Yesterday I managed to drag myself to the gym for the first time in about 10 weeks. Over the holidays things have started to grow on the left and right side of my belly. They are fluffy and it’s possible to grab them. They also form a cake-like structure when I sit down. Yes, I got love handles.

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![me](http://home.kpn.nl/bonge008/BLOG/gym/1.jpg)
*Took this when I was warming up, still smiling at that moment.*

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I don’t mind my love handles but I also realize it’s easier to fix them now then after another year when they will most likely be bigger. Also, I am creating a healthy mind and with it, I believe, you need a healthy body. So, I went yesterday. 

# Returning to the Gym
In school, I remember when I was sick with the flu or something, and I didn’t go to school for a week that going back would always feel a bit weird. Like you missed something important. 

This is how I felt yesterday. When I entered the gym, the whole place had changed. All the machines were rearranged and I’m trying to find my way like a newbie.

The other gym members can sense this. I’m looking in their eyes for guidance. But I get nothing. They don’t deal with lower gym creatures.

The next thing that happens is the instructor that works there remembers my face and he’s coming over for a ‘chat’. I now must explain myself why I did not show up for 10 weeks. And he’s giving me the look. 

So, I’m standing there, 32 years old, feeling guilty and nervous trying to explain my absence to somebody wearing a full tracksuit. I get the occasional nod. 

“I got sick and had no energy!”

*Ahum*

“It was so busy at work”

*Ahum*

*But with this new year I am back!*

*Ahum*

I am just trying to seek his approval. In the end, I get. The relieve!

“I’m glad your back now”, he says.

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The first gym session was hard! I lost about 35% of my strength in just 10 weeks. Wow, that’s crazy. They say your body has something called muscle memory so I’m hoping it will come back soon. 

The love handle problem will be more difficult to tackle. I started to get pretty fond of good food and drinks. I doubt they go hand in hand with a flat belly. 

But I’m back! That’s the most important step for now. And I’m going to keep this up because I don’t want to become a new year’s resolution cliché.

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