I know the topic is not 100% fitness/workout related, but while I was trying to get through my 20 minutes on the StairMaster after my leg workout this afternoon, I couldn’t help but look around at the people in the gym [singlepic=14,260,190,,left] and I just had to share what I saw and thought.
First of all I would just like to say that the gym is a GREAT place for people watching. Yes, I’m totally focused on my own workouts, but honestly there are some VERY interesting characters walking around the gym (at least MY gym) that it’s really hard sometimes not to notice and take a moment during your brief rest and stare (in the most polite way of course).
However, not all stories are silly/annoying/’what are you doing?’ situations, there are those few moments that you take a look at a person who is working SO hard and you are truly inspired…however, that doesn’t happen that often.
Here’s some of the things I’ve seen or thought about when in the gym the last week and thought I’d share:
- A man with two dumbbells in his hands, swaying back and forth, trying to scratch his armpits with the weights in is hands – okay I’m being too polite here – he looked like he was a gorilla. The way he was swaying back and forth – I’m still trying to figure out what muscle group he was working on. Any ideas?
- A man doing a dead lift with a ROUNDed back. I looked at him and could only say, ‘OW. Please sir, straighten out your back, mine really hurts looking at yours.’ (I always wonder – can I say something? Would he be offeneded? I just want to help him not hurt himself…but I’m sure that would hurt his ego if a girl came and corrected him, so I just stay away). [singlepic=13,280,200,,center]
- Some poor man fell on the treadmill. Lost his footing and went face first into the treadmill. Ouch. He was definitely seeing stars, he got up…he was walking and looked okay…now I’m nervous I’ll be the next to fall…
- There are a lot of interesting outfits at the gym. I am always so curious to know what people thought about when they got ready for the gym. You can tell that some people didn’t think, which is totally fine, and others put WAY too much thought into their outfit. Just be comfortable in whatever you are wearing, that’s all that really matters.
- People who bring coffee into the gym. I’d love to know why. And I can’t imagine after a really hard set going and gulping my coffee to quench my thirst and feeling refreshed and ready for the next one.
Well, I think that’s enough ranting and raving for one day. Hope you had a laugh or a smile or may be able to relate to one of these stories. Honestly, I love the gym and all the interesting people that go there. I will miss seeing them when I have my own gym one day, well, maybe I’ll make sure to go back and visit every once in a while.
I’d love to hear your stories…what are crazy things you’ve seen at the gym?
Funny that you mentioned the “guy who dead lifts with a rounded back”. I think he must be a staple at every gym, and I too had faced the dilemma of whether I should tell him about the importance of proper form, or leave him ignorant and content in his loud-grunting, swaggering-mojo bubble. I opted to just let him go on his merry way, considering he’s an inconsistent gym goer at best.
Some routine observations that make me leave my gym more perplexed than when I was doing organic chemistry in college:
-when contentedly plump ladies finish walking for 45 minutes, and then proceed to use the sit up bench for 30 sit ups and then that’s their workout. At least they clean their bench afterward
-people who think that machines are fancy chairs, and use them to sit on while “in between sets”…sets of what, I’m not sure, bc every time I look their way, they are always sitting and texting
-anyone who uses the ab crunch machine (sorry if you like that machine, but I think it’s ludicrous, and wonder why anyone would use that)
-the girl who uses a bench to do torso twists with 5 lb weight
-The huge beast who can lat pull down the whole weight stack…and you know he’s doing it because he literally yells out his effort with every rep.
-And finally, when I make the mistake of taking off my mp3 player before I leave the gym, and a guy eventually starts talking at me and then asks if I’m single. I always think it’s weird that when I reply that I’m married that they look at my hand. As if I’d be wearing my ring while I’m squatting and trying to keep a loaded bar across my shoulders. (worth noting that while I’m being talked at, I’m making my way to the door; and my ring tan line is very apparent).