Does anyone else chose gym over social stuff??

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).

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.

Yep, I choose my mini-home gym over social stuff any day.

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...

Gym is Social Stuff!!!!

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.

I do schedule social stuff around my gym schedule, but I don't see it as an either/or.

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.

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.

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.

Yeah usually, don't like a lot of people, like a lot of the gym/fitness/fun type people, not everyone wants to date, marry or have children, some people would choose the gym over that because they don't want any extra hassle or responsibilities, and don't want someone telling them they can't workout ,and that they have to have children, and give up their hobbies, and goals, because someone wants to force them to have kids and be fat. Some people have terrible family and/or terrible friends, and the fitness stuff helps them feel better, make friends, have time alone,etc. I would pick staying single forever and able to workout as much as I want to, travel, do what I want than to be like these miserable people who I know who are married and/or have kids and want to do this, this, and this, but feel trapped, all because their spouse wants to control them, and take away their membership, bike etc and have them be miserable and unhappy and trapped.

The gym is social for me. I like people and I like training. It works. For me. I mean, of course feel free to jam your ear phones in and ignore everyone else 'cause yer all bad azz and ****. I'm kind of a nerd and stuff but it works for me.