What fit people are really thinking in the gym
Larissa_NY
Posts: 495 Member
I've seen an awful lot of threads about gym anxiety, and whether or not Fit People are judging your every move when you work out. Being a Reasonably Fit Person, I thought I'd expand on exactly what I'm thinking in the gym, so when you see someone like me, you won't have to wonder if I'm secretly judging you. Other fit people may chime in as needed. Warning: content may be disturbing to sensitive individuals!
In the locker room:
During exercise:
During rest periods:
Back in the locker room:
Note that very little of this has anything to do with you. Unless you're wearing cute leggings, in which case I'm probably wishing I knew where you bought them. Also, my quads hurt. If you're around people lifting weights, some part of their body is very uncomfortable right now, and unless you're doing something really egregiously attention-getting you're going to have a very hard time distracting them from their next rep.
So now you know. Also, look up imaginary audience. The Wikipedia article talks about it in terms of childhood and adolescent development but it often persists into adulthood. As someone who has plenty of neuroses of my own, I can tell you that naming them is half the battle.
In the locker room:
- What am I starting with today? Pull-ups? Pull-ups.
- Which top do I want to wear?
- Do I have a tampon in here?
- Do I have a hair tie?
- Can I wear a - no.
- Did I charge my headphones? I hope I charged my headphones.
During exercise:
- One... two...three...
- How's my ROM?
- Six the seven that never-eighting rain in nine heart to tears of ten-white sorrow...
- OW MY VEINS ARE GETTING SQUISHED FORM CORRECTION
- One... more...
- HROOOAAAAARGHARBLE oof.
During rest periods:
- What's up next? Is it squats? I bet it's squats. FML.
- Those leggings are super cute. I wonder where she got them. I want new leggings.
- What possessed me to put this song on my workout playlist?
- I hope that dude doesn't take too long in the squat rack.
- Is he doing overhead squats? I want to do overhead squats. I wonder if I'd fall over.
- Ugh, I have my mother's horrible calves. I wonder if surgery would fix that.
- Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, it's hot in here. Why is it so hot? I'm going to go walk really slow in front of the airdyne bikes.
Back in the locker room:
- Ow, my quads.
- Omg so tired. Do I really have to stop at the store for dinner? I'm not going to the store. *kitten* the store. I am a grown-up and I will eat pretzels for dinner if I want.
- Thank God for sports bras with zippers in the front.
Note that very little of this has anything to do with you. Unless you're wearing cute leggings, in which case I'm probably wishing I knew where you bought them. Also, my quads hurt. If you're around people lifting weights, some part of their body is very uncomfortable right now, and unless you're doing something really egregiously attention-getting you're going to have a very hard time distracting them from their next rep.
So now you know. Also, look up imaginary audience. The Wikipedia article talks about it in terms of childhood and adolescent development but it often persists into adulthood. As someone who has plenty of neuroses of my own, I can tell you that naming them is half the battle.
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Replies
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Excellent post! [Thank you]
I'm thinking: "Gawd, I wish this was over!" on some days.
Other days I am thinking: "Boy, this is fun! I must really be impressing other people!"8 -
lol. here is what i'm thinking:
in the locker room: why didn't i change time at home, i'm wasting time in here when i could be out there lifting
during exercise: i'm glad my new gym has 3 power cages so no one is waiting for me cause i'll be using this for an hour.
during rest: i've been stuck on this candy crush level for 3 days!!!!!
back in the locker room: wash my hands quick and i'm outta there.11 -
This is so true. If I'm looking at you, it's likely because I'm wondering where you got your cute leggings.15
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i wear old faded sweats cut off at the knee. should i be wearing leggins? now i feel awkward23
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Well I'm not fit, but the only time I judge people at the gym is when they sit on machines and talk on their phones or put their stuff down on a machine while using another. Oh, and tall guys who walk right into me like I'm not even there (yes, I'm a foot shorter than you, it doesn't mean you can run over me). Oh, and that one really smelly guy who is always getting onto machines right next to me and then I have to interupt my workout and go somewhere else to avoid suffocation.12
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I'm not a gym rat, but I have heard people classify people who ride road bikes as bike snobs. That hasn't been my experience. Most of them are pretty nice guys who just happen to have enough money to afford more expensive bikes. They certainly aren't looking down on people who are riding something cheaper. Even so, when I see a rotund fellow on a carbon bike with aero bars my immediate thought is, "Are you kidding me?!"1
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You guys are so nice. I'm looking at you and trying to figure out what famous person you look like. My gym has an inordinate amount of Justin Beibers. But I saw an Ed Koch yesterday, which made me smile.
One day last week I was running behind some guy with the nicest tush I'd seen in a long time. I'm an old lady with kids, but I was imagining that I was chasing that guy and his fine rear end.48 -
I don't know if I constitute a "fit person." I mean, I'm fit, I probably look pretty fit, but I mostly feel like I don't know what I'm doing.
But here's pretty much how it is, if you are wondering. Shoot, most of this is from TODAY. LOL!
