The Gym...one woman's story.... WEEK AT THE GYM: ONE WOMANS STORY If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong withyou. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regularworkout routine. Dear Diary. For my 50th birthday this year, my husband (the dear) purchased a week ofpersonal training at the local health club for me. AlthoughI am still ingreat shape since playing on my college tennis team 30 years ago, I decidedit would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer namedJoe, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and modelfor athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with myenthusiasm to get started!The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chartmy progress. MONDAY Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it waswell worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Joe waiting for me.He is something of a Greek god - with blonde hair,dancing eyes and adazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Joe gave me a tour and showed me themachines. He took my pulse after five minutes on the treadmill. He wasalarmed that my pulse was so fast, but I attribute it to standing next tohim in his Lycra aerobic outfit. I enjoyed watching the skillful way inwhich he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Veryinspiring! Joey was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, all though my gut wasalready aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This isgoing to be a FANTASTIC week-!! TUESDAY I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.Joemade me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air -- then heput weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but Imade the full mile. Joey's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feelGREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me. WEDNESDAY The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on thecounter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have ahernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steeror stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.Joe was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other clubmembers. His voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and whenhe scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurtwhen I got on the treadmill, so Joe put me on the stair monster. Why thehell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity renderedobsolete by elevators? Joe told me it would help me get in shape and enjoylife. He said some other **** too. THURSDAY Joe was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin,cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a halfan hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.Joe took me to work outwith dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the ladies room.He sent Muffy to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowingmachine -- which I sank. FRIDAY I hate that dick, Joe, more than any human being has ever hated any otherhuman being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny,anaemic littlecheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearablepain, I would beat him with it. Joe wanted me to work on my triceps. Idon't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don'thand me the f---ing barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher.Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choirdirector? SATURDAY Joe left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voicewondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want tosmash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to evenuse the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of theWeather Channel. SUNDAY I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go andthank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year myhusband will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or ahysterectomy.