The Nest

Weight and see

Posted Thursday, June 28, 2007 5:51 PM

If there is one thing I will never be mistaken for it is a buff bride. I can be a flexible bride, a cute bride, a curvy bride, even a "I can do one minute of criss-crosses" bride. But buff? Uh uh. I've been taking Pilates classes for the last two years and I'm really good at hundreds, the "five series," leg series plank position and even working with weights and the foam roller. My problem is that Pilates tones, but cardio gets rid of the "junk in the trunk." So, this evening, Adam and I are heading to the gym.

I managed to win two three-month memberships – two years in a row – and this way both of us can go together. We've been talking about going since last year and now it will finally happen. It has been a very long time since I've been to an actual gym. I usually do cardio at home (thank you Richard Simmons and your 30-minute Blast Off tapes ) and have a Thigh-Master under my desk at work. At one point I even joined 24-Hour Fitness, but was totally turned off by the dark parking lot, pushy employees and being surrounded by people who didn't look like they even knew what a Frapuccino tasted like (I can't live in a world like that).

I've done everything I can to prepare: I put my gym clothes in the car;  I've got a book, iPod and water bottle . Adam is the one who is behind all of this. He wants us to be in good shape on our wedding day. I'm in shape – it's sort of an hourglassish with a thicker bottom half – but it is a shape.

I don't have to worry about fitting into my wedding dress (it's going to have to be taken in anyway – or at least it did they first time I tried it on). I would like to look cute in a bathing suit for a trip we are planning in 2009. Yes, that's right – two years, but given my genetic makeup, I could use the head start.  I like to give credit where credit is due, so thanks to the various female members of my family for the tummy, thighs, butt, short arms, lousy metabolism and love of desserts (and you know who you are).

I've never been skinny in my life, and I don't expect sessions at the gym to change that -- it's a gym not a wishing well. After tonight no one will be able to say that I didn't give it a shot. Of course we are going to dinner afterward, but we're Jews… everything ends with eating.

So if you see a blonde on the elliptical over the next three months, please say hi – I'll be the one with the Starbucks.