I gym 4 times a week.
And over the past year or so, there's certainly been a spike in the number of gym-goers you see preening infront of the mirror with a couple of dumbells. Seems its very hip nowadays to be seen working out, whether or not you're actually doing any meaningful exercise is immaterial =)) So it gets a little irritating when overcrowding becomes a problem, especially on weekends.
Well there are several archetypes of the present-day Gym-goer.
There are those that look like they actually live in the gym. You see them pumping iron whichever day of the week. Their biceps are bigger than 2 of your thigh quadriceps put together. They sip constantly from protein shakes and what-nots and obviously pop a cocktail of supplementary pills after their workout. But I still don't understand why they do these things to their bodies. I would say 1.65m short, Incredible Hulks without the green paint. Big (muscles) is certainly not beautiful. Toned is. However these guys know what they're doing and at least they use the equiptment properly.
On the other extreme are the skinny beanpoles that hope to bulk up. But at the rate they're going, it'll probably take them till X'mas 2009. They do 50-100 effortless
reps (repetitions) in earnest, with a 5kg weight. I mean my 80 year-old Granny lugs a 5kg marketing bag to and from the
Pasar everyday too. Its not about the number of
reps darlins', its about selecting the correct weight to make your muscles work and fatigue.
Then there are those who bite off more than they can chew. I suppose they feel self-conscious about lifting too lightly so they pile on the weights. Then the Grinning, Grimacing and finally the Groaning gives them away, and its obvious they are going overboard exerting themselves like that. They manage, what, 5-6
reps, before their writhing bodies give way and they dump the dumbells on the floor with a shocking loud thud.
I shall not even begin with the fellas who come decked out in expensive Adidas and Nike, looking all nice and dandy, but spend more time chit-chatting by the water-cooler than at the Bench-press. Nice towels draped over their pale necks in full, resplendent, exercise-
haute couture, glory.
And for reasons of decency, I shall not comment on the sudden proliferation of Gym Bunnies. I think the name says it all =))
Labels: Musings