Are you that person....

Apparently women like to workout next women they consider fuller figured than themselves. I know from personally experience that when new people (women) are new to a fitness class that I have been doing for sometime a few have eyed me up before the class starts and then seem flabbergasted that I am keeping up with the class when they are struggling. I am normally the biggest person in the class, but I can hold my own.

WATCH THIS: http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/11/08/study-fit-women-work-out-next-fatter-women

^^^^
So are you that person or have you encounted that person????

Replies

  • IronDame
    IronDame Posts: 275
    Screw that I like to work out next to someone that inspires me and is fitter than I.
  • Lady_Bane
    Lady_Bane Posts: 720 Member
    I workout next to a man or a woman that has more muscle than I do.....I get ideas and motivation from them. I have made many acquaintances this way as well!

    On another note: There is a very...full figured....woman that comes to the gym around the time I am finishing up, I get on the elliptical to work the lactic acid out of my legs, and gets on the elliptical next to me. she has her preferred machine, as do I. Good on her for coming to the gym!!! BUT! She wears like.....an obscene amount of perfume....and its really hard on my breathing when she is next to me. I almost say something every time, but its really not my place. She gets on the elliptical at level 1, grabs her phone to play solitaire, and literally goes like .5 miles per hour. She has done this for like 6 months....no weight change.... just want to help her so bad....but like I said....its not my place.
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
    I workout next to a man or a woman that has more muscle than I do.....I get ideas and motivation from them. I have made many acquaintances this way as well!

    On another note: There is a very...full figured....woman that comes to the gym around the time I am finishing up, I get on the elliptical to work the lactic acid out of my legs, and gets on the elliptical next to me. she has her preferred machine, as do I. Good on her for coming to the gym!!! BUT! She wears like.....an obscene amount of perfume....and its really hard on my breathing when she is next to me. I almost say something every time, but its really not my place. She gets on the elliptical at level 1, grabs her phone to play solitaire, and literally goes like .5 miles per hour. She has done this for like 6 months....no weight change.... just want to help her so bad....but like I said....its not my place.
    Ugh, this is why I hate cardio machines in the gym. I'd rather hit the pavement. Or have lactic acid buildup the next day.
  • Lady_Bane
    Lady_Bane Posts: 720 Member
    I workout next to a man or a woman that has more muscle than I do.....I get ideas and motivation from them. I have made many acquaintances this way as well!

    On another note: There is a very...full figured....woman that comes to the gym around the time I am finishing up, I get on the elliptical to work the lactic acid out of my legs, and gets on the elliptical next to me. she has her preferred machine, as do I. Good on her for coming to the gym!!! BUT! She wears like.....an obscene amount of perfume....and its really hard on my breathing when she is next to me. I almost say something every time, but its really not my place. She gets on the elliptical at level 1, grabs her phone to play solitaire, and literally goes like .5 miles per hour. She has done this for like 6 months....no weight change.... just want to help her so bad....but like I said....its not my place.
    Ugh, this is why I hate cardio machines in the gym. I'd rather hit the pavement. Or have lactic acid buildup the next day.

    AWEEEEE @ GRUMPY BABY PIC!
  • ashleyoh33
    ashleyoh33 Posts: 85 Member
    Screw that I like to work out next to someone that inspires me and is fitter than I.

    ^^This^^
    Especially when I'm gonna hit the treadmill. I will find someone who is busting *kitten* and hop on next to them and I'll tell myself I can at least go half as fast as them or something. Or if I see someone who looks fit and isn't working very hard I'll get on next to them and go super hard, thinking maybe seeing a fat girl next to them going all out will motivate them to go harder.
  • gingerveg
    gingerveg Posts: 748 Member
    Um, wow I have never heard if this and would be surprised if people actually did this on purpose. I'm likely to say it's just a coincidence but who knows.
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
    I workout next to a man or a woman that has more muscle than I do.....I get ideas and motivation from them. I have made many acquaintances this way as well!

    On another note: There is a very...full figured....woman that comes to the gym around the time I am finishing up, I get on the elliptical to work the lactic acid out of my legs, and gets on the elliptical next to me. she has her preferred machine, as do I. Good on her for coming to the gym!!! BUT! She wears like.....an obscene amount of perfume....and its really hard on my breathing when she is next to me. I almost say something every time, but its really not my place. She gets on the elliptical at level 1, grabs her phone to play solitaire, and literally goes like .5 miles per hour. She has done this for like 6 months....no weight change.... just want to help her so bad....but like I said....its not my place.
    Ugh, this is why I hate cardio machines in the gym. I'd rather hit the pavement. Or have lactic acid buildup the next day.

