Things I notice at the gym

For anyone who reads my blog regularly, you know I recently started a journey to living a healthier lifestyle. Along with a healthier lifestyle comes my least favorite thing in the world: working out. Ugh, do I HAVE to? In order for me to be motivated to actually work out, I joined a gym. This is my second full week of going and man have things changed since last time I was at a gym. (It's been 3 years). Although these things may not have changed, but maybe it has to do me going from a small privately owned gym to a chain. I am going to Planet Fitness because well its cheap, and I'm broke. Here are the the things that I have noticed since joining my new gym:



1. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is wearing ear buds. It is apparently not proper gym ettiquete to physically speak to others at the gym. You put in those ear buds and off you go.

2. Now that you have your ear buds in, you must also never make the mistake of making eye contact with any other individual around you. This may lead to socialization and unnecessary talking.

3. There is apparently a guys section and a girls section at the gym. And what I mean by this is, ladies you stay on the treadmill! Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT get off and use a machine. Those are only for the guys in the house. You must live your life doing cardio only!

4. If you are like me, and venture into the machines, you will have every dude staring at you. I am still not sure if this is a death stare or an impressed stare. I will get back to you on this.

5. The ladies travel in packs and the men are solo. I saw the occasional couple, and they stayed in the cardio area together. I risked it and went alone. I did not have my posse with me, but I also realized its not a bad thing! I enjoyed my me time at the gym.

You see I thought the gym used to be a social place. Now it seems like you are there to do your thing and leave, unless you brought your posse, then you speak to them. I almost felt uncomfortable with all the awkwardness around me. I mean sure, I was there to get my fitness on, but come on people! We can smile, and make small talk from time to time. We can un-glue ourselves form our phones and interact with society for a little while. No one is there to piss in your cheerios. We can all use the machines, and not segregate ourselves to one area or another.

Okay this turned into a little rant, which was not intentional, which is also why I love blogging. The point I am making is why must every activity we do in life consist of us being on our phones and avoiding other people? I don't know about you, but once I leave the office these days, I am so done with electronics. I want to workout, listen to the music around me and interact with people from time to time.

What do you all think? Is this pretty common at your gym as well? Do you prefer to be left alone and get the work done, or do you enjoy a friendly chat with what could be a new friend or workout buddy? Lemme know!


Let's Be Social

6 comments

  1. I'm the opposite. I'm one of those ear bud people avoiding eye contact. But I do like weight lifting! Way better than cardio (although cardio is what I need more). I'm not sure what it is exactly: part being gross and sweaty and not wanting people to look at me and part wanting to get into my own mental groove, which music helps with immensely.

    I'm not a huge fan of gyms anyway. If I have access to private weight equipment, that will always be my first choice. I'll socialize later, when I'm freshly showered and pretty again. ;-)

    Jenn | Business, Life & Design

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am not sure why it bothered me so much because I am normally the person who likes to do my own thing and get a move on, but something about that experience made me feel off!

      Delete
    2. You know, even though my gym preference is different, I think I know what you're talking about. I get that same feeling at the zoo or aquarium, when there's more people holding up their phones and cameras than actually looking at the fish, or reading about the animals.

      C'mon guys. Are you really gonna want 20 fuzzy pictures of the giraffe later? Meanwhile, I'm learning about their almost 2 foot long black tongues, and 2,200 pound necks! Why don't you teach your kid about zoology instead of how to work your smart phone camera - they'll figure that out on their own.

      Delete
    3. Yeah I feel like we need to put down the screens sometimes and get living life! Enjoy the moments as they happen and not as fuzzy giraffe pictures! Love that!

      Delete
  2. My gym is owned by a couple who both body build! So there's always women doing the weights. I love it!

    Also, I love your new design!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's awesome! I love using the weights. I used to go to a smaller gym and it was more like that. And thanks for the love on the design! I love it!

      Delete