Dear Fellow Gym Goers

[blas]

Bookstore, I see a LOT of people at the gym do it.

There are the lazies who set the treadmill at less than 3 mph or use the bikes and read, which isn't much of a workout but whatever works, and there are the people who run at mach 10 and somehow still can read and turn pages.

I can't even run free handed on a treadmill.

[firecat88]

I see it too. People will read while walking on the track, while running on the treadmill, while using the bikes....I don't understand it either.

And then there's the group of girls who are always texting while they're sitting on the weight machines. Not doing anything else. Just...texting.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I can't even run free handed on a treadmill.

I don't like to run on the treadmill because I don't have enough stamina and I have to stop/slow down quickly too often. A moving belt does not make that feel like a safe thing to do.

[Cazzi]

I can't even run free handed on a treadmill.

I beat you.. I can't even *walk* free handed on a treadmill

And, I'll admit to being one of those who walks at under 3mph Although, I start my treadmill routine at a steady 2-2.3mph at a 15% gradient, for a while then finish it off at about 2.8mph at a 10% gradient.
The slope is more comfortable on the knee-that-refuses-to-stop-hurting and it helps strengthen my leg muscles too.. as well as gets the heart pumping & burning off the cals

Never thought of trying to read on the treadmill though, I listen to podcasts instead.

[Seshat]

And, I'll admit to being one of those who walks at under 3mph

Did you catch my post about not fussing over people who do 'wussy' workouts?

You do what you can, and what your body is ready for. If it's not ready to go faster, it just isn't.

[Cazzi]

Did you catch my post about not fussing over people who do 'wussy' workouts?

I did, it just escaped my mind for a bit as I'm feeling like death warmed over today
I know there's a lot at the gym I will never do, such as running, leg extensions, rowing machine etc, as my joints are too stretchy to cope with them.
Not to mention I'll end up with 2 black eyes from my boobs if I start running

[zibmai]

I'm not sure what the man with the newspaper was trying to accomplish. He was an older man, not looking in the greatest shape (and good on him for jumping on the treadmill). But...he opened up the newspaper then set the speed to a sprint right off the bat. It was very bizarre, watching him struggle to keep up with the belt and keep the newspaper in his hands. He sprinted and stumbled about for all of 5 minutes, then hopped off the treadmill in a huff. Very odd.

[blas]

That's not wussy if it's all you can do, it's the people who purposely set the machine that slow so they can read.

[raw456]

I can't even run free handed on a treadmill.

2 months ago I couldnt RUN on a treadmill. Now I can If only for short bursts.

But I have to do it hands free. I seem to lose all co-ordination if I hold on.

I dont seem to have problems at my gym with women in the change room. Probably because I use a gym that is women only and specifically aimed at the muslim community, so most have their gym clothes on under their robes before they come in.

[blas]

I found a way on the treadmill to get sort of a workout for your arms.

I hold on with one hand. Alternate as often as desired. It keeps me balanced and safe, but works my arm at the same time.

The gym I go to has a movie theater (SO awesome!) but sometimes it's a curse because people are so selfish and rude. It's dark, like a real movie theater, and all of these people (usually older) walk in and turn on the lights, even if there are already people in there working out happily in the dark, they'll complain about the dark and keep the lights on so you can barely see the screen anymore. I have walked out of the theater before and just went up to the cardio deck to watch CNN instead (YAWN).

Or the gym buddies who can't focus on their own work and have to talk the entire time they work out. That's fine on the floor. NOT in the movie theater. Shut UP! It's just as bad as being at the movies.

Or when someone comes to get their friend from the theater and they just stand and hover by the machine and talk to them. I want to choke them.

Of course, you can't be a member of a giant athletic club without people like that always ruining little things here and there. Especially when the majority of the members there are yuppies and well-off baby boomers. Nudist yuppies and baby boomers. I'd love to be that comfortable with my body, but I still would never stand butt ass naked in front of an entire locker room, hands on my hips, talking about news, weather and current events. Just change please. Put your clothes on. Thank you.

[firecat88]

More Notes from Me:

Yes, I am the shortest person running on the track right now, not counting the 8-year-old who's with the tour group, and even he's probably still taller than me by a couple-a inches.

Yes, I am on the chubby side. I'm working on it. Besides, half the fitness walking class is in much worse shape than I am, but no one ever pays them any mind.

Yes, I am indeed the only person on the track right now who's in a wheelchair and, yes, I do realize that's something ya don't see everyday...unless, of course, you're one of the people in said fitness walking class that sees me three times a week.

No, that does not entitle you to gawk at me like I'm a 400-foot tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings. Or to curl your lip in a sneer at me when I smile at you in an attempt to make you stop giving me that look.

Added Crowning Moment of Awesome: To the older dude in the fitness walking class who walks more laps than the rest of the class *while being hooked to an oxygen tank* and is somehow capable of keeping a much faster pace than the others in the class, you...kinda rock. If you were about 30 years younger, I'd hug you.

[iradney]

Dear other ladies who use free weights:

Do you REALLY have to a take a pair EACH of the following dumbells:

3 kg, 4 kg, 5 kg, 6 kg?

When I can see that for the past 30 minutes you have only been using the 3 and 4 kg weights, and because there are no more "light" weights, I must now do bicep curls with 7kgs? Seriously?

Also, when you are done with the free weights, PUT THEM BACK! Other people need to use them, and scavenger hunting in the gym is not fun, nor is tripping over a rogue dumbell!!!

[blas]

People are just really inconsiderate.

This one dumb bitch refuses to use the stretch area, takes all but one of the mats, and sets up her own little stretch area not too far from the weight lifting areas, not to mention takes at least two ab balls and a bigger ball and those resistance cable/rope thingies.........and yes, trainers even see her do this and do nothing about it. Meanwhile, people on the stretch deck don't have any mats to use and don't have much variety for ab balls or bigger balls.

[protege]

I'll read magazines while I walk on the treadmill, but trying to run and read is not even possible for me.

I tend to read while using the arc trainers. I don't do it on the ellipticals (which I rarely use anyway) since it's impossible to focus with the vertical motion. Besides, the arc trainer makes more calories disappear. Of course, no matter what machine I use, I always have the headphones on, mainly to drown out the voices of idiots nearby. Sorry, but I don't care about the party you went to yesterday, nor do I care about your husband's um, "bedroom problem" Further, I don't care about a certain trainer's cowboy boots, or the need for her to talk 45 minutes straight about them

[blas]

The arc trainer is fricken evil.