I had the (mis)fortune of taking my first weight class in high school with the football coach as the teacher. There were four of us girls, two nerdy guys, and about 25 members of the varsity football team. I got quite the semester long instruction on how to properly lift weights and excellent gym etiquette. I lifted weights in college, joined a gym after we got married and worked out some on my own after we had kids. When we moved to Portland Hubby convinced me to join the YMCA by showing me they had two hours of free childcare daily. I got into the swing of things there. It was frustrating when people would join in January, clog the place up and then not come back after March.We quickly joined down here in Houston. The facility was bigger and fancier, they had new classes, remember Zumba? But I got back into lifting weights because it's a quicker way to be able to eat what I want and burn it off. Which got me back into another one of my favorite pasttimes, watching people. Then, of course, getting irritated by them. I think they should give people a quick lesson when they first join the gym. There are signs posted, but hardly anyone follows them. You can see the dedicated weight lifters. Some of the older people, who are to be congratulated in staying fit at their age, are the worst offenders. They hop on a weight lifting machine and then just stay there. Rules posted say you should not sit on the machine between sets. But they sit there for extended periods between their sets.
Another person that's hard to watch. The weekend warrior. The guy that comes into the weight room, picks up the heaviest weights and then has awful technique. Using your back while doing a bicep curl is a sure fire way to seriously hurt yourself. Of the guys who grunt or drop things.
Do you go to the gym? Do you work out on your own? You should. I think I am addicted to the release of endorphins or maybe I am addicted to food and this is the way I can safely feed my addiction. I highly recommend the Y. Just make sure you go at a quiet time. Oh! And get some instruction from the staff.
4 comments:
Except that the staff member at the Y didn't know how to properly use the machines either. At least that was the case during my tour of the facilities. The best way to learn is with a class where the instructor can help you until you get it right. Parks and Rec and community colleges are the best places for that.
And I loathe the Y. I run into the most snotty people there. And the staff is so unorganized. We only use the Y for junior soccer. And I am forever frustrated.
But I am glad the Y works for you. I prefer fresh air when I have the time.
We used to love our Y in Ohio. It was such a gathering place in that community -- I always ran into someone I knew there. We belong to 24 hour fitness here, and I need to get going again -- it takes such a big chunk out of my day, and I have a hard time getting motivated. I am very intimidated by weight lifting though. I usually just do an aerobics or yoga or pilates class. I wish you were here and could give me a weight lifting lesson.
I work out to dvd's in the privacy of my own little home. When I did go to the gym, I would avoid it in January because of the resolution crowd. My fav gym rat is the woman with full makeup, an abundance of perfume and some sort of animal print sports bra and spandex shorts combo. Perfume in the gym should be outlawed! I'll stop because I have a million pet peeves about the gym which will only make me look crazy. :) I envy your love of working out. I hate it and have to force myself to do it. Good for you!
I have you to thank for introducing me to pilates at a YW activity. Remember that? I miss our pilates class SO much! They don't offer the same one anymore and I haven't tried one of the others yet. I heart the YMCA. :)
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