    AWEEEEE @ GRUMPY BABY PIC!
    EDIT - nevermind, I see you meant the one from my profile hahah

    Yes, he was not a fan of going 'topside' that day.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Generally, I don't like working out in public. When I did go to the Y, I took machines that were in corners. I don't find in and out of shape people inspiring.
  • Lady_Bane
    Lady_Bane Posts: 720 Member
    I workout next to a man or a woman that has more muscle than I do.....I get ideas and motivation from them. I have made many acquaintances this way as well!

    On another note: There is a very...full figured....woman that comes to the gym around the time I am finishing up, I get on the elliptical to work the lactic acid out of my legs, and gets on the elliptical next to me. she has her preferred machine, as do I. Good on her for coming to the gym!!! BUT! She wears like.....an obscene amount of perfume....and its really hard on my breathing when she is next to me. I almost say something every time, but its really not my place. She gets on the elliptical at level 1, grabs her phone to play solitaire, and literally goes like .5 miles per hour. She has done this for like 6 months....no weight change.... just want to help her so bad....but like I said....its not my place.
    Ugh, this is why I hate cardio machines in the gym. I'd rather hit the pavement. Or have lactic acid buildup the next day.

    AWEEEEE @ GRUMPY BABY PIC!
    EDIT - nevermind, I see you meant the one from my profile hahah

    Yes, he was not a fan of going 'topside' that day.

    Oh man...sorry....should have clarified. lol.
  • 4jenniferk
    4jenniferk Posts: 307 Member
    No me I don't want to workout next to anyone. I'm not referring to classes but rather on gym equipment. I tend to mimic the speed of the person next to me so I prefer if possible to go at it by myself.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    If I choose to workout next to someone (which I only do when I have to, I much prefer to be away from folks) then I typically choose someone that looks strong and capable at what they are doing because then I will want to keep up and/or show that I am also strong and capable and will be much less likely to slack off in any way.
  • AXAGEM
    AXAGEM Posts: 56 Member
    I have never tired to look better than the person next me (has never entered my head), but I do feed off the energy of others who give "their" 100%. At those odd times when I am dogging it and not giving it my best I will see someone doing "their best" and give myself a quick kick in the butt and step things up. Last week a woman in one of my classes said to me that when things get tough and looks at me and keeps on going, I laughed because I often look at her and think the same thing.
  • anemoneprose
    anemoneprose Posts: 1,805 Member
    Screw that I like to work out next to someone that inspires me and is fitter than I.

    Yup, if I have to work out next to anyone (prefer room to move) I prefer the person I can learn something from. Sometimes I'll ask about aspects of training I haven't seen before (not while they're working out, ob).
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    Slightly off subject, but i'm usually the only female in the weights area in my gym, but anyway...I love watching (not openly like a stalker lol) the really big guys working out. It always fascinates me how they can lift so much weight. I literally am amazed at how strong some people are. I'm also interested to see what routine they are doing, rep etc. That is more interesting to me than trying to find someone I consider larger than me to exercise next to lol. Does anyone really do this?
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    Yeah I think it goes both ways, because I like workout next to somebody that is healthier looking than I am, and I usually workout harder, and longer, but I also notice that when I'm on the treadmill, a lot of out of somewhat out of shape people will take the treadmils next to me.
  • agamy4
    agamy4 Posts: 31 Member
    lol I workout near the tv with the most interesting show...I didnt know people actually decide where to workout according to how they appear next to someone. how strange
  • n2thenight24
    n2thenight24 Posts: 1,651 Member
    I always try to get as far away from anyone as possible. Large or small. If I have to be next to someone, then it usually doesn't matter, because that is the only machine. As long as they don't try to talk to me, I'm cool :smile:
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    All my friends are at least 3 sizes bigger than me, and not in a good way. This way, when I'm out with them, I look freaking awesome.

    Yes, this is a thing people do.
  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    I like to people watch in the parking lot at my gym, so I grab whatever one is not obstructed by a pole. For elliptical, I take whatever is behind my treadmill(since I often split time between the 2) or in front of the tv show I want to watch. I pay no mind to the people next to me, though I do look at their stats-like how fast they are going, how long they've been there, etc.
  • stephyy4632
    stephyy4632 Posts: 947 Member
    I could care less about the person next to me in the gym because I go to the gym for ME after being at home all day with 3 small kids I look forward to my gym time alone so I crank my MP3 player up and grab what ever treadmill or eliptical or bike are open and go to it then off to the weight room for the rest :)
  • sailinjen
    sailinjen Posts: 103 Member
    I like to be away from people...get my own pace goin, but I do like it when a guy pulls up next to me and tries to keep up! hahahah:laugh: