https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/qmmunity/2009-05-15/782592/

Gay Place Loses It!

By Andy Campbell, May 15, 2009, 1:04pm, Qmmunity

Before I even begin with recounting the punishing week it has been, I should let everyone know that we found out what we win (when we win, not if) the Anytime Fitness Media Challenge.

Anytime Fitness will make a monetary donation to the charity of the winner's choosing, and will lavish the winner with a fabulous spa package. Andy's Charity: OutYouth. Kate's Charity: Undecided. For those who participate but don't "win," we're guessing the prize will be custom beer Koozies. Don't let us down, Anytime!

How about Fiji Water and Steroids? Huh huh huh?!?

Let's get to the bidness, shall we? We've finally done it: Tomorrow marks week one of the Anytime Fitness Media Challenge, and boy, are my arms tired (yuk yuk, boo, vomit).

There are a few things I'm confident about, and here they are:

Reverse flies sound fun, but aren't. Although I will most likely be talking about them at every party I'm invited to for the next year!
Me: Oh, I just came from the gym, I was just doing some reverse flys.
Stranger: Oh! Those sound difficult, dangerous and cool.
Me: They are. They are.

I feel more energetic than I've ever been (yet strangely enough, I take a nap after workouts usually)

Anytime Fitness has just installed a GIGANTOR new fan that looks like it would lop off some heads were it not for the steel cables pinning it to the ceiling (12' blades! Eeep!)

Planks sound fun, but aren't. Not about pirates funnily enough.

All the trainers we've worked with have been friendly, fun, personable, and have kicked my ass to the max.

I'm a masochist?

TRX is an acronym for Take 'Roids instead(X).

Yoga Mats are really fun to roll out. One of the most satisfying activities I've partaken in recently. Don't judge me.

Having cashcashcash makes weight losslossloss easier – or rather it greatly facilitates the process. Buying good healthy foods is a budget sucker – and for us penny-conscious Chronicle writers, Whole Foods is out of our budget. And Kate has to wait for paycheck day for new shoes. Sad.

Here are some things I'm not confident about:

Reverse Flies and Planks

That basically sums up the week. Both Messer and I have been hitting the gym every day (sometimes twice!), regardless of whether or not we're going to be working with a trainer. Messer's already lost some poundage!! In one week!!!! I'm afraid to weigh in – but will have to in a couple weeks whether I like it or not.

We greatly look forward to week 2. Workouts have been challenging and rewarding already. And we're getting top treatment – one of the owners of the gym is personally supervising our training. Oh, Glen! When veins pop out of our calves like yours, we may finally know what bliss is. Really, though, Glen is a gem… A JEWEL! …and we look forward to more early morning sessions. God, we never thought we'd say that!