Thursday, 08 September 2011
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Do You Socialize At The Gym?
For me, the gym is a somewhat solitary endeavor. I've never felt the need for a workout buddy, and actually prefer to be left alone. I work at my gym, so I always know the people behind the desk there, but beyond some conversation when I arrive and when I leave, I don't really interact with people.Why? I wish I knew. I always feel a little bit self-conscious on some level when I work out, and I think that people I know being around makes me more aware of how I look. This obviously does nothing good for my workout.
On the other hand, I know people who go to the gym purely to socialize. On Facebook the other day, a girl I know posted a status about how she was on the elliptical on the lowest setting for an hour. She proudly said she goes to the gym for social time.
Now, I can't stand the girls that come to the gym all dolled up and aim to look cute rather than break a sweat, but that's a topic for another blog. I do, however, know some people who come to the gym and work themselves into the ground, but also work the room like nobody's business. These people are mostly regulars, and have friends they've made in the gym.
I can't fathom how people bond in that environment. Everyone's in their zone, listening to their iPod, or generally looking like they don't want to be disturbed.
What about you, Healthkickers? Do you socialize at the gym?
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About the Author
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- From: darci
- About Me: I'm a New York native attending the University of Miami (go Canes!). I love Cherry Coke, all '80s pop culture, the Olympics, snow, and a good story. I hate running, have been known to eat junk food after I finish up at the gym, and have an ongoing rivalry with the Jacob's Ladder. I'm my own brand of health nut!
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Comments (12)
I agree with you. It's usually a solitary thing for me. I don't go there for socializing. I go there to do my thing and leave. No time for socializing for me.
Nope, I'm definitely like you and get more self-conscious when people i know are around. I actually go out of my way to avoid them sometimes, like by getting off a machine that faces them or going to do my ab routine in the corner. I guess my reasons are that I have a set routine that I like to follow and some of the items in it aren't exactly conventional so I would rather not deal with other peoples' comments about it. My gym clothes also aren't the most flattering and even though I am well aware that everyone sweats, I would rather just not be seen all gross. When I go to the gym to work out with someone else I feel judged, or rushed because my routine is fairly long, or the complete opposite happens and I end up not really working out at all which I just beat myself up for later.
The one exception to this rule is my boyfriend, but even when I work out with him I end up feeling pressured/rushed sometimes.
I try to socialize just a bit. That way, I am not an isolated, loner, introvert who slowly slips into bitterness and madness. However, I do avoid certain guys because when you talk to these certain guys, you are signing yourself up for hearing, in excruciating detail, their last 6 months of training for some triathlon. Ten minutes later, I am thinking, "Note to self. Avoid this guy like the plague."
But now I'm interested in your future rage post against the girls that come to the gym all dolled up and aim to look cute rather than break a sweat.
It is far easier to get to complete failure safely with a lifting partner. Gains aren't made in the reps you can do but the ones that your partner has to spot you on. As far as "socializing", if I know you I'll have a bit of a conversation between sets. With cardio, don't look at me, don't talk to me or I might just get off this treadmill/bike and kill you.
On a side note...apparently xanga isn't the place where semi-serious weight training folk frequent.
I, too, workout on my own, which is fine with me for the most part. My only problem with not having a gym buddy is that I don't have a designated spotter, so I tend to go less than my max in fear that I might drop the weight on my face. D:
What annoys me about people who socialize at the gym is when they sit at a machine running their mouth to their friend who is actually working out (half-assedly, of course, since they're able to reply...) at the machine next to it. SO AGGRAVATING!
No. I socialize when I see my friends at the gym and say hi for a few minutes and get back to my workout.
Most of the time I say 'hi' to the other gym members that i always see during my lifting hours. I rarely converse with them though.
i don't like socialising at the gym because i'm aware of how horrible i look and smell. but if someones comes over to talk to me i do talk to them but i try to keep it short
No, I just like to do my own thing. But if someone talks to me I won't ignore them, i'll definitely be nice and talk to them too. But no long conversations please !
I would really wanna read the blog about girls who go to the gym clearly to scoailize!! lol.