Girls at the gym

[tjlemke]

Originally Posted by Nihtgenga

true. But what can you do in a gym that you can't do in your own home or, heavens forbid, by going outside?

Jesus are you still drunk? A gym is a supportive structure with machines and a atmosphere that you really don't find anywhere else.

[genderhazard]

Originally Posted by WildSide

Well, they're quite good for helping one stay in shape...

I know lots of people who don't go to the gym and are in shape. (Ok that shape happens to be pear... but still it's a shape the keep.)

Originally Posted by pseudoclever

Whenever this other person is a female, however, they always react in exactly the same way. They walk in, we make eye contact, and then they immediately look away, almost as if in fear. For the rest of the time they're in the gym, they stay as far away as possible, and never look in my direction.

Now I know what you're thinking - maybe you're just hideously ugly? Well, that might be true But still, I don't get that reaction from females in any other place.

Psychology is an interest of mine, and that is why I bring this up here. So let me ask: Guys, have you ever noticed this? And women - what's up with that?

Ok first their eyes are a little bit higher you perv.

Second if you are the only two in the gym, she is placing herself in a potentially hazardous situation. this is a little prejudice on the part of the women but hey better to be safe than sorry. To further add to the mix this is a exersise room at your apartment complex rather than a true gym or fitness club. At those places it might be argued that people go there in part to socialize. At a exersise room chances are you go to work out, ideally alone. You can infer their motives by their attire. Tight fitting brightly colored spandex means they are on display. comfortable clothing means they have a task to accomplish.

third I told you her eyes are higher you perv stop stairing!

fourth the eye contact thing is a dominance issue. when they break eye contact first they establish your dominance. However, were they to continue eye contact this would possible be misinterpted by a male of the species as intrest. so they are in a catch-22 thus another reason for the distance they place between them and you. So you don't get the wrong idea.
After all you live in the area, and the last thing she needs is a stalker.

and e) this activity can be observed in other enclosed areas, elevators, subway cars, etc.

If you want to throw them for a loop, you break eye contact first.

[Nihtgenga]

Originally Posted by Rachel Bronwyn

I can't imagine anything more dull than walking on a tread mill.

Thank the gods, someone else who thinks this.

Hmm. I fancy going for a walk now, actually.

[Rachel Bronwyn]

If it's dark out and I don't feel safe going for a walk but I haven't had a good workout in the last couple days I'll force myself upon the treadmill. For me, it's literally forty-five minutes of clock watching, even if I'm watching TV or I have my iPod on. I get a sense of accomplishment, which makes it worth it, of course.

I got FAT last summer. I didn't look terrible. I've certainly looked better though. I didn't even feel that lousy, just sort of gross. My health was pretty normal aside from my being fat. I began envisioning my arteries, which were, no doubt, beginning to collect small amounts of plaque one day. Then I began seeing it build up over time. The thought totally freaked me out, resulting in my current exercise regimine. Every time I skip a day of working out or whine about not wanting to use the treadmill I picture my arteries clogging and am immediately inspired to do something physical, no matter how boring. Looking dumpy isn't inspiration enough for me to do something healthy. I'm not shallow enough to be motivated by my appearance. That image of my arteries though, uhg, scares me into excercising.

[Nihtgenga]

Ah, that was a bloody lovely walk! Nothing like a bracing sea breeze to wake you up. I would have liked to go further, but I ran out of beach. Oh well. Also, I found a dead dogfish. There was a pretty big hole in its head just behind the gills, which was odd.

[mook]

Its true... we just feel vulnerable at the gym. Thin and tight clothing exposing our bodies every flaw and then we bend ourselves in all kinds of weird ways on those dang machines. AND, worst of all, WE SWEAT!

G

[pseudoclever]

Okay, so what I'm hearing is that it has a lot to do with insecurity about your appearance? I just assumed it was a "threatening male" kind of thing.

[mook]

Tee hee... yup... I guess if we could go with our hair done, in full make up, in heels and a nice little skirt it would be we'd be a lot happier.

[Rachel Bronwyn]

It's not so much a matter of hair and makeup for me as it is the fact so many people who go to the gym are so hot and fit. Regardless how nicely done up I am, I'm still twice the size of any of the other women there, which makes me feel out of place.

Insecurity about my appearance definitely plays a role but it's primarily my level of fitness I'm worried about being judged on.

[Jecilyn]

Originally Posted by Rachel Bronwyn

It's not so much a matter of hair and makeup for me as it is the fact so many people who go to the gym are so hot and fit. Regardless how nicely done up I am, I'm still twice the size of any of the other women there, which makes me feel out of place.

Insecurity about my appearance definitely plays a role but it's primarily my level of fitness I'm worried about being judged on.

*raises hand* - "Snap"

[mook]

Going to the gym in a burka seems the only way forward!! ;-)

[Rachel Bronwyn]

Can you imagine how sweaty you'd get in one of those? It would very effectively disguise any curves you didn't want others to see though.