Before My Workout
I have no idea what I'm thinking. I'm just rushing. Or realizing that I forgot my socks. Or my hand wraps. Or my headphones. Then I'm rushing even extra so I can stop by the desk for a pair before I go to class/head out to run. My flakiness is probably helping my gym stay in the black.
During My Workout
- Man, I should have eaten more this morning - I'm dragging
- OMG, did he say TWENTY burpees???
- There's sweat in my eye. Did I take off my mascara? I don't think I took off my mascara. Dang. I'll bet I look like a sad clown.
- Ahhh, squats. I LIKE squats.
- Dang. I lost count. Just keep doing squats until a few other people look finished.
- Can I look at the clock without the instructor catching me? No. Don't look at the clock. Crap - Imma look at the clock. If he catches me, will he make me do more burpees? Don't look at the clock.
- OMG, I wish I hadn't looked at the clock. 5-minute rounds SUCK.
- Jab-cross-jab-body shot-left kick (lather, rinse, repeat)
- Did he say left kick or right kick?
- [Looks around at the rest of the class] Okay. Right kick.
- I hate this song.
- Push-ups off my knees! I'm a rockstar!
- Okay, I'll do the rest of my push-ups on my knees. Maybe just a popstar.
- Love that girls' t-shirt. Should I tell her I love her t-shirt?
- Crap, she caught me looking at her t-shirt. Now I HAVE to tell her I love her t-shirt.
Back in the Locker Room- Always a line for the showers. What is everybody DOING in there?
- Is that woman putting on her entire outfit plus jewelry in the SHOWER???
- It's way too hot to blow-dry my hair. Do I have to blow-dry my hair?
- Yes. Yes, I have to blow-dry my hair.
- Dang, I forgot my deodorant. Now I'm going to smell like the weird gym deodorant the rest of the day.
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As a Getting Kind of Fit But Not There Yet Person I'm thinking:
everything you said plus- I hope I'm not blocking that guy
- Where am I supposed to put this bench that's in my way?
- How long does is he going to be curling in the squat rack?
- Is that dude looking at me because I look ridiculous or because I'm awesome?
- She is so pretty. How does she work out so hard without her makeup running?
- I wonder if I can go up a whole five pounds on... nope, not this week.
- Woah! She runs reaaaallly quietly. I wish I could stop clomping.
- Curl guy is so hitting on elliptical girl. I guess he doesn't know that's her boyfriend over there.
- I wonder what my tush looks like when I run. Does it bounce? Jiggle?
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enterdanger wrote: »I'm an old lady with kids, but I was imagining that I was chasing that guy and his fine rear end.
I like you.9 -
Love the one about clomping. That is so me.
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Occasionally I'm thinking dude, I wish I could squat/lift/press that much weight! Sometimes I'm thinking that it's awesome that the lady who looks to be in her 70s is in here and I hope that I'm in the gym when I'm her age. Honestly, very rarely, like the time I saw a woman squatting with those round-bottomed Sketchers, I'm thinking dear gods, please don't hurt yourself.
But by far, the only think I'm thinking (depending on the lift) is pull your elbows back, breathe, push your knees out, chest up, drop your chin, push the floor away, knees out, hips out, wrists straight, push your heels into the floor, squeeze your armpits, do I have one or two more in the tank?, and DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE. There really isn't a whole lot of room in my brain to worry about what anyone else is doing. Except when I'm timing my rest breaks and then I worry that random people are judging me for taking too long.5 -
Here is what I am usually thinking...
In the locker room:
Tacos
During exercise:
Tacos
During rest periods:
Tacos
Back in the locker room:
Tacos80 -
During my work sets: "Come on sour patch kids, WORK YOUR MAGIC!"
After workout in the locker room: "Did I remember my bra/work pants?"9 -
In the bathroom (no locker room):
I hope the good bar/good bench/platform/a cage is available.
Should I pee/poo before I get busy?
During a lift:
1, 2, 3, 4, oh crap, did I do 3 or 4 reps?
During rest:
Is it time to lift, yet?
Back in the bathroom:
Should I pee/poo before I go?6 -
I really admire all you people who are so focused on only your own stuff (and tacos). I imagine that comes with time and experience.3
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Love this post!
I think about food a lot during my workout...yup. Chances are if I'm looking in someone's direction I'm spaced out and actually just lost in thought trying to plan my grocery list in my head.
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Larissa_NY wrote: »*kitten* the store. I am a grown-up and I will eat pretzels for dinner if I want.
This is my favorite part of the whole post lol.
I workout at home so I don't have to worry, or care, if someone is judging me or if they think i'm judging them. Of course I know not everyone has the space or money for the equipment to workout at home, so I know this will help a lot of other people feel better about going and not being judged by other people. It was very enjoyable to read.
I will have to add that if I did go the gym I probably would be judged cause if a really good song comes on my playlist I will breakout in dance even with dumbbells in my hand (I try to keep it between sets though). I've been known to fall off my treadmill a time or two and my husband has had to come check on me just because a really good song came on and I couldn't control myself.11 -
As a Getting Kind of Fit But Not There Yet Person I'm thinking:
everything you said plus- I hope I'm not blocking that guy
- Where am I supposed to put this bench that's in my way?
- How long does is he going to be curling in the squat rack?
- Is that dude looking at me because I look ridiculous or because I'm awesome?
- She is so pretty. How does she work out so hard without her makeup running?
- I wonder if I can go up a whole five pounds on... nope, not this week.
- Woah! She runs reaaaallly quietly. I wish I could stop clomping.
- Curl guy is so hitting on elliptical girl. I guess he doesn't know that's her boyfriend over there.
- I wonder what my tush looks like when I run. Does it bounce? Jiggle?
You are hilarious. I like the way your brain works. We'd be BFFs.
My gym has an indoor track and it's surrounded by full-length windows. Which means that there's a reflection. Which means that now, after 39 years, I know EXACTLY what I look like when I run. And it's not good.
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I don't know what "fit" people think about in the gym, I do, however, know what wan-a-be fit people do between sets; we stare at absolutely nothing very intently, seeing nothing, trying to catch our breath and get ready for the next set.10
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My thoughts are mostly sexual in nature. The best motivation.8
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I lift in the evenings after work on Monday and Wednesday and I'm usually thinking about what's for dinner. I lift on Saturday, usually mid morning and I'm usually thinking about what's for lunch. Sometimes I'm also thinking about beer...12
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Hilarious post.
This is what I think "Ooo my *kitten* is starting to look cute!! These lunges and squats are working! Heyyyyy!!!!"9 -
hahaha, I love this post. As someone who has had gym anxiety in the past, this post makes me smile.
I don't really look fit, but I like to think I am somewhat fit.
my thoughts are usually
arriving at gym
I hope it's not not busy, please let it not be busy
during workouts
i need a new workout playlist
-let's see what i lifted last time i did this excercise (I take my notebook with me and log my reps)
-oh god plie squats with kettlebells, i hate this but it's so good
-that girl has a nice butt, I hope mine can look like that one day
-DO MORE SQUATS TO GET THAT BOOTY
-are those tiny muscles I see poppin there?
-I need new workout clothes
-I should probably wait to get more clothes as a reward for when I lose more weight
-GAWD WILL I EVER LOOK FIT
-WHY DO I LOVE FOOD SO MUCH
-i'm hungry
11 -
Going into the locker room
I hope there isn't going to be the usual naked old guys hanging around with their towels on their shoulders
Yup, there they are, well that guy has his balls in the sink while he's shaving, that looks comfy
Got to get out of here.
Going to lift
Ooh, what I want is empty! Wait somebody else is looking at it! Should I run? Never mind they were looking at the one behind it.
Man this guy next me is doing the same thing...and he is lifting more, do you think he is making fun of me in his head? I hope he does something wrong so I at least have that over him. Nope perfect.
Between sets
Look at all these *kitten* people not putting their weights back where they are supposed to! I hate them so much! Why is it so hard to put the 45's back with the other ones, why did you put one on top of the 5's and one on top of the 25's! I hate you! I wonder if he will spot me.
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nevadavis1 wrote: »Well I'm not fit, but the only time I judge people at the gym is when they sit on machines and talk on their phones or put their stuff down on a machine while using another. Oh, and tall guys who walk right into me like I'm not even there (yes, I'm a foot shorter than you, it doesn't mean you can run over me). Oh, and that one really smelly guy who is always getting onto machines right next to me and then I have to interupt my workout and go somewhere else to avoid suffocation.
Yeah- pretty much all this too. I workout after work when the gym is crowded.
Also- "where the *kitten* do the barbell collars / barbells / tricep rope extensions keep disappearing to?!!!"2 -
I love all of these!
Same here, I think about me and focusing on what I need to do. 1 -
I won't put myself in this category yet, but I got a fun glimpse into one fit person's mind yesterday.
Last week, I was accosted at the gym last week for "hogging" a machine (which was invalid, and I stood up for myself). This is not the fun part.
Yesterday, one of the "fit" guys that I see there most days started up a conversation to ask about a change in my workout. He was paying enough attention to know that I'd changed what I normally do, and asked me respectful questions. I'm a middle-aged, overweight person, and he treated me like a fellow athlete.
Then it turns out he'd witnessed the conflict the previous week, that he was pleased that I'd stood up for myself, and that the same jerk is always mad at everyone. Then he said, "Welcome to the club!" And he fist-bumped me. How cool is that!?!79 -
I won't put myself in this category yet, but I got a fun glimpse into one fit person's mind yesterday.
Last week, I was accosted at the gym last week for "hogging" a machine (which was invalid, and I stood up for myself). This is not the fun part.
Yesterday, one of the "fit" guys that I see there most days started up a conversation to ask about a change in my workout. He was paying enough attention to know that I'd changed what I normally do, and asked me respectful questions. I'm a middle-aged, overweight person, and he treated me like a fellow athlete.
Then it turns out he'd witnessed the conflict the previous week, that he was pleased that I'd stood up for myself, and that the same jerk is always mad at everyone. Then he said, "Welcome to the club!" And he fist-bumped me. How cool is that!?!
so cool!5
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