PART 1

The Gym

My doctor had been 0. __________ me about getting more exercise for several years. Of course, I knew he was right. Over the years, the various sports I’d played in my youth had fallen by the 1. __________. I was no longer able to find the time for them.
That left the gym. I’d been 2. __________ it over for about six months, but every time I looked through my local gym’s window, I was convinced it was a terrible idea. There were the competitive, exhibitionist types, grunting and sweating. Then there were the trainers insisting that you rigidly 3. __________ to a schedule of mind-numbingly monotonous activities such as running on a treadmill like a hamster on its wheel. And all of this was 4. __________ out in front of huge picture windows in 5. __________view of any passers-by! Nothing about it was the least 6. __________ appealing.
And yet, when I finally 7. the gym, I was pleasantly surprised. With careful planning, the grunters can be avoided, and I’m even becoming quite 8. __________ of my trainer.