The Gym: Is it an escape or a job?

iPlatano

Some people view training as a therapeutic escape. Others view it as a job that just needs to get done. How do you view it? I want to hear what you think!

If you see it as a job, please watch this video if you want to learn how to enjoy working out!: http://youtu.be/BrNLVng8r3k

madhatter2013

It gets me away from my children. I love them to death but I think we all know they can be...oh what's the word I'm looking for...trying sometimes.

sunflowerhippi

Both, on days my lifting buddy is with me it is fun. On days I go alone it is a job, but I always enjoy it by the end of the workout.

Jenjenthejetplane1

I see it at an escape its my time to work on myself and make myself better each day.

wolfsbayne

Exercise has always been therapeutic for me. It's a way to clear my head.

Whyareyoumad

I was telling my wife last night after a pretty good work out how much I love working out. I crave it, not sure if its an escape per say, not from work, nor the kids as they are pretty self reliant at this point. I just enjoy the feeling of working out and getting stronger.

Pinkranger626

haha the gym IS my job.... which is why I am a member at a different gym from the one that I work at. When I'm working out for me, it's and escape, and when I'm working out for work (teaching a class/training a client) it's not my workout so it's a job.

That being said, there are some days that even my workout feels like a job, but usually once I get moving that feeling does away. I've found that doing things that you enjoy doing makes exercise not only much more fun, but something that I look forward to doing.

_lyndseybrooke_

It's a job I don't get paid actual money to do, and the pay off I do get takes a really long time to show up. But hey, gotta do what you gotta do.

tabbyblack13

I use the gym as a reason to get out of the house so I guess its an escape.

honsi

I see it as a job that I have to do, its how I stay motivated. However over time it has also become a sociable thing as I have made friends there and now have my posse of gym buddies

robabob3

Its both and so much more, no matter how I'm feeling before I walk into the gym I always feel so much better when I walk out, how many things can you claim that of?? So for me its an easily sustainable habit.

Pensworth

When I first joined my gym the trainer said that the gym should be your second home. I wouldn't say I feel that connected with the place, but it isn't something I dread like I would have in the past. The gym helps get me out of the house and away from both my desk and all the food in the pantry. It gives me a sense of accomplishment sometimes, when I feel I worked particularly hard. For me the gym is just a new aspect of my life that I'm still getting used to, and finding new things about it to make a priority.

JoRocka

neither?

I do it because it's what i love- but it's not therapeutic.

it's what I love- much like dancing- it has it's ups and downs. I don't view it as a job- but there are days I am beyond frustrated or upset with it because I'm not getting what I want out of it.

Shock_Wave

Wouldn't say a job although that would be great if I got paid to work out lol.. My take would be a painful quest to see how good I can become. I lift painfully hard but cardio is painfully boring but it feels good if that makes any sense but its only temporary. But hey I look and feel better all the time so that's a nice trade off.
The only pain I don't like is when I over use my joints and they start to throb at night then I have to take pain meds.

nineteentwenty

I never wanna go, but once I am there I am pumped!

_Calypso_

90% of the time its theraputic and helps me clear my mind. There are days I don't want to run/workout.... but after I get in my zone - I'm glad I started!!

dcmassena

I love working out, I always have, I just let life keep me away from something I love doing for way too long. For me the difficult thing has always been making time to get to the gym. Now I'm getting up at 5:00am so that I can keep my other commitments and still get my workouts in. It took me months to get back into it after years of being lazy, but now that I'm up and working out again I feel so much better. I'm happier and healthier.

thepetiterunner

Most of the time it's therapeutic for me, just like my running is. There are days when I feel like it is just another thing to check off the list, but we all have our ups and downs.

Recently though, I joined a more boot camp-styled gym (Kaia Fit) and it's really given me a joy in the gym that I haven't had in a long, long time. (I've been going to the gym since my teen years.) I think sometimes you just need a new format or style to help get that zest back into your workouts if you're suffering from "it's-a-job" syndrome.

RacquetChick

I love going and often have trouble getting everything accomplished. I love getting stronger, seeing my friends, playing racquetball. I am pretty sure I could spend all day there but then it might not be as fun.

clareyoung80

I hope to get back to my workouts being a joy or escape. At the moment, I'm a little too out of shape and it's a little too uncomfortable to be a joy. Or, I need to start embracing the uncomfortable-ness because it will always be uncomfortable.

But that's a great video!

cwolfman13

At times it is a chore that I just need to get done, but for the most part I love lifting.