Some thoughts on the gym (now that I'm making a habit of going)
1. All gym employees are smarmy in a really endearing way.
It's as if it their goal in life to make sweet, sweet love to gym equipment. Sure, you're welcome to come along for the ride but their smarm is all about sweat and abs, not women. My tour guide talked about the importance of lifting for several minutes and then he kept using the word tone repeatedly. Every time he said tone I could see him mentally clenching his fists.
And he so, so, so badly wanted me to tell him my "fitness goals" which are non-existent. He was so persistent that I know most of my friends would have totally caved and told him they would like to run a marathon or lose 25 lbs. or something--anything--to make him stop saying tone. But I kinda loved watching his exasperation with someone who just was never going to share his earnest love of spinning classes. Eventually, I told him my "fitness goal" was to be more healthy. Then he launched into a new speec about multi-vitamins.
2. Gym gear is so best.
I endured a recent conversation in which it was contended that nobody likes work out clothes. Ahem:
Comments
I looove my gym gear. Here's a secret: I am all about sports gear. Rollerblading gear? Check. Tennis gear? Check. Swimming gear? Check. Gym gear? Check.
Make sure the instructor sets you a good plan though for some set a plan that is OPPOSITE to what you need. (I learnt that the hard way) All the best with your gym workouts! If you plan them right, you can even catch the OC while jogging on the treadmill like I do on Sundays around noon!
Posted by: Aakanksha | June 15, 2007 2:01 AM
Aw, I wish we could be gym buddies! I'm all alone over here, needing to get in shape...
Posted by: Emily | June 15, 2007 8:20 AM
Workout clothes are my favorite! Come on! What's more comfortable than workout clothes? Maybe pajamas, but I try my best not to wear those to the gym.
Posted by: Jennie | June 15, 2007 8:41 AM
I recently had my first session with a trainer at my gym, because it came with my gym membership. He judged me a lot for not being able to do certain exercises (he actually said at one point, "I'm surprised that this is difficult for you." What?!). He apparently lives in an alternate universe. Oh, and I couldn't walk for like two days after my session.
Posted by: Amanda Lane | June 15, 2007 11:50 AM
Ace, I think if I could watch the OC while working out I could actually complete 52 minutes of cardio. In fact, I think I can do anything as long as the OC is on.
Shift, come visit! I can bring guests for free all month!
Jennie, I totally worked out in pajamas last night. I almost wore pajamas to work today. I really need to do laundry.
Amanda Lane, that is best story I've ever heard. I don't think my new smarm friend would be like that. He'd be all, "lets take a break and work on some cables. Did I tell you about how it's important to use all the machines? Also, buy some multi-vitamins."
Posted by: Abigail | June 15, 2007 1:22 PM
Another motivating factor is knowing that if you stop running, the video on the treadmill screen will also pause...so you have to keep going ;)
Also...I find doing resistance training hard and boring on my own in the gym. But in a Body Pump class, it is so much fun!!
Posted by: Aakanksha | June 15, 2007 2:18 PM
I WANNA QUIT THE GYM
Posted by: heather | June 15, 2007 4:01 PM
I still hold to the fact that workout clothes are lame.
Posted by: Ryan Schaffner | June 16, 2007 2:16 AM
Lame! You're holding comments to be moderated!? I feel the beginnings of a police state.
Posted by: ryan | June 16, 2007 2:18 AM
Ace, my gym does not have in-machine video screens. They just have huge tvs throughout. Which means that I'm stuck watching whatever is on near an available machine. It's ALWAYS news or news-related discussion shows and I'm relearning how much I hate them all over again.
Ryan, you are actually outside of reason right now.
Posted by: Abigail | June 16, 2007 8:15 AM