Does anyone else chose gym over social stuff??

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  • rachrach7595
    rachrach7595 Posts: 151 Member
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    When they ask you you say "I already have plans, sorry."

    I am more or less a homebody LOL. I am trying to make more of an effort to go out with people but I am all about the planning. It pisses me off to no end that people do last minute stuff for important things and then absolutely expect you to be there 100% of the time. Dude ... you knew your birthday was coming, its not that hard to have a thing planned with a little notice. I'm also a parent so most of it isn't even about going to the gym... its about not having a babysitter.

    No matter what your reason, if its important to you and you feel like you have a good life balance then who really cares what other people think.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
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    This is why I schedule my training sessions first thing in the morning.

    It's happening whatever else is on that day. It's done. It's in the bag. Means I don't have to blow off other stuff (unless I actually don't want to go to whatever the "other" stuff is - then I just won't go).
  • cuyunamike
    cuyunamike Posts: 29 Member
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    I've only been working out for the last month, but I love going to the gym. It's a routine now and my stamina gets better, day by day. I work out for an hour a day, and I go to the gym when I have time. Sometimes at 10 am and sometimes at 10 pm. MFP has been awesome motivation and helps me track my progress. Back on topic... Yes, I do choose the gym over some social stuff. My life isn't centered around stuffing my face anymore, and I quit drinking last summer. My focus is on getting healthy. Of course I have time for family and work, but hobbies have taken a backseat for now.
  • Natmarie73
    Natmarie73 Posts: 287 Member
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    I think it is all about balance.

    My partner and I are what you could define as 'gym junkies', generally doing two sessions a day - we love it. We aren't big on the 'club' scene which is kind of ideal, both calorically (is that even a word) and financially. But, we do enjoy occasionally heading down to the Pub for the members draw, or a countery and having a couple of drinks.

    We just make sure that we have done our workouts for the day, and I ensure that I have pre-allocated the 'worst-case scenario' dinner on MFP so I know how many calories I need to have burnt in order to go out and relax with that meal and those couple of drinks.

    But, it is definitely about balance - and doing what you love. If the gym is your love, do it. Just please don't become obsessive and miss out on life...............

    Is your profile pic of you? If so - then holy fark you are an inspiration to me already!!!

    I have tended to miss a lot of gym workouts due to catching up with friends and partner but I work away a lot, sometimes for weeks on end and don't get to see my friends or partner every day or week. While I'm at work I have access to camp gyms though and do a workout every night unless I am having a cardio night. I even joined a second gym near my partners house so I could squeeze in a workout when I was visiting him and not miss out.
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
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    Yes.

    I will avoid social situations to go.
    I will also leave social situations to go to the gym.
  • Wolverine_Boy
    Wolverine_Boy Posts: 48
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    Yep, I choose my mini-home gym over social stuff any day.
  • Marcel182
    Marcel182 Posts: 143 Member
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    Same here! Not ashamed, it's just the way I am.
  • Marcel182
    Marcel182 Posts: 143 Member
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    I tend towards being an introvert. As such, I'd much rather go out for a decent hour-plus run than do many other things. Unless I'm very comfortable with someone, I almost find any social scene tiring, I tend to worry far too much about what people think of me, and would rather get some decent alone time to recharge.

    This. This is exactly how I feel.

    Sorry, meant to quote this...
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
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    I do about 90% of the time. It's tricky for me with my work and sleep schedule, gym time for me is in the mornings. If my friends plan things around those times and it's a scheduled gym day, I choose the gym. On a rare occasion I will choose friends but I mostly don't.
  • 2Dozen
    2Dozen Posts: 66 Member
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    Gym is Social Stuff!!!!
  • TattooedNici
    TattooedNici Posts: 2,141 Member
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    Yep, I choose my mini-home gym over social stuff any day.

    This has become my life story starting in 2013. I don't do any social networking other than MFP and emailing (if you want to call it that). I'm not going to burn any calories while sitting on my *kitten* and arguing with an idiot over benign subjects on the internet. As for social gatherings, I just don't care. I'm at that point in my life if I were to miss something that I don't consider important, then it's okay. Life goes on.
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
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    Yeah, all the time. On Friday my work colleagues were going out for after work drinks. I knew I'd end up meeting my friends later on that night, so I told them I had something else to do and I went to the gym! My friends all know now that gym comes first before going out so I either don't meet them for that 'one pint' or they wait for me. For me, popping out to the pub is doubly counter-productive because a) you're stopping me from working out and b) I'm taking in even more calories I hadn't planned for.
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
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    Yup, with exceptions. For example, when my team has an impromptu after-work gathering, there's about a 50% chance that I'll attend that instead of gym. Next month one guy will retire with 38 years of service. I plan to attend that for sure.
    Our jobs are telework-friendly and don't require a lot of collaboration within the team, so teammates can often go weeks/months with seeing each other.
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
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    I do schedule social stuff around my gym schedule, but I don't see it as an either/or.
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member
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    It depends on the event. Just hanging out with people I am acquainted with, but seldom talk to. I would love to, but I have prior commitments.

    Even family gets ranked according to importance. Is the event something that only happens once a lifetime. A friends baby shower? A special anniversary or birthday dinner? Fine, I I'll adjust my schedule accordingly. Weekly BBQ that happens like clockwork? I may skip it this week, but arrange my schedule to attend next time.

    My husband and kids get first priority though. I missed my Friday workout because my son had his basketball banquet. That was important. I had planned to make it up Saturday, bit with 60 degrees and sunny, when DH asked me to go out on the ATV with him after work, we went. It was a great weekend, and I can get back on schedule today, with no regrets.

    My point to rambling is this: prioritize. Decide who/what is important to you and fit it in.
  • gypsyone96
    gypsyone96 Posts: 62
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    I try not to. I usually try to schedule my gym time around my social time and not let it control my life.
    For example, if I know I'm going to be catching a late movie with friends, I'll get up early in the morning to work out. This way I always have to know beforehand so I'm a little less spontaneous than I used to be, but it's so worth it!
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
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    One question for all of you that prioritize gym time over family/friends:

    Do you think you when you're old will be on your death bed saying:

    "I wish I spent more time in the gym"
    "I wish I had gotten my abs just a bit more defined"
    " I could have gotten another two minutes off my 5K time if I had really trained hard/long enough"


    Or do you think it will be more like

    "I wish I spent more time with my parents and children"

    If you're working out because you feel like you need to, make your workouts more efficient- There's no need to spend hours and hours in a gym multiple days a week unless your'e in competition. Two hours per week of time will keep you in pretty good shape, and is sustainable. You should be able to fit that into your schedule without interfering with social time.

    If you want to spend two hours a day in the gym because you love it, that's fine. but just like any other HOBBY, .it should probably take a back seat to family/close friends.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
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    98% of the people here have goals that can be met be devoting as little as 30 minutes a day to their workouts. I don't know very many people who are so busy that 30 minutes has to come at the cost of time spent with family and friends, something which as an adult is already very hard to come by.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
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    I'm going to be the odd one out here by the looks of it and say, no, I would never pick gym time over time with friends and family. My exercise is important, but my friends and family are more so.

    Just my opinion, but the feeling I'm getting from a few of the responses on here is that it's very one way or the other - you either socialise, or you stay healthy. I don't have to get drunk or eat a load of fatty, fried foods to enjoy social functions, and missing one session at the gym doesn't mean I'll give up exercise forever. I'll just move Friday nights workout to Saturday.

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