My YMCA Replacement!

Today I went to one of Maadi’s most popular gyms for the first time! The story ends in an OUCH…but I will tell you anyways :)

I have been looking for a gym in Maadi for a while now, but I have had some difficulty in selecting my future gym (aka my YMCA replacement!). I think it is an important decision. It has to be a place where I WANT to go (everyone has those days when you just DON’T want to go!) and it also needs to be close to my apartment. I need the freedom to go when I want to, yet still arrive and return home safely! And so, I have been my own personal “GYM WANTED” advertisement! Just ask my fellow teachers…..they think I’m crazy because “Why do you need a gym? The constant sweating in Egypt takes care of any extra calories”! Why do you need a gym?!! The Lindsay answer: because I want to sweat with INTENTION :)

The first gym I was referred to is at the end of my road. I walked the five minutes to this gym the other day. Hmmm……..can you really “waste” five minutes? I think…YES YOU CAN! First of all, you had to ring a doorbell to get in, as the door is locked at all times. Secondly, I was not greeted with a happy “I’m glad to show you around” face. Instead, I was greeted with a “why are you here, miss expat” face. Apparently, the gym is targeted towards Egyptian women who speak Arabic…and only Arabic. The two women working didn’t speak a lick of English and were quite bothered by my attempts at communicating in Arabic. Luckily, there was not too much to see (the gym was slightly bigger than a box) and I was able to escape quickly! This was NOT the gym for me!

The next gym that I tried was closed - ALL THE TIME. Every single time I went (and I went at DIFFERENT times!), it was not open for business! I assumed this was part of the ploy – make people walk to your gym and then home again, without having to supply any equipment or athletic facilities. It is a complete SCAM – walking to and fro IS your workout! I tried to look at it positively…you can work this gym into your schedule anytime you like (because there are no designated gym hours) and if you get bored of one routine, you can simply select an alternative route to get there! Hmmm…it didn’t work. Despite the pros, I had to say NO WAY HOSE!

Third time’s the charm. It really is! I finally found a gym that I want to join and I went there for the very first time this evening! Let me describe it for you :) The gym is on floor 7 of a big building (p.s. Otis’ other grandkids must work in this building) and when you walk in you see: a) inspirational Nike posters everywhere (for men AND women) and b) many, many windows….with beautiful views to admire! Although I am happy about the window situation, it is the Nike posters that initially won me over. This gym is one of the only places in Cairo where men and women are seen as equal. I could not say no! Luckily, the equipment was able to back up my automatic “YES”! All of the cardio equipment is new and CLEAN (Cairo is not so clean….) and the weight machines all have personal rep counters :) It is so exciting – you can talk and no lose track of your reps! The change rooms are lovely as well and every membership allows you to use the sauna, hot tub, and spa! (YMCA – please take note!).

A fellow teacher gave me three free passes to this GLORIOUS gym and today I brought my gym clothes to enjoy working out in Egypt for the first time! Well……..let me tell you…….I met a DRILL SARGEANT! His name is (and I am being serious) BUTCHER! Muscular and CRAZY, he was my personal trainer for the evening! Ow. Ow. Ow. I am not only saying this now. I was saying this through every single exercise he had me do! I couldn’t even cheat. He was there the ENTIRE time, not as a cheerleader but as a “you better do all 3 sets of 15 or else…” At first I found it bizarre. I did not ask for a personal trainer, but it is INSISTED as part of your free trial period and so I gave in. But in the end, after surviving the torture, I was happy to work with him. Butcher lightened up when all was said and done and he even gave me a high five! He said that I was tougher than he thought, which made me smile until he spoke the words, “We will be focussing on shoulders, back and biceps tomorrow”. Please pray that I get through the OUCH and make it back to my NEW GYM tomorrow!

p.s. I had a peanut butter and jam sandwich when I got home and it was the MOST DELICIOUS PB&J I have ever had in my entire life :)