We Started Working Out Together. I Almost Didn’t Make It Through the First Class.

By Dave · Fitness · showingupdad.com

One of the unexpected perks of our gym having a daycare is that Nicole and I can actually work out together as new parents now. Something we almost never did before he was born. She’d go when she could, I’d go when I could, and our schedules rarely lined up.

Now sometimes we drop him off, go work out side by side, and pick him up after. It sounds small. It’s not. In the middle of a schedule that revolves entirely around someone else’s nap times, having an hour that’s just ours is something we didn’t know we needed.

We’ve been doing two classes together: a functional strength class and hot pilates. I have opinions on both. Especially the pilates.

The functional strength class will humble you.

I go to the gym regularly. I lift, I do cardio, I’m not starting from zero. And this class still had me sore for two days after every time.

The structure is different from just showing up and doing your thing. You’re moving through compound movements with actual intensity and not a lot of rest. By the end I was gassed in a way that doesn’t happen during my normal sessions.

I’ll be honest, I went in expecting to coast a little and left walking down the stairs sideways for two days. Good class. Would recommend. Currently afraid of it.

The hot pilates story.

So. We had a 5:30 class. Earlier that day, we went to Costco.

If you’ve been to Costco, you know what happens. You walk past the food court on the way in or out and you get a hot dog. That’s just what you do. It’s $1.50, it’s enormous, it’s part of the experience. You get some onions, little mustard its pure bliss.

A few hours later we’re walking into a 95-degree studio.

The instructor’s opening line, I kid you not, was something along the lines of: “on days you take this class, be mindful of what you eat and make sure you’re hydrating.”
Good information. Very useful. Couple of hours too late.

About thirty minutes in, I was in rough shape. Not “this is challenging” rough shape. More like “focusing really hard on not being the guy who has to leave” rough shape. Stars at the edges of my vision, full tunnel focus on just breathing, hoping the next pose was a rest pose.

I made it through. Nicole was fine, naturally. I told myself I was still adjusting to the heat, which is technically true, but also I wonder did that Costco hot dog three hours before come into play? We’ll never since, I have been mindful of what I’m eating on days were taking that class.

Why this actually matters beyond the hot dog situation.

Here’s the thing about working out together: it requires the same kind of coordination everything else requires now. Someone has to watch the baby. Schedules have to line up. The gym has to have a spot in the daycare.

Before he was born, we could have just gone whenever. Now it’s a minor logistical operation. Which makes it feel more worth protecting when it works.

I wouldn’t have signed up for either of these classes on my own. Not because I had anything against them, they just weren’t something I ever thought about. But Nicole wanted to go, and at this point in life an hour out of the house together without the baby counts as quality time. So I go, I survive. That’s pretty much the whole story.

Finding ways to stay active that work for both of us has been one of the better adjustments we’ve made since he was born. The gym with a good daycare situation is underrated as a resource for new parents. We get a workout in. He gets some interaction with other kids. Everybody wins.

Just maybe don’t stop at Costco on the way.

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