Fitness Room

Good morning.   We have "sprung forward" and turned our clocks ahead for another hour of daylight.  But Old Man Winter will pay one more visit it would seem.  Today it is chilly and gray, with the threat of a cold winter storm on the horizon.  That is okay with me, since I love the rain.  But I have had the taste of Spring, and find myself dreaming of all that comes with it.   So hopefully this last storm will be brief!
A few weeks ago, our youngest moved out of the house.  He has circled the nest once before, but we are feeling pretty certain he is out on his own for good this time.  So what did we do?  We turned his room into a fitness center.  This bedroom is the smallest one of the house.  When we bought it, one of the walls was completely mirrored.  We left it because originally this room was Erika's, and what teenage girl doesn't love a wall of mirrors?  I was convinced this would make the perfect room for a little fitness center.  We have tried before to get the treadmill into the house and it just wouldn't go.  We got it in through the double front doors, but could not get it into the bedroom.  But I was convinced to do it somehow.  So, with some careful measuring, and planning, and the help of our friend Tommy G, we did it!!!  The  doors and trim may need a little love, but it is in!!!  We also put the Nordic Track in there, and even with both pieces, I was still left with enough floor space for yoga and Wii Fit.   We still have things to do in here.  There is more signed sports memoralbillia to hang.   And I need to make new curtains, and touch up the paint.  But for the most part, it is functioning just the way we wanted it to.

With the two pieces of equipment situated that way in an L shape, it allowed for plenty of floor space to still do yoga and fitness DVD's, as well as use the balance ball and hand weights and stretch tube.
When my girls were little, my Dad refinished some high school gym lockers for each one of the grandkids between my brothers and I.  Some were not yet born, and didn't get one.  When Drew was little, he was a huge Green Bay Packers fan and we ordered this gym locker for him and it stood in his bedroom for many years.  But the others have been in the garage forever.  I took those out yesterday and scrubbed them clean, and put them in the fitness room to hold our gear.  I LOVE them.  Especially the fact that my dear Dad made them for his grandchildren.  I love that I kept them, and now have the opportunity to use them in here.

Each of them has their name on the front.  And they are perfect for keeping weights and mats and such out of sight when not in use.

They are not color coordinated, nor bright and shiny, but I love them.  To me, they are perfect!

From the treadmill or nordic track, you can watch the telly to help pass the time.

The telly is on a wall mount and can be tilted and moved to any area of the room for easy viewing.  The file cabinet in the corner will be going to the closet as soon as we find the appropriate piece to take that space.  For now though, it has to be in here.  The top of the cabinet holds some of our collection of signed baseballs.  Behind that is a basketball signed by Michael Jordan.  And above that is a print of our friend who spent most of his career as the Montreal Expos third baseman, and ended his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  We had such fun following his great career and watching him play.   He now coaches for the Dodgers.

On another wall is a jersey signed by LA  Lakers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neil.

After getting everything in it's proper place for best utilizing the room, I decided it was missing something.  A nice comfy place to sit, for anyone who may not be exercising, but just wants to sit and watch the telly, or watch the exercisers!  So I ever so sweetly pleaded with Greg to help me move the LARGE chaise lounge chair I recently bought  and placed in the guest bedroom, to the fitness room.  It was Drew who went with me to buy that chair and he helped me move it into the guest room.  We had to squeeze it through the doorway, but somehow we did it without too much trouble.  NOT the case with this move!!!!  SO not the case!  Luckily Drew showed up just as we were about to abandon the idea.  So Greg took the door off, and then they were able to maneuver it through.  I tucked it up into the farthest corner of the closet, and it works perfectly!

After Drew goes through his book collection  and things on the shelves in the closet, I will have Tommy G put an electrical outlet in there, and we can put a reading lamp behind the chair.  I am going to make a new valance for the top of the closet to hide the shelves like I did in my sewing room.
So, there you have it.  No excuses now to not work out.  I ran a brief 1/2 mile on Sunday.  Then last night, I did a little over a mile, and played with the incline and pace.  I have a LONG way to go, to get back into shape. Today after I take Noah to school, I am going to do my yoga DVD.  And tonight Eri is coming to use the gym. 

Wish us luck!!!
XO  Kris