Okay, so here I am at square one yet again.
For those who don't know, four years ago I lost a crap load of weight through strict eating and exercise and have mostly kept it off. It wasn't perfect, I had very limited ranges of motion and choices of activity due to long standing back issues. What I did qualified as chronic cardio but I did get the weight off and really couldn't do much else. (If you can't pick a barbell up off the floor, you're limited to machines, and most of those were off limits too)
I did it outdoors by walking distances in the sand which worked because I lived two blocks from a beach in a great climate. I made friends and it was a way for me to interact with folks while "working out", I had a ton of social support, loved being outside, and it worked.
Fast forward to this last year. I moved cross country, got some medical things done, had several "life events", traveled a lot, and basically fell off the bandwagon. I did get a regular gym membership which lasted about three months on a recumbent bike with crushing boredom and no interaction with all the other folks wired into headphones looking straight ahead at tv's. I get that that model works for a bunch of folks and in no way do I criticize it for those it works for. My membership in that is up in the next month or two, I don't even know when, that's how engaged with it I am.
The good news is that my back problems have been resolved and I have range of motion available for the first time in a dozen years, albet with no strength. I just spent the last month detoxing from the heavy opioids I've been on for the last several years to function at all, and while a miserable experience, it's over. I'm weak as a kitten, have put on some fat this last year, (at least I know how to get rid of it), but mostly I really don't know how to do functional excersize beyond reading books, and I don't have a place that I feel like I can get what I want.
I think I'm going to try something new. I want training, variety, coaching/supervision, and engagement with other people who have similar goals. I think I may sip from the Crossfit koolaid cup, and see what the "cult" is all about. I only have to commit a month at a time if that's what I want, which is good because it's hella expensive, but I know what I'm doing now (nothing) for a smaller monthly fee is expensive in another way.
Comments? Warnings? Experience?
I'm going to go check out several "boxes", gyms, this afternoon to get a hands on feel for what the different locations seem to feel like.
This could be very good or very stupid, if you have an opinion, please share it.
