I have to admit, it’s quite flattering to have a guy check me out, especially when I’m feeling good about myself, got my hair in place, strutting around in my cutest outfit, with my makeup all fresh and dewy. Having said this when I’m sweaty , my hair is a frizz-aster, and when I’m in a t-shirt from Senior Trip 96′ , I can safely say, not so much!
I feel bad for anyone who has to see me in that state at the gym.  I am not one of those girls that make an effort to dress cute at the gym.  I save the matching work-out clothes for when it really counts, on my trips to Target or Loehmanns, holding my Starbucks in one hand, with my big oversized sunglasses.   It makes the  statement that ‘ yeah I may go to the gym… eventually, but right now I got some serious shopping to take care of.
When I’m on the elliptical or treadmill, and spacing out to music from my shuffle, I make this weird face, where my lips are pursed and my eyes are squinting.  I’ve always done it, since the days  where my gym was called Family Fitness Center.  I travel to my own world for those 20-30 minutes on the elliptical, where I got the music going, daydreaming , and basically zoning out.  It’s not the best feeling when my fantasyland comes to a screeching halt when I realize someone is checking out my chest bouncing around and I mean BOUNCING around.  I really can’t understand it. In fact I begin to wonder if they are checking me out, or just amazed that I actually left the house looking like that. There are those elite group of girls, that look flawless in their skintight gym clothes, where even their sweat looks perfect.
Maybe one day I’ll figure out their secret, but until then I’m all about keeping a low profile, and just getting in and out. Â To clarify: Â cute gym clothes for shopping, Â and my old beat-up t-shirts and shorts for the gym.
Up until recently, I had always gone to gyms that were near the beach in fancier areas that had a pretty even balance of men and women. However for the last while, I’ve been working out at a gym where the majority of the patrons are muscular, scarrier looking guys who pretty much just lift weights. At the gyms I used to go to, towards the end of the year the gym had always been empty, with fatties giving up on their effort, to eat and start with a new resolution in January. This had always been my favorite time to go since parking was easy and machines were always available. But yeh, back to the new place that I go to, this last week has been busier than ever! There does seem to be even less women lately, save for the regulars, and I guess it makes sense that if the men are lifting weights this isn’t something that they give up like some women do at this time of year, but I want my empty gym! And if this gym is as busy as it is now in November, I’m scared to see what it’ll be like on January 1st!
Speaking of funky smells at the gym, today I was at 24 hour fitness and as soon as I walked in, it smelled like chili! I figured it must just be some funky b.o., but then I noticed a dude with a crock pot serving chili samples, with a full bar of toppings! WTF?
It turns out it’s some healthy chili that I guess 24 hour fitness is somehow tied to, but serving it in the gym, right next to the cardio equipment is disgusting. It didn’t bother me when I was working out with the weights, but when I came back towards the entrance to do my cardio it was bothering me the whole time. Cross promotion is one thing, but c’mon 24 fitness, use your head!
Body odor is bad and can be distracting and disturbing to the people that are working out around you. Too much perfume, or any at all can be just as bad though. Personally, I find body odor (as long as it’s not too bad) to be less offensive to my nostrils while working out than a strong perfume.
Today I stopped by the gym on my way home from work to do some cardio. There was one machine available so I jumped on and started my workout. I noticed a very nice perfume and at first it didn’t bother me, but as I started to work out harder, and breath more rapidly, it got bad really quickly. The lady next to me had so much perfume on that even if i only breathed through my mouth, I could still smell it. Needless to say, I only stayed on that machine for a few minutes before I let the next sucker take it. All the other machines were full so I decided to give up, come home, and rant about it on my blog.
The gym can be an absolute cesspool of germs that can spread viruses and bacteria. With so much skin exposed and constant sweating, every machine or piece of equipment you come into contact with can be another opportunity to spread disease. Unfortunately this is something that those of us that don’t have a home gym have to deal with, but there are ways to reduce the risk of spreading and contracting germs.
Microbiologist, Dr. Phillip Tierno:
You’re not using that one machine exclusively for yourself. You’re leaving that machine, and someone else follows you and your germs that you leave behind. 80% of all infectious disease is transmitted by contact.”
The most common germs found at the gym include: staph aureus, klebsiella, enterobacter and E. coli, which can cause various ailments. All machines can transfer germs, however the ones that have the most frequent turnover, such as dumbells, or exercise bicycles and elliptical machines are more likely to have contractible germs because of how quickly the next person uses it after the last person leaves.
Studies show that in gym, the worst place for contracting germs in locker room and shower floors.
Unfortunately, germs do survive in the shower, on walls, and on the floor. I found it in hordes — unbelievable quantities. We use the word ‘innumerable.’ Innumerable.
Here are some tips to prevent contracting (and spreading) germs at the gym:
- Wear clothes that cover the parts of your body that will be contacting gym equipment. Tank tops leave the upper back and shoulders exposed to benches and short shorts can leave leg exposed to bicycle seats. The less skin that touches the equipment, the less likely you are to contact these germs.
- Bring 2 towels with you to the gym. Use one towel only to dry off your own sweat from your body, and a second towel to wipe off gym equipment before and after use. Bringing different colored towels can be helpful in not confusing the two.
- Do not touch your eyes or mouth while at the gym. Most of these germs that come into contact with your hand, can only be contracted into your body through mucous membranes such as the eyes and mouth. Thoroughly wash your hands before eating or touching your face after using gym equipment.
- Hang your gym towel over your shoulder, or on parts of the machine that rarely are touched. If you drop your towel on the floor, refrain from using it to dry off your own sweat.
- When using the gym shower, be sure to bring slippers so that your feet don’t come into direct contact with the shower floor. The shower floor has shown to contain the largest amount of contactable germs in the gym.
