted line, forked over my initiation fee and my first month's dues, and I am proud to report that I have been to the gym every day since. Well, except for Sunday. After all, God said, "On Sundays you will rest." Clearly he was not addressing the modern day mom.

The weekday morning gym crowd is interesting. It's a mix of retirees, moms of school-aged children, a few college students. Not the high-strung after work crowd I'm used to from days BC (before children). I'm going to classes that most women working traditional office jobs could not attend. You see, I finally gave myself permission to go to they gym while my kids are at school and day care. After all, I work from home and one of the perks is supposed to be making my own schedule! Right? Payback for all the nights I'm up late doing billing or writing reports to clients.

The first class was a group weight lifting class to music. Fun and painful. The second class was step and strength. I was amazed that after several years I could remember what "corner-to-corner" and "over-the-top" meant. The "around the world" command stumped me at first, but that one quickly came back to me, too.

On Saturday, I naively entered the Cardio Challenge class. This was complete and utter torture. They should have called it boot camp—which is exactly what it felt like. Jumpropes, running up and down steps, pushups, sprints...I wanted to die. I looked at the instructor, sweat pouring down my red face and explained breathlessly, "This is my third day at the gym after four years." I was hoping for some sympathy and perhaps a little positive reinforcement. Instead she responded with "Great, you better get back here again next Saturday!"

This morning I took Zumba which is a combination of dances: mambo, salsa, bellydancing. What I lacked in coordination I made up for with a cute workout outfit! After all, if you are going to join the gym again, you have to go to Dick's Sporting Goods to get some new sneakers and cute little sports tops that cost a ridiculous $24 each!

All this is to say I've actually enjoyed my return to the gym. There was a time in 1997 BC that I relished my workouts. And I can feel that same joy coming back. I have given myself permission to do something for myself. To take time out of my crazy hectic life to do something I want to do. Not because I have to or I should (well, that's not entirely true, but hey I'm convincing myself here) but because it makes me feel less manic! After all, exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy. Almost as happy as a non-fat pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. Which—now that I am working out—I give myself permission to have with whipped cream. Yum.